national anthem day celebration

The kids school put on a great program all about the national anthem. It was really well done...and crazy enough I learned a few things. Afterwards they all went into the parking lot and made a human flag...still loving their school!

the spa

The celebration begins...well, I began celebrating back in May when I went to New York...so I guess, the celebration continues!!! Unfortunately, Hawaii and the Caribbean were out of the question this time, so we settled on a day at the spa, filled with TONS of fun, relaxation, laughter and best of all memories.

After being upgraded to a suite in our already free room...that's right, we love you Camelback Marriott, we checked out our room...awesome...

and our views...double awesome!!

then we headed up to the spa...chilaxin' by the pool!! The hardest thing about the spa was trying to be quiet...we were not very good at that...

we went for our spa treatments next...massages. I have never been to a spa, nor have I ever had a massage so this was all new to me...and I don't know WHY I waited so long. It took me a little bit to relax during my fabulous hot stone massage but once I did I did NOT want to leave...1 hour was not even close to long enough. After we were done with the massages, all in a daze, hanging out in the waiting room, watching Ash flash everyone, my name was called again and I was so confused...only because I half asleep still. Everyone was saying "Happy Birthday Katie", still confused I got up and followed the lady to my NEXT spa treatment...surprise #1, a scalp massage. I am not easily surprised and this was an "oh so heavenly" surprise and a perfect completion to my massage. Thank you again girls!!

We headed back out to the pool for some more relaxation and a little surprise from me this time...waiting on every one's lounge chairs...a custom towel for the occasion

embroidered with our names and China Glitter 2009, of course!! The excitement and surprise was AMAZING...thanks Bree for helping pull this off!!

It was then time to freshen up and head out to Oreganos...for a super yummy dinner...

Apparently the one Oregano's was really busy so we drove to a different one...which had an hour wait since it just started to down pour and half their seating is outside. So we went on a drive...around some huge houses...then we were pulling into a gated community...still clueless. We pulled up to this house and everyone got out...I followed and realized this was Julia's aunts house. We went inside and her cousin was there with her new baby. It all made sense now...we had some time to kill and Julia (the baby whisperer) wanted to come see the new baby. Then everyone gathered around the piano...

surprise #2...I have to say this was by far one of the best gifts I have ever received. It was perfect, it was hilarious, and it was a complete surprise...I was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face all the while trying to hold the camera still. I still can't get enough of this song...you guys rock!!! And who knew Julia could play piano so well...and sing...

After a late night we were in need of more spa treatments...but had to settle for relaxing in and by the pool...with our matching towels...which was almost as good.

Then back to our room to get ready for the day and my favorite breakfast...

and putting on my surprise #3 (does it ever stop)...since Tara won't share...

And headed out for a day full of shopping, laughter, more great food, tons more fun and of course no girls trip would be complete without bahama bucks!!

and a few highlights:

tripping...once, twice...maybe more

that huge store we saw...it was MASSIVE!!

sharing dressing rooms...

bree's COMPLETE indecisiveness about the luggage

tickle hill, have you been?...they put it speed bumps, and then a guard gate and then tire slashers

the super secret floor of nordstroms...oh wait wrong trip...

kissing a life size golden walrus

LOTS of skin tight pants

Julia sneaking out of the whole super skin tight pant party...

actually surprising Julia with the towels

a super fun weekend with a few of my bffs...what more could a girl want

I am sure I forgot something...so feel free to add on...

Thanks again girls for the amazing weekend...so now what are we doing for my "real" birthday?

mormon lake

After dodging the rain again, we finished off our day at Mormon Lake...another lake turned marsh.

We biked along a trail on north side, but didn't make it too far since the sun was fading fast...

It was great end to another beautiful day.

walker lake

We finally found our trailhead and began the hike up into an old volcano which is now a lake...being late summer/early fall, it was really more a marsh. But, it was beautiful. We had this whole volcano all to ourselves. It was so peaceful and serene...until the kids discovered that it echoed...and our 4 kids turned into 12.

There were dandelions everywhere...everyone made wishes...lots of wishes...

Dax's solution to not being able to blow...

watch out baby bumblebee...

And I couldn't resist this classic look from Dax...it is one of my favs...

This was by far my favorite time of the trip...laying in the grass watching the clouds go by, the kids running, playing games and collecting dandelions...reminds me of when I was a kid...and that time goes by WAY too fast.

north

The next day we headed north to the San Fran peaks. We wandered around forest roads trying to find our trailhead...it was so BEAUTIFUL I was ready to set up camp and move in...ok maybe that is a little extreme, I would need running water and electricity...and a solid roof...but not too much more.

This is looking the other direction on our land that I want to buy...that is not for sale...

We finally found the right forest road...and took the bikes out to head to our trail. The first thing Taryn did was find a friend to bring home with us...

which she affectionately named...Horny. We finally talked her into letting him go and we headed off on the bikes.

We headed down the trail...which was mostly down hill and VERY bumpy...a great first mountain biking experience for the kids. They LOVED it...though they weren't so fond of coming back up those hills when we realized it was the wrong trail.

wukoki and wupatki national monuments

We continued our drive through the Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop road and came to the Wukoki ruins next. We had the ruins all to ourselves and the kids enjoyed running through the "castle" exploring. I just sat on the top, enjoying the view and the breeze...it felt like fall.

Our last stop, determined by the exhaustion and hunger of everyone, was Wupatki.

The kids favorite part..."the blowhole" of course. Drake had his hat flying, and Hadyn a paper, and then Taryn tried a straw...until it fell in...it was time to go. Yes, we like to leave our mark EVERYWHERE we go.

sunset crater volcano

We left Walnut Canyon and drove right into the rain clouds...we thought our day was over, but I saw a clear sky in the direction we were heading. So, we took a chance and went to Sunset Crater National Monument. It was still drizzling when we got there and 3 of the 4 kids were asleep. We loaded them all up and headed out on the trail...no rest on this vaca...sorry kiddos.

The kids LOVED the all the volcanic rock...Taryn asked more than once if this REALLY was a volcano and if we were SURE it wasn't going to erupt again. Owen enjoyed giving us his version of the self guided tour...since I neglected to bring the pamphlet with us. And, I am pretty sure EVERY one of our kids went to the bathroom on the volcano...pretty sure they just wanted to say they did it.

After hiking around the volcano we drove up the hill so the kids could see what they were actually looking at. It gave even me a little better perspective. And then the kids were all dying to take pictures...they got some great ones...this was my favorite...

walnut canyon

After a WAY too big breakfast we headed out for our first hike of the day...the Island Trail at Walnut Canyon. It is a beautiful canyon full of cliff dwellings and LOTS (240 to be exact) of stairs. The homes were built on the sides of the cliffs by the Sinagua people. It was truly amazing to sit and ponder the amount of work it took to construct their homes, not to mention obtaining food and water for daily life. I learned a lot and really enjoyed this trail.

The hard part...coming back up. The kids did great...as you can see Hadyn needed a break every now and then but never asked to be carried...Drake on the other hand...

Cute little Hadyn...she was such a trooper.

We finished by doing the Rim trail so the kids could see where they climbed down to, and so Dax could run. Which he did, then tripped, ran some more, and then tripped again...trying to keep up is never easy.

flag

I had been dying to escape the summer heat ever since we got back from Cali...so we finally coordinated a time and headed north for a weekend full of cool weather, hiking, biking and family fun!

We had an almost perfect weekend...it rained, but we seemed to miss all the worst of it. We hiked, but the kids were all troopers and enjoyed it. We got lost, but the kids took a nap and were recharged for the next hike. We found the property we are going to build our ranch on...

but, it wasn't for sale. We mountain biked down fun hills, but we eventually had to come back up them. We had a volcano all to ourselves, full hundreds of dandelions, that NO one wanted to leave...but, eventually a poopy diaper forced us out. We saw many landscape shots that I wanted to stop and take, but screaming kids kept us on the road. We had no cell service most everywhere we went, but we had Owen's undivided attention. And, we had truck that wouldn't start, but a rock fixed that.

And again...I wasn't ready to leave and come home.

so much better

Looking at that Bahama Bucks post EVERY time I opened my blog was killing me!!!