Arizona Vacation - Day 3 (cacti adventures)

Day 3 (NOT my favorite day!)

we woke up, ate breakfast, packed up camp, did a couple short hikes, then hit the road to Flagstaff. Sounds easy enough eh?

The first problem of the morning was when Aaron ended up getting a huge cactus spike in his big toe. Apparently this type of needle (from a "teddy bear cactus" I believe)has a little barb on the end of it, so pulling it out was a big PAIN. (literally) (Aaron was trying to numb up his whole toe by sticking it ice water before pulling out)


We FINALLY got it out - with much weeping and wailing....

then we got back to the business of breakfast. Here I am in all my camping loveliness (and yes, I am aware that even though I blame my appearance on camping, it is pretty much how I look ALL the time...)





one of my favorite things about camping... Hot chocolate in the morning.



The next bit of "fun" was when we were ready to pull out the tent stakes but couldn't find the hammer. Apparently Bryan had been carrying it around while he and Katrina went on their morning walk about... SO the whole family got to stop and go on a "hammer treasure hunt." This shot is of Tim finding the "treasure." (after about 20 minutes of looking!)



As we were taking down camp, I kept telling the kids to STAY IN CAMP and help. Aaron wandered off again, with Bryan following this time, and somehow managed to have another run in with a teddy bear cactus. This time he got a big ball of it stuck to his sock/ankle area, right above his shoe. (so who knows exactly how many were actually poking into his skin and how many were stuck to the sock, but at one point I could identify at least 3 spines going into his skin...) At the same time, Bryan started screaming. HE ALSO fell on a cactus! I pulled a couple small barbs from his hand, but he was still screaming. I pulled down his pants to find two HUGE barbs (like the one's in Aaron's toe) in his BUM! One slid right out but the other was apparently another barbed on, and it was tough to pull. I held Bryan tightly and Tim yanked it out. After another couple minutes Bryan was fine and off and running again. Aaron on the other hand, was dragging the whole mess out. for 1 hour while we cleaned up, packed, and loaded everything else, he cried and whined and moaned and cried and whined and moaned and cried.... As we loaded the last stuff, we told him, "you have about 2 minutes before we are loaded and ready to leave. If you haven't pulled it out by then, we will just do with you what we did with Bryan. I will hold you and Dad will pull it out."

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! he continued to carry on until he saw us coming, then he hurried and pulled the final barb out.

After this crazy morning, I was DONE camping with the kids and ready to go home! (luckily the rest of the camping nights went smoothly and the kids were actually semi-helpful, so our camping days can continue...)

Needless to say, Aaron decided that Cacti are STUPID, DUMB plants, and that he hates them! Regardless of his feelings toward the plants, I happen to love plants and nature, so we took the "native plant hike."

Kids with saguaro cactus






It was fun for me that so many of the cacti and wildflowers were in bloom



Kids and dad with susperstitions in the background


By the park entrance sign



After leaving Lost Dutchman, we went to Goldfield.



Personally, I could have happily skipped this stop. It was an unorganized, waste of time and money. I know that sounds harsh, and it probably wasn't all that bad, but I kind wish we had skipped it. We took a SLOW and boring train ride, Aaron got to pan for gold which was his favorite part, Tim and the kids went on the mine tour (I stayed up to "guard" Aaron's pan of gold cause he wasn't done yet...), and we went into the "mystery house" which is one of those places where they build everything crazy so it looks like water flows UP-hill etc... I don't do well in places like that... they make me really nauseous, but luckily it was short, and I did mostly ok and wasn't too sick afterward. The best part of goldfield for me was that Tim has pity on me and spent an exorbitant amount on a yummy ice cream waffle cone for the family to share. YUM!







See how boring this train ride was. If you ever go - SKIP the train!


From here we drove BACK to the hotel in Mesa (since I left my wallet there) then continued on up to Flagstaff where we checked into hotel #2. We then went to the Flagstaff aquatics center (no pictures, sorry) to swim. (can you tell my kids love to swim?) We went there instead of just the hotel pool cause they have water slides, lazy river, and kids play area with slides etc... It wasn't as great as it looked in the online pictures, but the kids still had a great time.

We had hoped to go to the Lowell Observatory and take the opportunity to look through the telescopes, but it was overcast that night so there wasn't much point. Instead we went out to eat (Sizzler, YUM) and then went back to the hotel where everyone just collapsed and fell instantly asleep.

Arizona Vacation - Day 2

So, on day 2 we got up and the kids went swimming again with Tim while I packed up and loaded the van. Tim had wanted to get to the zoo right when they opened at 9, but swimming was more important to the kids so that is what they did. (we got to zoo around 10). This picture was taken from up by our room, 3 floors above. I zoomed the camera to the max.



Here we are (in a very unflattering picture) at the zoo. (for speed in posting, the remainder of the photos are in no particular order...)



eating lunch...



My own precious "pearls"



The kids in "Sting Ray Bay"



Aaron is "King of the Wallaby"



can I just tell you... I hate being in pictures (look closely. we are in the monkey encounter and the monkey is climbing the trunk of the tree off to the side of us.)



Caleb and I on a camel ride.



We bought the kids the "wild pass" so they could have unlimited entrance to sting ray bay, and unlimited rides on the carousel, camel, and safari train. I dare say they got their money's worth
on the camel rides alone. They rode 4 or 5 times. They LOVED it.

.

I added this one after I realized it actually has all five of us in it...



and now a FEW of the carousel pictures...










In "The Land of the Dragon's"



Aaron "milking" a cow. it was pretty cool. they filled up the "utter" with water and the kids could try milking. It was pretty realistic as far as it went.



brushing the goats in the petting farm









a fun video clip of the kids cooling off... (i love Caleb's little laugh...)



Leaving the zoo.



So after the zoo, we headed out to Lost Dutchman State Park to set up camp. I had rather hoped to get to our next stop by 4:00, cause that's when they had a recreation "gun fight" at the nearby goldfield ghost town, but we didn't leave the zoo until 3:30... so it was a no go. No worries, it wasn't a priority, the priority was getting our money's worth at the zoo, which I believe we did.

So here is Bryan climbing a tree in our camp, with the beautiful superstition mountains int he background.



and here I am, making dinner. Don't ya just love all the swimsuits hanging in the tree trying to get dry?

Arizona Vacation - Day 1

Life seems so crazy for me right now. I feel like I just run from one thing to the next, never really accomplishing anything at all!

2 weeks ago was the kid's spring break, and it coincided with General Conference Weekend, (meaning I wouldn't need to get a sub for primary) so we decided (rather on the spur of the moment - two weeks ahead is all) to take off for the week on this year's family vacation. I have been trying to sit down and blog about the vacation all week. I decided this moring that if I just do ONE post per day... I CAN do it! (and maybe once I get started, I'll feel inspired to get it done faster) Be forewarned that I took a KAZILLION pictures on this vacation. literally! so don't feel obligated to look at them all or even read every entry. Just know that this is my "vacation scrapbook" - so read and view only as it interests you...

DAY 1 -

We left bright and early (4:00am) and started the drive to Mesa, Arizona. As crazy as it may seem, we like leaving early so the kids sleep for the first chunk of the drive. I actually prefer to leave closer to 3am, but since we were up until after 11 the night before, finalizing everything, we moved the start time until 4 so I didn't have to get up until 3:30. First stop was in Kanab. (not really necessary yet, but we filled up the gas tank and let the kids use the restroom and stretch their legs now that they were awake. Since they have a "K" on the mountain, we also took the time to take a picture of Katrina with "her letter"



And of course, if Katrina gets to sit in the old rickety buggy, so does everyone else!



We took the "scenic route," down through Fredonia, and I'm so glad we did. We saw lots of really awesome things things.

The first place we stopped (both for the scenic view and also for "sickness" considerations) was an overlook that we think was called Vermillion Cliffs overlook. We were hoping to see some of the California Condors that live in the area, but no such luck.




Katrina and I are missing firm these pictures because Katrina had just thrown up and was resting by the van, and I was cleaning up the carseat that Caleb had just thrown up in... (Apparently several of my kids, Katrina especially, inherited my car-sickness gene - I have much more empathy for my poor parents who had to deal with me on family vacations. Thank heavens for ziploc baggies. NEVER leave home without them!)

Not too much further down the road was the "Cliff Dwellers" stop. (I though it was SUPER cool.) There were these massive sandstone rocks that had holes etc... carved out by erosion, which early dwellers in the area utilized to make their houses. It was really amazing to me.

notice how they built the wall up to the ROCK and then use the rock as the roof and back wall of the house.. (not that you can see the back or anything...) It was REALLY neat! I loved it!

Talk about some painful splinters...

Soon after the Cliff Dwellers was Navajo Bridge. We stopped there to take a few pictures and walk out over the river.


The last stop before the hotel was Sunset Crater. We ate (a late) lunch here, checked out the visitors center where the kids favorite activity was where they could jump and see what their vibrations registered on a Richter scale, and then we hiked around the lava flows. It was pretty neat. There was more we (Tim and I) wanted to do there, (more hiking and some ruins to explore, but it was getting late and the kids REALLY wanted to have have time to swim.




Taking the scenic route meant that we stopped a LOT more than we planned to, so we didn't arrive at the hotel until 5:15 - 5:30 ish. (I was thinking we'd get in around 3, but I factored in ONLY gas/restroom adn a lunch stop.) This meant we got less time to swim in the hotel pool before heading out to the Mesa Temple pageant. but it was all good.

Here is the family in the pool (the water was a delightful temp and the weather was beautiful!) before we raced off to the pageant -



and here we are at the temple.

We ended up getting lost on the way (we had the directions printed out, but due to construction road closures we had to do a bit of extra "exploring." Only Aaron got to have pictures with the actors because be the time he and Tim got back to us and I took Katrina and Bryan out, it was time to start and the actors all left.


The pageant was GREAT! I really really liked it. Originally we were planning a much shorter trip to the grand canyon, but when I realized that if we left 2 days earlier, I could catch the final performance for this year. I have wanted to see this pageant for years, so I was thrilled to be able to finally see it. My only regret? (well, two actually, I wish we had been able to get there earlier and get closer to the front so the kids could see better, and I wish that it hadn't been such a LONG day. The kids all fell asleep by the end. I don't think any of them - maybe Aaron? got to see the very end when Jesus "rises up above everything. It was really amazing. Guess we'll just have to go again eh?

(I know this is not a good picture, but it is the best the camera could do. You can still get the general idea of the final scene where Jesus rises above everyone else into heaven.)

Then back to the hotel and instantly asleep!

Trouble sleeping? (or just need a laugh..???)

Yesterday I was watching Sesame Street with Bryan and Caleb and this clip of Elmo, being sung a lullaby by actor Ricky Gervais came on. Call me crazy, but I thought this was really FUNNY. Truth be told, the kid's reactions were probably even funnier than the video itself, but you get the idea. Bryan literally could not stop laughing! Even now, they keep remembering it out of the blue and singing (yelling) it. (you'll know which part they sing after you watch it...) We found it on Youtube and pulled it up so Katrina and Aaron could see it. They thought it was funny too, and now I hear all sorts of "singing" downstairs.

ENJOY!!!

Economics 101

So, have you ever had one of those moments when you did something you thought was SO hilarious???? You just had to share??? I had one of those moments this morning - so here is the sharing... And do me a favor - if you DON'T think it's that funny - feel free to NOT tell me!

One of my Facebook friends (Rock Magelby) is "finishing my PhD in Economics at Boston University. I lecture in macroeconomics, money & banking, and business statistics at Boston University." (taken directly from his information on his facebook page.) This morning as his status he posted that today he was

"giving another quiz this morning in class. Please define Economic surplus, Externalities, Elasticity, and Terms of Trade."

I couldn't help myself... I had to define the terms - (the following is my ever so witty response)

Economic surplus: When the economy is relatively good and FOOD is in plentiful supply, the SURPLUS shows up on the waist band and bathroom scale!

Externalities: The most obvious EXTERNAL-ITIES are wider hips, chunkier thighs, increased "jiggle" factor, and an enlarged backside.

Elasticity: the quality necessary in a waistband!!! (you know, to help give place for all that EXTERNAL SURPLUS)...

terms of trade: The most common 'terms of [the] trade" are diet, exercise, "go on a diet," and FAT!

Did I pass? huh huh??? (if you FLUNK me, I'll have to bring in my bathroom scale and my elastic waist band pants, and THEN we'll debate the issue. I'm pretty sure ALL of my definitions are ACCURATE!

* end of comment *

I thought I was a RIOT!

A little while ago Rock posted the following response - "Jeri, I'm going to have to reevaluate my syllabus in light of your outstanding answers."

Look out Boston U!!! I'm sensing a shake up in the economics course!

Music and Memories (President Lake part 2)

As you know from my last post, My former mission President passed away this past week. It really isn't feasible for me to jet down to AZ for the viewing and funeral, regardless of how much I am LONGING to be there. They are having a graveside service next Saturday that I will be able to attend, and for that I am super grateful.

SO... Today I was at church, just going about my regular primary singing time stuff, and quite frankly, President Lake's passing hadn't crossed my mind the entire 2 hours. (primary music pretty much takes 100% of my attention) So as the kids were dismissed for the day, my pianist just randomly picked a song to play.

He chose "We'll Bring the World His Truth." (aka Army of Helaman)

I leaned over the piano and immediately said, "I LOVE this song," - because I do. Than about 5 seconds later the memories rushed in and the tears started falling. (and the dumb things haven't stopped falling yet!!!)

I stood there thinking back to each and every zone conference, when after our lunch meal had been served, All the missionaries would gather in a 1/2 circle. President Lake would have all the people who had volunteered to prepare and serve our meal come out of the kitchen and stand in front of us. We would then sing "Army of Helaman." President had printed up little cards with the words to all 3 verses of this song (plus on the back side it had all the verses of the Canadian National Anthem, "O Canada," which were we also expected to learn) and we carried them in our missionary handbook of rules. (our "little white bibles") On the final tag line of the song, instead of singing "to bring the world his truth" we would sing "and thank you for the meal." Then we would go down the line and each missionary would, in turn, thank the volunteers.

Once again, at President and Sister Lake's homecoming, all of the missionaries that had travelled to Arizona to be there, went up on the stand and sang this song again. (and there were a lot of us there! We completely filled the choir seats and the stand.)

I have sung this song many, many times since serving as a full time missionary, but TODAY, the memories are strong and meaningful.

It is amazing to me the power of music to bring back such powerful memories. Just hearing that music - at this time - turned back time 18 years and turned me into a TOTAL crybaby!
I am thankful for beautiful, musical, memories.

1. We have been born, as Nephi of old,
To goodly parents who love the Lord.
We have been taught, and we understand,
That we must do as the Lord commands.

2. We have been saved for these latter days
To build the kingdom in righteous ways.
We hear the words our prophet declares:
“Let each who’s worthy go forth and share.”

3. We know his plan, and we will prepare,
Increase our knowledge through study and prayer.
Daily we’ll learn until we are called
To take the gospel to all the world.

Chorus
We are as the army of Helaman.
We have been taught in our youth.
And we will be the Lord’s missionaries
To bring the world his truth.

Jack S. Lake

Almost 18 years ago I had the fantastic opportunity to serve a mission for my Church. I was called to serve in the Canada Calgary mission and I LOVED IT!!!! It was such an amazing time of growth for me. My mission president was Jack S. Lake, and as far as I am concerned, he was truly a "giant among men." My heart was sad when I heard the news yesterday that he had passed away. I kept hoping that maybe it was just one of those "rumors" and that it wasn't true, but I was doing a search this morning and found the obituary on the "Lake Family blog" that confirmed it.

President Lake knew me better than I knew myself. He was able to look past my insecurities and protective "walls" that I had built around my heart, and he taught me so much - about myself and about the gospel.
* He taught me the importance of STRICT OBEDIENCE.
* He taught me about the atonement of Jesus Christ - that we ALL fall short and that as long as we have done what we CAN do - the Savior will do the rest. He will reach down and lift us the rest of the way, whether the difference is large or small - the Savior has overcome and is waiting to lift us the rest of the way.
* He drove home the saying "attitude, more than aptitude, determines altitude."
* Another thing that he taught me that has had a huge impact on my life, was the day he looked into my eyes and said, "Sister Fugal, you are HUMAN. It's OK to make mistakes." That became my mantra for a long time. When I would start to beat myself up over something, I would say to myself "I am human. It is ok to make mistakes."

I am so deeply grateful for the time I had to serve under the direction of President Lake. I love him dearly and look forward to a day in the future when I will see him again and I can once again thank him for all that he did to lift me and teach me and build me up.

I have taken the liberty of copying the post from the Lake family blog in it's entirety, because I want it in my "journal." (probably not really of any interest to you, but very important to me, and it is, after all, MY blog...)


THANK YOU PRESIDENT LAKE!!!

Jack Smith Lake 1936 - 2010. Jack Smith Lake passed away peacefully, with his family surrounding him, on February 18, 2010. Jack was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 1, 1936, to John B. Lake and Virginia S. Lake, with brothers Michael (Mary Lee) and Scott (Joan). He graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City in 1954, where basketball was a priority. After one year at Utah State University, a second year at the University of Utah, and pledging Sigma Chi, Jack served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the South Australia Mission from 1956 to 1958. Upon returning, Jack studied at the University of Utah, earning a Bachelor's degree and a Masters Degree of Business Administration in 1962. Later, in 2005, the University of Utah honored Jack as a Distinguished Alumnus of the David Eccles School of Business. Jack married Ellen Marie Barlow in the Salt Lake Temple on August 10, 1959. Jack served in the United States Army achieving the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge. Jack and Marie moved to Phoenix, Arizona to raise their five children: Greg (Lisa), Allison (Mike) Gleave, Holly Lake Beus, Sean (Amy), and Jennifer (Dan) Jolley. Jack worked at Western Savings and Loan Association for fifteen years engaged in various aspects of real estate development. Later Jack started his own development company and successfully developed and operated the Arizona Golf Resort, apartment projects, condominiums, restaurants, and medical buildings. Jack was actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America. He earned the rank of Eagle as a young man. Later in life, the Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Silver Beaver and the Distinguished Eagle awards. Jack also built the Boy Scout headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Jack served in numerous callings in the LDS Church, including High Councils, Bishoprics, Stake Presidencies, and a Temple Sealer. In 1991 Jack served a second mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving as the President of the Canada Calgary Mission until 1994, where he and Marie embraced and served with hundreds of young men and women. Above all, Jack was a man of impeccable character, and completely devoted to Marie, his children and his twenty-two grandchildren. Jack is preceded in death by both of his parents and his grandson Nicholas Gleave. A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2010, at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with Funeral Services held Monday, February 22, 2010, at 10:30 am, both at the LDS Chapel located at 4225 N. 56th St., Phoenix, Arizona. Graveside Services will be held at the Salt Lake City Cemetery (380 N., 1150 E.) on Saturday, February 27, 2010, at 11:00 am. Funeral arrangements are handled by Bunker in Phoenix and Larkin in Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LDS Church Missionary Fund.
Posted by Lake Family