View from the Road: Mega Trip Part One

I'm going to assume that I can't tell you about this whole trip and show you all the pictures and expect that you will read to the bottom of the page.  Too much happened.  Too much was seen.  Too many miles were driven.  That's right.  Driven.

We started our summer vacation with a road trip.  Our goal was to make it to Glacier National Park and back, seeing family and friends and as many National Parks as we could.  We expected to spend long stretches in the car and long nights in a tent.  All our expectations were met.  So where did we go?  What did we see?

Our first leg of the journey was to get across Texas.  If you have ever made the drive across Texas, by way of I-10, then you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't, then I think you've managed to avoid a certain type of torture.  Lucky you.

Unfortunately for us, going west means crossing the majority of this fine state.  That's roughly 750 miles.  Gross.  But let's begin...

Our first day had us driving to Big Bend National Park.  If you've never been to Big Bend, you should go.  Just don't go in the summer time.  It's a desert and it's hot.  Seriously hot.

Looking at fossils and trying not to bake in the sun

The park's busy season is between November and April.  Troy and I have visited the park in January and found it to be quite pleasant.  This time was just too hot.  Luckily, there is a campsite in the mountains and the temperature drops by about 20 degrees up there.  So that's where we camped.  We had a cool night with lots of wind and stars, and very few mountain lions and bears (or so I think...).

For our second day, we got a very early start and finished our Texas part of the trip.  Our sights were set on the Saguaro National Park, so we quickly crossed New Mexico and got into Arizona.  Before we got to Tuscon, we made it to the mystical land of these tall cacti.  

But there were many other types of cacti to be seen.  

Ocotillo

Prickly Pear

Cholla

Fishhook 

Here's a close up of the fishhook cactus.  Pretty easy to see how it got its name.

I will probably sound like a broken record, but if you have never been to Saguaro National Park, you should go.  I don't know if the time of year would matter, but it was pretty hot.  Even with the rain threatening, it was still quite warm out.  I wouldn't recommend camping, though.  I'm not too sure if it ever cools down at night.  Also, the majority of camping is back country.  It requires permits and equipment.  But visiting is a definite must.  

Saguaro National Park is like another world.  A strange Sonoran world teeming with life and color.  

We got to watch the sun set.  It was sure beautiful.  

We spent the second night in a hotel.  Troy informed me that we wouldn't be camping here due to the fact that Tuscon doesn't cool down at night.  I couldn't imagine what he was talking about until we pulled into the hotel parking lot at 9 pm and it felt like it was 90 degrees outside and blowing hot, dry air in my face.  We slept fine in a nice cool room, but when we woke up at 5:30 am, it was still in the upper 80's.  After breakfast we pulled out of the parking lot at 9:30 am.  The cheery radio announcer said that it was 96 degrees and expected to get to 113 for the high.  Ummm...  No thanks.  We sure did high tail it out of there and were relieved when we got to Flagstaff.  There we finally felt some cool air and smelled the most fragrant pine trees. 

Our third day had us visiting the Grand Canyon.  

It was incredible.  Our kids were blown away at the sight of it.  It should be pretty high on everyone's list of National Parks to see.  This time around it earned a place on my bucket list, if I can even say that I have a bucket list.  Before xyz I would like to climb to the bottom and back up again.  I would also like to find Brighty down there...

Our third night on the road ended with a spontaneous trip into Navajo Nation, where we spent the night in the Painted Desert.  I was less than thrilled about this, but the kids loved it.  Turns out my kids love camping.  Pitching the tent, sleeping on the air mat, reading with a flashlight, even peeing outside (that should come as no surprise).  And I don't even mind most of those things.  What bothers me is being isolated from other people and possibly being harassed by a mountain lion or a drunken man. But I'm happy to say that we had a peaceful, uneventful night.  

Our "campsite"

I feel like this is a good place to stop for now.  There are many more things to show, but as I scroll through, I realize just how much is on this page.  Until next time!

Hiatus

It should come as no surprise that I've let this blog fall by the wayside, as of late.  I could blame it on our busy schedule with working, playing, schooling, exercising, cooking, cleaning, playing.  And that's just what I'll do.

Life has been steadily chugging along.  Annie turned 3 in January.

I joined Troy in the 30's this February.

We began (and I totally take more credit than I should for this) raising bees this spring.  This is Troy's new hobby and it's been a great learning experience for the rest of us as well.

Isaac turned 5 this May.  He will be starting kindergarten at the end of this month.  He is super stoked and asks everyday if it's time for school.

Orry turned 7 this June...  Man.  I can't believe that my life journey has included at least one kid for 7 years now.  He will be going to the second grade and I assume that he's excited to go, but he hasn't verbally expressed it yet.

We finished the school year with a good report card.  Our summer began with some trips to Louisiana and ended with a "Mega Trip" (as Troy would call it) across the country.  The summer isn't over quite yet.  There are still a couple of weeks until we start back up again.

We've had pretty good success with our backyard garden this year.  We've had a few cucumbers, lots of greens, too many tomatoes, and are still waiting on our carrots and beets.  I do believe the bees (and Troy) deserve the credit here.

We've enjoyed watching skunks and cattle birds in the early morning hours.

Summer 2013

Our memberships to the Houston Zoo and HMNS are still going strong.  The park nearby has also become a place that we frequent, often in the evenings when it's a tiny bit cooler.

I hope to keep this blog more up to date in the days, weeks, months to come.  It will be easier at first since there is much to tell about our "Mega Trip".  Hopefully our life will be bursting with excitement that I just can't contain and this will be a good outlet for that.  Until then, I hope you all have had an awesome summer!

Oh, Christmas Tree

It's actually been six years since we had a Christmas tree.  Orry was 6 months old.  Yikes.

Since then I've been moving a couple of boxes of ornaments around with us, never opening it up, never even thinking or remembering what was in there.

But this year is different.  We are staying home and the party is coming to us (so to speak)!  So you know what that means.  Ah, yeah!  Time to get a Christmas tree!

Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as just go out and get a tree.  We first had to weigh the pros and cons of buying a cut tree versus a potted one.  We decided to look at the potted trees.  We searched for one that would look the most like a Christmas tree, but to no avail.  So we finally bought a cut tree and strapped it to our van as the rain came pouring down.  Troy got soaked.  The tree was soaked.  The kids and I were dry.

Fortunately, that was the end of the debating and the ordeals.  The tree was in the house.  A few strings of lights and a bunch of ornaments later...

So the tree is done.  Of course, snowflakes keep showing up and sometimes little hands just can't help readjusting an ornament here and there.  Next on the list is wrapping up the gifts.  And a question for you: When do you put out your wrapped gifts?  As you get them?  Or right before Christmas day?  

The Spirit of Giving (Remix)

I figured I should tell you about Thanksgiving while it is still relevant.  Giving thanks for what we have should always be relevant, but you have to admit, now that Advent is upon us Thanksgiving seems like so long ago. Luckily for us we have plenty of photos to remind us.

We spent Thanksgiving with my folks down in Louisiana.  We left late Tuesday afternoon and arrived just past midnight.  We sure do enjoy nighttime drives.  The kids sleep and the adult talk.  And talk and talk and talk.  Sounds like a killer time, I know.

We spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in Houma.  And it was a great time.  Here it goes!

The weather has been quite nice here (and by this I mean I Gulf Coast area between here and there).  The nights are cold, the days are cool(er), sunshine is plentiful, and the breeze keeps on blowing.  The fruit has been plentiful at my parents' house.  The above picture is of lemons.  The one below is satsumas.

And a heads up for Grandma Tammy and Grandpa Dan.  The grapefruit is getting ready and I hope you are too.  So far they are really juicy, but a little tart.  Hopefully in the next few weeks they will sweeten up a bit and be perfect for your consumption.  

We had a couple of fires and roasted marshmallows.  The kids really enjoyed this.  We also discovered there is a right way and a wrong way to roast marshmallows and it greatly depends on who will be eating it and how picky they are about singed parts.  

And we got to spend some time with Aunt Liz.  And boy, has she grown!  

Mom got some bad news.  Actually, I don't know if she did or if this is just a poorly timed photo.  

This last run of photos is out of order.  I don't know why blogger chose to do this, but if I try to fix it and fail I will likely abandon this entry and you won't get to see any of it.  So consider this the remix part of the blog.

And so, in the spirit of giving thanks, here's where I thank my parents.  Thank you for your hospitality this time and every time.  Thank you for all the delicious food.  You sure know our favorites and have them on hand for us.  Thank you for the clean laundry!  Thank you for the love and attention that you show the kiddos.  Thank you for having cable TV and for recording the shows that we like (Parenthood and Duck Dynasty).  Thanks for the beautiful kitchen table!  Thanks for the shopping trips and the movie nights.  And most of all, thanks for supporting us and our dreams.  We sure do love you guys!

And now we will happily march into December.  I am particularly excited about this coming month.  Not only is this the first time we will have a Christmas tree in 5 years, but we are also having Christmas at our place with the Becker grandparents (wahoo!!!) !  And as if that weren't enough, my brother and his brood will stop in with my parents and the house will be full!!  Oh joy of joys!

Discoveries

One thing that I love about big cities is that there is always something to discover.  There is some place that has been hidden from you for years and when you find out what it is, where it is, and how cool it is, it just blows you away that you never found out about it sooner.  Same thing can be said about smaller cities as well, I'm sure.  But with a city as big as Houston, it's a whole other level.

Last weekend we set out to find such a place.  The place we chose was Discovery Green.

Now, we've known about this place for a while.  We've even driven by and commented on how cool the place seemed and how we ought to check it out.  Tick, tick, tick went the clock.  We never made it out there.  Until last weekend.  And all it took was a young writers class.  Offered every Saturday.  For free.

Turns out there is a great little playground.  Here is where we waited while Troy and Orry went to the writing class.

It is actually an incredibly beautiful green space near the Convention Center and some tall buildings.

Here are the fountains.  One of the times I drove by here, I saw lots of children playing here.  It would be a pretty great place to come and cool off during the hot summer months.  

You could even forage around like squirrels around these colorful buildings, though I don't know what these buildings are...

Behind the kids is the library.  Here's where the class took place.  

And there are food and drink vendors that set up for Saturdays because it turns out there's free music too.  Draws quite the crowd.

Orry wrote about his feelings.  Things that make him mad and sad and glad.  He even wrote about things he is thankful for.  He was the youngest writer there, but participated equally (or pretty darn close to equally).  The children don't have to be supervised to attend the class.  You can sign them in and out if you so choose.  

We had a really great time.  We brought a picnic lunch and ate there.  It's a really great place to do some yoga, throw a frisbee, or just hang out.  If you live in or around Houston and haven't seen it, I think it's about time that you do!

Halloweeners

We had a great Halloween.  We spent less than 30 dollars on the kids' costumes, we came home with not too much candy, and managed not to lose any of our kids.  Win, win, win.

If you know me, then you know that half the fun of Halloween is making the costumes.  Not only does it pinch the few pennies that we've got, but it challenges us to be creative by using the things we have or procuring the things we need.  The kids have never minded.  Until this year.

One child in particular (I'll just tell you that it was Orry) was pretty set on buying the costume at Party City and being done with it.  No matter what reason you gave him for making it ourselves (cost, fun, creativity, quality), he was certain that he just wanted to buy the costume.  Finally he saw the light.  It took the choice between the purchased costume and no props, or the homemade costume and props.  And when you want to be a ninja for Halloween, a plastic sword, sai, and throwing star are so necessary.

Isaac wasn't nearly so worried about whether or not his costume was bought or made.  As long as he was the blue Power Ranger (and by the way, we have absolutely no clue what the blue Power Ranger does or who he is...), he was happy, happy, happy.

And Annie.  Oh, sweet, sweet, sweet Annie.  She went from wanting to be a butterfly, to wanting to be the pink Power Ranger (...), to wanting to be pink Batgirl.  She was pretty dead set on pink Batgirl until I finished the costume.  Then she decided that she didn't want a costume.  But when presented with "no costume = no candy", she changed her mind.  

Our night involved heading over to Miss Laura's house for some quick trick-or-treating.  The kids did remarkably well, walking up to people's houses, saying the magic words, and still remembering the manners (some of the times).  

Afterwards, we quickly headed over to the Richmond fire station to see what kind of fun was being had there.  Turns out every year the fire department puts on a Halloween celebration where kids get to come and see the inside of the fire station, explore the old and new fire trucks, see where the guys get suited up, and, best part of all, shoot the fire hose!  

It was pretty good night.  At the end of the night we talked about Halloween and our costumes and all the headache involved in deciding what we will be.  I explained that it would be much easier and way more fun if we coordinated our costumes each year, picking a different theme every year.  The kids loved the idea and have already decided that next year we will be The Avengers.  Now we have almost a whole year to decide who will be who.  You can join in on the fun.  Orry has pretty much claimed Thor.  Who should be the Hulk?  

Memory Lane

October has been a busy month.  Busy. busy, busy.  For the most part, it has mainly been me that is so busy.  This month, I prepared for my first ever in-person craft sale.  Our church puts on an annual event called Street of Shoppes.  Vendors from all over the area come together and sell their goods on the church grounds and the women's crafting group from the church sells the goods they spent all year working on.  It was pretty stressful for me, trying to balance my duties around the house and with the kids while working on the things I was selling.  Troy and the kids were great and sure did put up with a partial absentee mother.  

The sale was pretty good.  I had the goal of paying for the cost of my booth and making enough money for Christmas gifts for the kids.  I met my goal, so I guess it all worked out.  The most rewarding thing, however, was to see the looks on people's faces when they saw my wares.  Many of the older people smiled and commented on how they used to own sock monkeys.  One woman even said that seeing my booth took her back to her childhood.  The children's faces were equally delightful, eyes lighting up at all the colorful things.

Also at the craft sale was a room where the church was selling used toys.  Very much like a big garage sale, you can usually pick up some really great things, gently used, for a great price.  Troy took Orry through and came out with the game, Trouble.  Yeah.  You know the one.  With the clear bubble popper that holds the die and all the colorful pieces that made the best pretend fingernails.

When I saw the box, I remembered the game, but only when I saw them playing with the pieces did I remember playing the game.   And oh, my poor, poor parents.  Orry also received the game Guess Who from my parents.  That sure brought back memories.  The faces have changed.  (And what is it with there only being 5 girl characters?!  If you pick a girl you are sure to lose...just saying.)  And they added animal characters for an added challenge.  Guess Who was a favorite game of mine from summer day camp since we didn't actually own the game.  

So, to sum it all up, having kids is one great way to relive your childhood.  And I know everyone is aware of this, but I have come full circle.  And I'm sure that will continue and possibly freak me out as time goes on.  Ever on.  

And I'm sure that I have still left you wondering what we did all October.  So here it is in 5 pictures or less...

Pecan picking

Father and Child(ren) Retreat

Our own personal mouse trap

Annie has embraced the ponytail...for now

There was more done this month.  Much more.  I just forgot my camera for many of the things.  If memory serves me right we built a sandcastle, Troy got poison ivy/oak, we planted lettuce and chard, we finally identified an unknown bird, we started watching the Marvel comic movies (The Avengers, Captain American, Thor...), we saw Brave, we made costumes for Halloween, and the list goes on.