WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

After my last [failed] attempt at camping, many wondered if I'd just throw in the towel. Clearly, people underestimate me; I'm persistent, if not down-right stubborn. The day after my last camping trip, the mr. and I made plans to go camping with his sister and her family over Memorial Day weekend. That fell through. So we made plans to go with friends. That fell through, too. We were just a week out from our trip, but we couldn't cancel on our kids. So we braved it alone. BEST. TRIP. EVER. No, it was not without fault. But it gave us the opportunity to learn and discover how to camp as a family of eight.

OVERVIEW:
We left Saturday morning and found a spot on the Mogollon Rim around noon. Forest Rd 300 (Rim Rd), about 10 miles in. The mr. and I were able to set up camp while the kids ate lunch. After all was said and done (which may or may not have included a terrible mishap with ALL of our water), we went on a short, late afternoon hike. 100 yards from camp to the edge of the Rim. Absolutely stunning views. When we got back to camp, we roasted hotdogs and marshmallows. S'mores, of course. We played with glow stick balls as daylight faded. Called it a night around 8pm and headed for the tent, glow sticks in hand. A relatively good night with an acceptable amount of sleep. Considering I'm afraid of the woods. And I'm afraid of the dark. And I'm afraid of the woods IN the dark. But 6:30am came and I was still alive. We started our Sunday morning with eggs and sausage made over the fire. A spontaneous mile-long hike followed breakfast, bringing us to another point on the edge of the Rim. We colored and played with bubbles once we returned back camp, waiting for our tinfoil quesadillas to cook. After lunch, we drove another 17 miles down Rim Rd to visit Knoll Lake. Tons of people fishing, little room to enjoy the view. Luckily, the kids lost interest after about 15 minutes, so we drove back to camp. We taught the kids to play checkers while we waited for our tinfoil dinners to cook. Least successful meal. Campfire apple crisp for dessert before a good game of glow stick ring toss. Another early night, with us hitting the tent by 7:30pm. A bit of reading by flashlight before lights out. A better night of sleep by all, minus the baby, who decided to have a scream-fest at about 1am. The mr. finally got her to calm down and fall asleep in his arms. By 6:30am, all were awake. Skillet pancakes for breakfast. The kids played with sticks and pinecones while the mr. and I broke camp. We went on one last little hike to the edge of the Rim before loading up and heading home. All in all, a fabulous adventure and a great bonding experience for our family. The only injury: a certain 5 year old's ego because of a jab from a stick...

TAKE-AWAYS:
* Make sure water jugs (and lids) are COMPLETELY SECURE before setting off. Or lids may leak a little. Or a lot. Or completely... And then you will have to drive miles back to the nearest town that charges $$ for a basic necessity.
* If you have a baby under the age of 2, invest in a baby backpack. Of any sort. I opted for the $10 version on eBay. Seriously, the GREATEST thing that I brought on our camping trip.
* Glow sticks. Glow sticks, glow sticks, glow sticks. Go to WalMart and buy a ton of glow sticks. I prefer the short, fat kind over the bracelets. And glow stick games. Buy glow stick games.
* Don't worry about cute activities and Pinterest ideas. Stop it. Stick to simple things like crayons and bubbles. And sticks. Goodness knows, kids will pick sticks over all else. Especially cute Pinterest crap.
* If your kids aren't adventurous eaters, STICK WITH HOTDOGS. We tried a variety of meals and cooking methods. Long story short, hot dogs for life. Again, stay away from Pinterest...
* Make your kids collect a thousand pinecones and make them line designated pathways. This way you can set up camp but still know exactly what they are doing. Then yell "BORDER PATROL" any time someone accidentally kicks the border.
* Ditch the phone for the trip. Luckily, we were in an area with zero service. I had enough of a bar to text my exact location to my mom in case a bear ate me. Or a psycho killed me. Or I fell off the edge of the Rim. Other than that, I was unplugged. And it was beautiful.

FIVE ALIVE

We had another birthday last week. My four year old survived to the ripe old age of five. It's been questionable at times; this kid is a force to be reckoned with. He is rough and tumble. A tornado of energy. Boy, through and through. He is the first to find a stick ANYWHERE we go and to turn it into a weapon. Has a slightly aggressive temperament, born from trying to keep up with his older brothers. Definitely a bit of a brute.
Even though this kid comes off as a tough guy, he is really just a happy go lucky kid. He has the sweetest dimples. And those light eyes just slay. Loves dinosaurs, ninja turtles, and transformers. Adores his siblings, even if he likes to push their buttons...

FOUR IS THE NEW THREE

Growing up, I always wanted to have a little girl that looked like me. And then this little miss joined our family of boys four years ago. I was smitten from the moment that she was placed into my arms. For the past four years, our bond has grown increasingly close and we have become the best of friends. She is my carbon copy - in looks, in personality, in actions. 

This little girlfriend. What a firecracker. Lover all things pink and sparkly. Smart. Sweet. Sassy. She loves princesses, dollies, and purses. Wants to be a mom when she grows up. Even though surrounded by boys, she remains the girliest of girly girls. Don't let that fool you; she can hold her own with her brothers. Or any boy, for that matter. Curious. Creative. Caring. Loves her baby sister more than I could have ever have imagined. Has my quick temper and my outgoing demeanor. She's a treasure. I love this little four year old and am so excited to call her mine.

365.2: WEEK 20

As of this moment, I am so over 365. Am I quitting? Never. Do I feel like giving up and never touching my camera again? Totally. Just one of those days. Moving on.
This week has been particularly busy, and it's only just begun. The next several weeks are cram-packed. Since our aquarium membership was due to expire, we went as a family on Monday late afternoon to enjoy Sea Life one last time. The kids got to play next door on Tuesday, climbing trees and collecting lizards with the neighbor's grandkids. Wednesday came with fabulous weather, so we met up with our friends for one last park play date. On Thursday, I snuck away for a girls' night with my best "frenemy" to celebrate her 30th. Friday morning found me and the littles out at Usery Pass with dear friends for a little hiking trip in the desert. The big four got to skip naps on Saturday to attend a birthday party for a great friend. And, on Sunday, my favorite 3 year old turned 4. A week full of adventuring and celebrating.

May 16th - May 22nd

365.2: WEEK 19

Long week, full of sick kids and home improvement projects. We kicked off last week with the oldest staying home from school and making a trip to the doctor's office. Lymphadenitis. Infected lymph nodes. Not to mention, this kid's tonsils have been HUGE since he was 2 years old. Five years later, no change. More antibiotics and an upcoming appointment with an ENT to discuss options. Just as he begins to recover, the baby falls sick with a nasty case of conjunctivitis. Two infected eyes. And she, of course, infects her brother. Two babies, down for the count. Our week has basically consisted of giving medication, looking at cacti, photographing families, make-up loving fairies, grilled cheese picnics, house painting, and a baby with a fever.

May 9th - May 15th