Memorial Day 2024

We headed up to the Payson area again for Memorial Day.  We really like it as it's not too far of a drive for the kids and we gain enough elevation to cool off a bit.  We left early in the morning and found a day use area along a creek.  Gil made breakfast and the kids and I explored.

After breakfast, Wesley and Lauren threw at least 100 lbs. of rocks in the water. 

We tried to go on a hike a friend had suggested but it was so popular it was accessed by permit only.  We found another place to explore for a bit, then headed home.  Our neighborhood public pool opened Memorial Day and we went and swam to cool off.  A good day.

Wesley Turns Five!

The Wee Lad is five.  Can it be possible?!

He's learned how to take selfies with my phone.

He loves doing puzzles and is getting to be rather good.

He loves his preschool.  He was especially excited to take Gil to show him around on Father's Night.

He has a really good friend at preschool who we are going to miss a lot when he's in kindergarten next year.

On his actual birthday, Wesley had his preschool graduation.  

This was more of a going through the motions event for us.  The school year here starts in July and with his late May birthday, Wesley will be doing one more year of preschool before starting kindergarten when he's newly six.  We decided it would be better for him to play at home one more year and be the oldest in his class.

This birthday was all about tools.  He got a wheelbarrow and other yard/garden implements and his very own tool bag full of tools (thanks, Auntie!).  He's been busy 'landscaping', building, measuring, and letting his creativity flow.

His birthday party was Curious George themed.  Did I get any pictures...?  Nope!  Gil made a palm tree room decoration and small, individual yellow hat piñatas for all the kids.  We played a Curious George matching game and made Steve's homework boat (if you're familiar with the PBS series).  Wesley said he wanted to make a speech, we let him, and he told three jokes that made no sense to me but had the other five-year-old boys laughing uproariously.

Wesley also informed me he was ready to go to the dentist.  I made him an appointment and he did great!  He talked about showing off his clean teeth for show and tell at preschool, but ended up doing something else.  Funny kid.

Happy birthday, Wesley!

Camping!

We took both kids camping last summer.  It was rather unpleasant.  However, both Gil and I were hankering to adventure and decided to try again.  It went better, kind of.

We got a site on the Mogollon (pronounced MU-gee-in, don't ask me why) Rim.  It is a beautiful part of the state.  

We got to our site and got the tents set up.  We knew we didn't all want to crowd into one tent again so we brought both.  Both tents are getting old, with pieces cracking, tent pole elastic failing, and coatings flaking off.  The kids didn't seem to notice and were in and out of the kids tent, thrilled for the adventure.

We took a quick hike before dinner, ate, roasted marsh mellows, then got ready for bed.  Lauren was up about 11, crying uncontrollably.  We settled her down but she was up again a few hours later.  We ended up putting her in the tent with Gil and I slid in next to Wesley.  

The sky started to brighten around 5am but we didn't get up for a few hours even though we were awake because it was cold!!  Oh my!  It's amazing what a little elevation can do.  We were down in the 30s overnight and it felt good to snuggle into my sleeping bag.  It warmed quickly as soon as the sun was fully up.  We packed up camp and drove around a bit to explore the area and took another quick hike along the Rim.

We headed off the Rim and into Payson where we went to our favorite park, had lunch, and played on the playground before heading home.  Gil and I are thinking we might be ready to go camping a bit more regularly.  Stay tuned...