Senior Trip to Lake Powell

This past weekend, we had a big adventure joining about 20 Senior students on their class trip to Lake Powell, AZ.  Lake Powell was formed when the Glen Canyon Dam was built on the Colorado River; it is an otherworldly place of water in the desert--stark red and white rock canyon walls rising from beautiful blue water.

I am far from an experienced camper, and so this trip was a stretch for me.  We spent three nights camping: the first and last at the Wahweap campgroup, and the second night we took two motor boats out to an empty stretch of beach for some rustic camping.  As we unloaded the boats onto the sand I felt like a contestant on Survivor, or like one of the pilgrims to the New World!

Benji at the Campground

This scene looks so peaceful...but just an hour earlier, 50 yards down the beach, our tent blew over in the wind!

Dinner over the campfire

This was a truly gorgeous spot, but the weather did not totally cooperate.  Between 30 mph wind gusts and the hot sun (with no shade), there were some tense and uncomfortable moments.  Benji did amazingly well for all of that.  He enjoyed riding on the motor boat, digging in the sand, and getting lots of attention from all of the students.  Plus, he got to sleep in the same "cave" (aka tent) as Mommy and Daddy and woke up next to us each morning: what fun!

"Trucks and cars" was the game of choice each  morning

Showing Baa-Baa the amazing view outside of our tent

On the last day we also go to visit a spot I've always wanted to see: Horseshoe Bend, which I hear is the official starting point of the Grand Canyon. What an amazing sight!  It was just a little nerve-wracking to have students sitting so close to the edge with no railings, but thankfully we all made it back safely.

There were a few smaller casualties on the trip:
1. A big crack down the screen of my new smart phone, incurred (ironically) not while camping, boating, or hiking, but while shopping for supplies at Wal-Mart.  Go figure!
2. Several tent stakes, buried somewhere in the sand on Wahweap Bay, after our tent got blown over..
3. My lower back, temporarily wounded by sleeping on the ground while 7 months pregnant, now (thankfully) restored to full service!

But there were also some highlights:
1. Becoming a more experienced camper...after three times tearing down and setting up camp, I finally put up our tent all by myself!  I consider this a major accomplishment!
2. The view outside our tent each morning.
3. Spending time with some of the students who were in my first 8th grade class.  They were great kids then, and are amazing young adults now!  It was awesome to see how they have matured and yet have still kept their wonderful personalities.  Can you imagine they graduate from High School on Saturday!?

May 2012--8th Grade Class Trip

May 2016--Senior Class Trip

"America's Sweetest Race"

This weekend I had the chance to participate in "America's Sweetest Race", the Hot Chocolate 5k, in Scottsdale, AZ!  Jonathan and Benjamin came along and we had a great time exploring a new city!  It was a lot of driving in two days (about 10 hours total...) but even the drive was beautiful.  We came down from the Mogollon Rim to see these gorgeous mountains and tons of saguaro cacti.

Then we entered Scottsdale to find GREEN grass and palm trees!  Here was the view from our hotel:

The race started and ended at Talking Stick Park where the AZ Diamondbacks and CO Rockies do their spring training.  On Saturday we went to the park for race packet pick-up and Benji practiced his ball skills on the baby ball diamond...particularly that slide into home plate!

Safe! at home plate

My friends and I got up before dawn this morning and drove together to the race.  It was cold at first, but as the sun came up over the mountains it turned into the perfect morning for a run!  With the lower elevation, I felt really good and ran faster than usual!  (It probably helped that there was chocolate at the finish line, too...)  :-)

We did it!

At the post-race party we got hot chocolate and chocolate fondue with lots of things to dip in (banana, marshmallow, pretzels, etc.)  Benji enjoyed dancing the Cupid Shuffle.  And I went home with a super-soft zip-up hoodie.  Best of all, we got to spend time with good friends!  Let's just say it was the best race ever!

Post-race chocolate

My faithful fans

Before leaving Scottsdale, we had a delicious lunch at a vegetarian Indian restaurant...

...then made the drive home.  Benji was really great in the car, and did well the entire weekend.  I'm thankful for a good trip and safe arrival home!

Mogollon Rim overlook

Snowy Weekend at the Grand Canyon

My friend Genavee Brown is here to visit for Thanksgiving and was able to come a weekend early, so we took off on Saturday and spent one night at the Grand Canyon.

The snowy weather made traveling (and canyon viewing!) difficult at times, but when the clouds occasionally lifted from the canyon, the sights were truly spectacular!

We began our trip with a snowy walk along the rim trail, catching occasional views of the canyon through the fog:

Canyon?  What Canyon?

Oh, there it is!

Winter Wonderland

Stumpy the Octopus

After checking into the Bright Angel Lodge, we walked down to the Mule Barn to say hello to the mules; we also caught sight of the cutest baby deer ever!  Then we walked along the Rim Trail again out to Maricopa Point to get a few sunset shots.

After a good dinner, a French movie, and a restful night's sleep, we caught the Hiker's Express shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead and made it down a little past Cedar Ridge on the snowy trail!

 

It was fun to see the Grand Canyon in the snow, and we are thankful for a safe trip through the winter weather!

A Visit from Mom and Dad Nic!

It has been a while since my last post, mostly because we have been preparing for (and now enjoying!) a visit from my parents!  They arrived here last Monday and jumped right into life in Rehoboth, even spending their vacation time volunteering throughout the school.  Last week they helped as Book Fair salesmen during our Parent-Teacher Conferences.  I am blessed to have parents who are so selfless with their time and energy!

But we have had lots of time for fun as well!  We celebrated Mom's birthday on Wednesday with a Lemon Meringue Pie:

Also, in honor of Mom's birthday (and a long weekend), we arranged a hiking trip in Flagstaff, followed by a night at La Posada in Winslow, AZ.  The hiking was beautiful!  First, we explored the cliff dwellings at Walnut Creek Canyon...

...then we hiked through the aspens--a few of them still in their fall splendor--on the Kachina Trail that winds around the side of the San Francisco Peaks.

After dinner in Flagstaff, we drove to Winslow and checked into La Posada, a historic Harvey House hotel designed by the famous architect Mary Colter.  It was closed by the Santa Fe railroad in 1958, but was recently purchased and restored by a visionary couple from California.

Our Room

The Front Entrance

 Now it has regained much of its former glory, from a nationally renowned restaurant and extensive gardens to unique, southwest-inspired decorations in each guest room.  It was a very special experience to stay in this lovely and historic hotel!

Breakfast in the Turquoise Room

The Corn Maiden's Delight: Polenta topped with eggs, cheese, fire-roasted tomatoes, and fresh corn salsa!

The Gardens

The old ballroom of the hotel is now a library/game room

Unfortunately, we have to say "goodbye" to my parents on Wednesday morning--it will be a sad day for all of us--but we are so thankful for this time together!