An Unexpected Trip

Last week my sweetheart came home with a bouquet of these...very sweet right? Every few months when I am whining or having a rough day he will bring me home some flowers. I didn't think anything of it. Then he told me he had to go and help his co-worker with something....ok....it's 4:45 and your are leaving during the witching hour?
He returns with our lovely camper trailer....(remember the post a few posts down?) The girls were so excited because they thought they were going camping.... I asked, "What is this?" "What's going on?" He replied, "We are going on an overnight camping date..." Uhhh....I reminded him...."I am taking a year off camping..." Which he said, "Too bad, it's all planned out, my sister Allison will be here soon and we are going on a date." ( Thanks again Allie....you are the best!)

We headed off to here were we had an interesting dinner. The ketchup was fermented and there was no A/C in the building...at least it was authentic right?

We enjoyed the beautiful views of the Superstitions...and walked around a bit...


We then drove off to this lake. It's only 30 minutes from our house and it was beautiful. We set up camp and by 8pm and took a stroll around the lake. I asked him, "Did you bring any games? Did you bring any movies?" No he said and so we talked and went and sat by the lake. After some diet coke and Milky Ways, he told me he had a surprise...

I pulled out this giant box and started to cry....he has listened to me hem and haw about photography for a few years now. He has supported me in going to workshops, on photoshoots, on photography outings...he has bought me lenses, chairs, backdrop stands, built floors, and let me grow as a photographer. My sweet husband not only planned an overnight date but gave me the camera of my dreams. It's not just the camera its the way he treats me. He is the most amazing partner, friend and husband. He builds me up and supports me unlike any other person has...

I thought I wasn't going to sleep well in the camper but I did!! I slept until 9:00am...woo hoo! For breakfast we went down the road 2 miles to this hidden treasure. We were watching "Az Highways" the other day and saw this place...I told him it would be fun to go to sometime...and he listened.

We walked the boardwalk and then ate a yummy breakfast at the restaurant. The whole place is covered with dollar bills...and they have old saddles at the bar....yee haw

We got back home around 11 refreshed and reconnected. I love spending time with my sweetheart and love the way he makes me feel. Thanks Lovie for making me feel so special...I love you!

Preschool PIcs

These little cuties are off to preschool again....as an educator(well for a moment anyways) I always wanted to have a little preschool in my home and do joy school with my children. Sad to say with 17 month climbing on the table, busy boys, that's not happening.

So Ms. Katie to the rescue. A gal who used to be in my ward started a preschool last year and the girls love it. 

3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours....in the afternoon while the boys nap....what to do....nap myself.

Cute little outfits they choose at Jcpenny....loving the skirts...Oh and by the way...they don't want to wear shorts any more. Only skirts or dresses....cute things.

Well it was bright outside....mellow Audree

Little observant Olivia

I am sad and excited that they will be going to Kindergarten next year...only one year left with my babies...

I need to savor all these cute moments...

Fun with Felt

I was feeling a little crafty last month and wanted to change up the girls room. They have a cute new bespread and I wanted to make something for their wall...I went down to the awesome Hobby Lobby...which is right by my house and bought some felt. I watched a chic flick one night and made these little cuties...

A closer version

Then I had so much felt left over and wanted to make a fun fishing game for the kiddos....

Can you see a crab, a sea anemone, coral, a shark, jellyfish, a starfish, and a clown fish...with a few others thrown in...

My inspiration was from this site...
Here

However I did not have the time or patience to hand stitch all of these little diddies, so hot glue it was....
Doug made some poles with washers on the end of them...and wah-lah! Fun times for the summer....and mom got to feel crafty!

Davis Family Campout 2010

This years campout had many highlights....here are a few....

FOG! RAIN! We felt like we were in a wet fairytale for a few days...

Ladybugs....the teenage boys brought us some ladybugs...creepy crawly

Diggin in the dirt

Playin in the camper and making mischief...busy busy boys!

4-wheeler riding....I think this is all the kids favorites. Many of Doug's brothers have  ATV's and we all have a great time on them. Doug and I even got away for a moment on our own little ride up the mountain....it was awesome to have a moment alone.

Little kid movie watching....we need to entertain them while we play a game....

Playing at the cabin....after 24 hours of rain we headed to Doug's brothers family cabin and played games while the babies napped and the rain fell...

Enjoying the weather.....

This deserves a whole post in itself.....

On the first night Doug and I were talking about him going on a ride with his brothers. He was hesitant to go because of how much work the kids are.  As we were talking our sweet Audree  fell into the fire. One of the legs of her chair was on a rock and she was rocking back and forth near the fire and slipped and fell in. All the right people where there...Nurse Grammie Eliza, Firefighter Uncle Tommy, and EMT Uncle Ryan. 

Eliza yelled "Get HER Out!!" Uncle Ryan grabbed her out of the fire and Tommy quickly pulled her flaming sweater off of her. There was a jug of water nearby and they drenched her whole body with it. I could hardly control my emotions...this could have been anyone of my children...and could have been so much worse. We got her to the trailer and gave her some medicine and iced her hand for a while. She has many 2 degree burns all over her right hand. She was telling us that she know she was supposed to keep her head out of the fire and that her "Hero Uncle Ryan" saved her and pulled her out. I have said many many prayers since the accident and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father kept my oldest girl safe that day.

This is my horrible bandage job....we spent the night in the cabin with Christi's family and her hand started to burn again so I soaked it in the water. I didn't have enough bandages so I used leftover bandages with a few that they had at the cabin....she has been such a trooper. Eating and writing with her left hand....

Enjoying the beauty of the earth....

Here is a meadow by where we were camping.....beautiful! I am so sad the weather didn't let up for us to take a group family picture...

On the way home I told Doug that I am taking a YEAR OFF from camping...we have had enough adventures for one year....until the next Davis family campout!

Mommy dates

I love spending time with my kids one on one. They love the individual attention and really open up and talk, talk talk. Even if it's just to the grocery store, and someone is around to help, I try to take just one with me. One day I took Olivia on a mommy date and came home to this.....

Our cute friend Regiane had done Audree's hair and makeup and dressed her up. She popped out from around the corner and was so happy to show me her new look. I love the curls on her too...I need to buy a curling iron and do her hair like this.

A few days later it was Audree's turn for a date and Olivia stayed home. We only went out for a bit and Olivia got her turn.

I'm so in love with their sweet faces and the girls they are turning out to be....I used to go on Mommy dates with my mom when I was little. I loved talking with her and going to get milkshakes at Dairy Queen......Mommy dates forever!!

A Rainy Day

We were sitting outside one evening last week, watching a summer monsoon roll in. I went inside for a moment to get a drink and it started to POUR!! Thank goodness I came inside...I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped a few moments of fun in the rain. My kids have never played in the rain before....they had a blast!  After playing for a while, I stripped them down and gave them a warm bath...

Don't you love an Arizona Monsoon?