Ward Campout Day Trip

I use to love camping... the fresh air, the quiet of nature, the beauty around me ... and then I had kids.  Actually, it really wasn't the kids, but more about Eli and his autism.  Camping is 'too' new and different and creates all sorts of anxiety for him.  For that reason I've left camping to Kent and the other kiddos but with having just returned from Mexico, he didn't have the time off work to take them to our annual ward campout.  We settled on a compromise of sorts.  I took the kiddos alone for a day trip, enough so they could play with friends and roast smores and then we went home to sleep in our bed.  The older two understand the sacrafices that Bubby goes through for these sorts of trips and happily consented .

'Hiking' with friends!  Pumpkin might be little but she was right there with them!

Bubby did find some comfort with the familiar books and items I brought along but every moment he could, he was sure to remind me that he wanted to 'goh' home!

Hide and seek with friends.

Lots of games played between exploration.

Pumpkin adopted another older sister while there!

Kiddos got sugared up good with all the treats everyone bought to share.

Helping some friends put up a tent.

Roasting of marshmallows and starbursts.

We were lucky since there was no rain, only the glorious cool of Flagstaff.  We ended up driving up there with some friends which made the 2hrs much more enjoyable for me.  Good fun for all and perhaps what we'll do again next year.

Puerto Penasco 2018

Our annual vacation to Puerto Penasco was highly anticipated and only delayed due to our need to reapply for passports.  As soon as they arrived in the mail we took the next available unit even though it was during the most humid and hottest time of the year.  We had a blast all the same, finding balance between early morning activities, lots of food and marinating in the pools and napping in the afternoons.

The kids LOVE the breakfast buffet they have at the resort.  It frightens me how much these kids can eat sometimes!

Kent found a paleta place that wonderful.  We got paletas, ice cream and even went back for raspados.  I could live on the coconut and mango flavors with all it's cream and real fruit!  Obviously Bubby is extremely interested!

                                                                               Sea life

              We joined in on a aerobic exercise class at the resort, Pumpkin had a blast!

                                      More sea life. As much as we coveted his shell, we let him go.

While tide pooling Bug spotted this sea slug and tiny shrimp.

 Their fascination with the tiny snails on the sand led them to build a snail 'resort' fully decorated by seashells and build with 'swimming pools' and channels to 'visit friends' .

   With our podcast listening we learned that Mars would be closer during our trip there.  We went out a few nights and with the low light pollution was able to spot the reddish star. We watched a documentary about it sparking interest in space and Bug exclaimed,"Hey!  you just had us do schoolwork! I thought we were on vacation!"

A few shots of our resort on our last night.  Until next year!

Camping Adventure for Everyone

The years Kent spent as scoutmaster had fueled romantic images of camping in my children's minds.  I was able to avoid most trips either due to pregnancy of having a young enough child that would cry at unseemly hours and keep the neighbors and all of nature awake.  When our initial plans to visit friends in Vegas fell through the kids pushed for the first whole family campout.  Annually our congregation has a campout in the cool near Flagstaff.  I grudgingly agreed and proceeded to borrow the needed materials.  We told ourselves it would be an opportunity to see how Bubby would do in a totally new environment.  With that thought I think my adrenaline levels were in the red before we even arrived.

Autistic individuals crave routine and familiarity.  With the unknown there are so many possible sensory sources that could put them on the defensive and withdraw into their own world.  This video really helps explain it and is one of the many reasons we've chosen to homeschool Bubby.



We had been entertaining thoughts of purchasing a pop-up tent trailer to provide that familiarity while being able to travel on a budget but had yet to see what the little man might do when only nature surrounded him.  As soon as we arrived he was running off through the trees and up steep hills, only to beg us to carry him when he tired out.  Setting up camp and feeding kiddos happened as Kent and I alternated watching for this adventurous little guy.  The other three happily hung out with their peers  and enjoyed hikes, pine ball and all things in nature - sticks, bugs and squirrels.

Safely observing the fire that would not produce enough smores for this little girl to eat!

Once the tents were set up Bubby spent a considerable amount of time inside ours doing those things that were familiar and brought him comfort.  I napped by the door way, glad for some time to just sit.  Once he was rested he was at it again but was more anxious, hitting and gnawing on anything he could get his hands on.

I opted to sleep in a separate tent with Bubby so that the others might get a good night's sleep.  It was not the most comfortable arrangement but when he began his whimpering in his sleep, I was there to comfort him. We had considerable rain and at one point I  had to shift us so that the drops of rain wouldn't land like water torture on my forehead for the whole of the night.  I don't think that this 42yr old body can survive another night like that and I promptly informed Kent of it the next morning.   Bubby emerged with many sighs when he saw he wasn't magically transported back to the comfort of home but he took it all in stride.

Pumpkin had found a new 'best friend'!



Everyone did have some fun in the end, but it is clear to everyone that both Bubby and I won't come again until we have something more solid, familiar and comfortable to sleep in.  Given time I'm sure Bubby will adjust to a tent trailer but my body is much too use to the comforts of home!

Summer 2015

Summer is nearly at an end and I am ready to sing praises to that! It has been physically and emotionally taxing to have everyone home, especially with the littlest two. Some days we're able to just have fun and other days it's as if everyone is at each others throats. Space and individual activities will bring back the loving feeling .... I hope!

We had lots of friends come and stay with us this summer. Sometimes it was just an overnighter, other times it was for a few days, either way, it was a great diversion for my older two while maintaining a schedule for the youngest two. We played at parks when it was cooler, hit the Glendale Rec water park when it was hot and even had water balloon fights in our backyard.

Friends from Snowflake came with their two boys and one girl. Isaac was in heaven and Keila could practice being the nurturing older sister.

Friends from Tucson came that date back to our horror year in Albuquerque. Wish I had thought of the camera before it was dead late with no light. We will just have to have another excuse to get together!

Fourth of July with friends from Queen Creek.

Those same two families combined! Kids had a blast and made lots of memories.

Our only trip was out to Snowflake to visit the same friends that came and saw us. It was a welcome relief from the heat and I LOVED the fact the children played outside so much. We took a small hike up on the Rim. Eli had to work his core muscles hard with the uneven surface and Keila had a little ladybug friend land in her hair.

There was an empty lot across the street where they could explore and find bugs to their hearts content. There were more ladybugs and pill bugs than Keila could begin to count. Isaac had the guy friend who was obsessed as he was with Legos and fort building.

Ever the teacher - I had them take art classes, a nice counterpoint to swim team.

Isaac wanted all his art work to be documented

Keila's own gallery of her favorites

Swim team end of season party. Eli and Leora got their very first otter pops!

We had cooking lessons and it was so successful, I'm planning on it again next summer. The older two are now ept at making egg and cheese burritos, cheese quesidillas, grilled cheese sandwiches and the Hawaiian favorite of musubi. While they still require supervision, my hope is to have them practice enough that by next summer we can add 4 more things to their repetoire!

Apparently it's true that everything tastes better when you make it yourself!

Isaac starting Cub scouts.

Shared summer treats.

There were many days like the picture below, but I realize time passes quickly. Documenting all this insanity will leave a smile on my face ... someday! Until then, just seven days until school starts!!!