This weekend a getaway was needed.

So we headed out of town and up to the Mogollon Rim, near Woods Canyon Lake and Chevlon Canyon with Amy and Jim and my mom. The views, the fresh mountain air, and just relaxing did much good for us as life was getting a little out of hand. I love seeing my kids camping because it brings back to many fond memories of my childhood.

On the first night, Nate, my mom and I took all the littles on a walk through the forest. As we walked, I told the kids that if they ever got lost in the forest they should stop and sit by a tree and not walk anymore. To make sure they each got it, I asked each on individually what they would do if lost -- London and Aidan answered correct immediately. Then Savy surprised me by saying, "I would say a prayer." Oh, I love the faith kids have. I am glad that the first thing she thinks of when in a problematic situation is to ask Heavenly Father for help and that she has no doubt that He knows her and will be there listening and ready to help.

Can't resist these two lovelies! I never noticed how similar London & D's eyes are in color!

Despite being a little diva, Savannah LOVES the forest. She loves collecting things (perhaps a by-product of watching the Little Mermaid) and this weekend it was moss. She made everyone touch it and all the children were appalled when Amy didn't (she was making dinner at the time). All the way into the next day, they would remind us that Mimi didn't touch the moss.

Savannah also loves being out alone with her daddy. She would watch him very closely and every time he'd venture into the forest, she would follow. They made a fabulous fire-ring together and prepped the fire for the night. Nate wouldn't want me to post this picture, but I was quite impressed that he made a bow just out of a stick he found. I always knew he was a stud. . .

Saturday we took a little drive to the Fish Hatchery. The kids liked it, but the big excitement was the blackberries growing along the path by the pond. So instead of being enthralled by the massive trout, our kids were busy picking berries. Savannah is a huge fruit freak! On the way home from the Hatchery, we took Davyn in our car and let London ride with Mimi. Savy and D were being so quiet that I turned around and this is what I saw. Nate had left his binoculars in the back seat when he went varmint (I don't know how to spell that but that is what spell check told me -- basically calling in small animals - coyotes, etc) calling that morning and apparently D knew exactly what to do with them. He was so stinking cute! Sunday morning we took the kids for a ride before heading back down to the valley. They had been dying to ride in the back of the truck - and you can just feel the excitement looking at their faces. A little lake/pond that we walked to on our ride. It was just gorgeous. "mom - look I'm Ariel!"
The gang with Grandma.
London had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moment and suddenly turned beasty beyond belief after the pond. In this picture, we had just convinced her to stop crying by everyone telling her not to smile -- it works every time on that girl!

Savannah is holding a purple flower her daddy picked for her. She came back to camp and it was already wilting and when even water didn't help, she became distraught. Amy and mom overhead her saying a little prayer for her flower. Mom had to explain a few things and then promised to help her get a potted flower at home that could live and grow. What a sweet girl!
London being carried off by Jim as she cried hysterically (don't worry, she was already crying hysterically before he grabbed her). Like I said, the only men she likes are Nate and his dad. On the walk to the pond, there were some plants that looked a lot like poison ivy so we told the kids to steer clear and be careful not to touch. My ever-cautious Savy walked the whole way like this to prevent getting "poisoned."