CAMPIN' FUN

I know it's taken FOREVER to post this...heck, we've been home a whole couple of days! (I am struggling with my "Slideshow"--being a "Goofy Grandma, again! If it doesn't show up, I'm lost.) Thank you everyone for wanting to read goofy old me's blog! Seriously...

First of all, we had a WONDERFUL trip. Jodi & family left to go camping last Wednesday, I couldn't leave till Friday afternoon because I had to babysit. We went to THE MOST BEAUTIFUL place in Arizona! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE camping in the forest--and NOT in a terrible campground--that's not camping for me, probably because I was raised camping in the mountains & forests of Utah. Anyway, of course as usual, I'm a digresser (is that a word?).

It's about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive up there (we go to a place by the Mogollon Rim--pronounced "Mogy-on"--north of Payson) I hope you can see where we went:

So, I get just a few miles south of Payson, when I get this call on my cell phone. On the other end is Jodi. They have to go to the "Rim" to get a cell phone signal, so I know it must be important. They don't just call to check on me--I'm a BIG girl now. Jodi asks me where I am & seems relieved when I tell her I'm just getting in to Payson. She asks me if I can stop at Walmart to pick up a "booger sucker." Ok, I assume one of the kids has a runny nose, but then think, "Hey, they can blow." So, I ask the obvious question, "What's up?" Well, "Madison has shoved an 'air soft BB' in her ear & we can't get it out." Instead of massive concern like most people, I burst out laughing. These kids are CRAZY NUTSO! Of course, we all know it will come out one way or another & "no worries." So off to Walmart I go. I have the "family disability" of going into a store & buying more than what I went in for. $20 later, off I go again.

Now, several miles & about a 1/2 hour later, I get to the turn off. By this time, I'm pretty irritated because the road is one lane each way with VERY limited passing "opportunities," traveling up a mountain behind OTHER campers & freaking SLOW drivers. (I AM NOT a SLOW driver!!!--remember my previous blog?? Parnelli Jones, race car driver.) So, I'm behind this

S L O W guy, right? Arrrgh!!! He turns off the road onto the VERY SAME dirt road I'm turning onto!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course, NOW he decides so go fast. He peels out, flipping dirt AND rocks on my car. I have to stop & give him some space so I can even see let alone preserve my car. Why, oh why, are people stupid? Am I the ONLY smart person around? (Of course not, but at the time I sure thought so.) Ok, so off I go, driving my Toyota Camry down a dirt road that's rocky & bumpy, filled with pot holes, that eventually goes down steep mountain grades. I go around a blind curve & SIDEWAYS in the middle of the road is the guy that's been in front of me. He's turning around on a blind curve, on a steep downhill part of the road. I slam on my brakes, allow the idi*t to turn around & drive past me--again at a high rate of speed. On I go. Finally, I get to camp. The kids come running--I LOVE IT!

Jodi & Matt attempted for quite a while with the "booger sucker," a little straw (with massive sucking abilities by Dad--impressive), tweezers, everything--no luck with the BB. By this time, Maddie has resigned herself to a life with a BB in her ear. NO DR. FOR HER, OH NO WAY!!! I'm still not sure why she did it--to see if it fit? I do know she didn't tell anyone for a while because she was afraid she'd get in trouble.

The camping for the next 2 days were GREAT! It rained a bit each day, but we all love it like that AND it keeps it cool. We went for a few rides on the Ranger, sat by the campfire, played Phase 10 & UNO (which Matt NEVER does at home but will do with his kids), read, napped, visited with Matt brothers & their families, & their friends.

On the last day, we played Badminton & Volleyball (sure wish I had a picture of Jodi playing that one--LOL! Most of the time she was crouched down with her hands over her face, the BIG baby!!) We got sore, I got a blood blister on my foot because of my "improper" tennis shoes, but sure had FUN!!

So the trip home was uneventful. Oh, did I mention I almost hit a coyote on the way home? Watch for the next post: "The Offending BB"