live...laugh...love...

A Ballerina???

2009-11-09T09:41:00.002-07:00

My conversation with Macee on the way home from the gym this morning...

Macee: I wish we could do something else today.
Me: But I have a big test to study for.
Macee: I wish you didn't go to school.
Me: But when I'm done with school I'm going to be a nurse!
Macee: I don't want you to be a nurse... I want you to be a ballerina!

I just laughed... what do you say to that?

Wacky Hair Day 2009!!!

2009-10-09T07:56:00.004-07:00

My kids love Wacky Hair Day at school and this year they were actually allowed to wear hair color, so we went all out!

Tyler chose a colorful mohawk...

Maddy didn't have a choice, but loved my choice when all was said and done!

And Macee couldn't be left out of all the fun... so she is my rockstar!!!

A normal sign in a weird place...

2009-09-08T21:25:00.005-07:00

So when I go to Target out on Power and McKellips, as I'm turning left (in a left turn only lane) I see this sign. It makes me laugh! I assume it is for the next turn lane up (just in front of the sign that is a left turn lane for the opposite direction of traffic). But from this aspect, it may confuse the driver.

Oh a hiking we will go!!!

2009-09-08T21:04:00.002-07:00

So... as you might be aware, Chuck and I were asked to be "ma & pa" for the upcoming pioneer trek for our stake this October. To help us prep physically for this trek, we have some different hikes to participate in. The first was "A" Mountain... Chuck did that one and I stayed home with the kids. But the second was Windcaves at Usery Pass. We took our kids and well as M&M from our ward (I teased the girls cause I was surrounded by M&M's... my girls and well as the girls from the ward). Macee pretty much got a free ride to the top (she is a princess you know!) and the others did good hiking up by themselves. We made it to the top, enjoyed the view and headed back down. It was an easy hike.

Macee coming up the last little bit.

Mean 'ol daddy made her hike a little bit on her own 2 feet!

The crew at the top.

Yup... I was there too! I'm just usually behind the camera.

Macee's promised M&M's at the top.

Whatever gets her there!

----------

Then last week we did Squaw Peak. This time we left the kids home and took an extra YW with us! This hike was quite tough, as it is pretty much straight up (coming down was the easy part). But I made it (and so did all the girls) and I'm glad I did. The view was GORGEOUS!!! The weather was beautiful... we couldn't have asked for a better day! It was about 77 out and breezy/windy and it ended up raining on us! BEAUTIFUL!!!

See the rain??? My house was getting a good storm at this point.

There's another cell out there. The lightening was absolutely AWESOME!!!

Chuck and Rob on the highest peak in Maricopa County.

We made it!!!

K, M & M... they all made it to the top!

Me and my girls, K, K, M, me and M.

Happy Birthday...

2009-09-08T20:54:00.006-07:00

TO ME!!!

I just turned 32 a few days ago and I had a FABULOUS day!

It all started with cake for breakfast (super YUMMY!!!).

Then the 2 older kids went to school...

I got showered and beautified...

Took Macee to preschool...

Got a yummy liquid sanity to enjoy...

While I sat and played the computer...

Until Macee got home from school...

Went and got a free dozen donuts from Krispie Kremes...

Went and got my free meal to Joe's BBQ...

Came home and enjoyed my food...

With a fresh liquid sanity...

Kids got home...

Did homework...

Let them all have a donut...

My family took me out to Sweet Tomatoes...

My mom, dad and G-ma Nichols joined us...

Went back to open presents...

Came home and dropped off my family...

Went to Walmart to buy some beads...

It started POURING!!!

I love the rain...

So I enjoyed every minute I could driving in it!!!

Went to Golden Spoon and got my free yogurt...

Came home and watched a movie w/ my Chuck!

What a great day I had!

1st Day of Preschool

2009-09-08T20:44:00.002-07:00

Sept 1, 2009

Macee- preschool (pre-K)

Such a cute little poser!!!

She was so super excited to get to go to school this year!

And what does a mom with no kids do???

Grab a "liquid sanity"

(aka dr pepper...

for those who don't know me)

Go to Target... childless...

And Ribbons and Lace!

----------

I think I'm going to enjoy this

preschool year as much as Macee is!

1st Day of Elementary School

2009-09-08T20:37:00.004-07:00

August 12, 2009

Tyler- 5th grade

Maddy- 2nd grade

Together...

All 3 kiddos! Next year they will all be going! CRAZY!!!

They are growing up so fast!!!

Paw Prints...

2009-09-08T20:15:00.002-07:00

So, after dropping Maddy and Tyler off at their singing group, Macee asked where we were going. I said, "You know." She said, "Oh, to get your paw prints." Heehee... Chuck and I started laughing. We were on our way to get my fingerprints done for my Nursing Program application. But in Macee's mind, they were my "paw prints". I'm such an animal. ;)

Flagstaff/Grand Canyon Trip

2009-08-30T21:54:00.005-07:00

Before heading back to school, we decided to take a weekend trip up North. We had been to the Grand Canyon earlier this summer, but due to the rain, we didn't see or do much. So we headed out of town on Thursday morning (8-6) and took the scenic drive up to Flagstaff, via Payson and then on to Mormon Lake (or as we called it when we saw it "Mormon Puddle"). It was a nice drive. I made up travel books for the kids with coloring pages, activity pages, games and fun stuff to do to keep them occupied, because we were terming this get-away "non-electronic"... I know... we are so mean!!! But it worked well!

So we got to Flagstaff, checked in at our FABULOUS Super 8 and headed out for some early dinner. Then we headed to Lowell Observatory... it was cool. We got to look through some big telescopes and saw super far away stuff! Then we headed back and got some DQ and went swimming in the indoor pool. With tired kids, we went back to the room and crashed!

The next morning (Fri), we took our time getting up and getting going. So after breakfast we headed out to Walnut Canyon National Monument. It was "fun" climbing down a bunch of stairs (185 feet down into the canyon) and we walked around and saw the Indian ruins down there... then we had the walk up. Macee of course was not thrilled she had to walk even part of this trail... so Chuck put her on his shoulders and we then proceeded to climb back up (all 240 stairs!!! YIKES!!!). The kids earned their Junior Ranger Badges (they are proudly sporting them in the picture below).

It was super windy...

as you can see by this demonstration my hair did!

We took a drive down through Sedona and saw the beautiful sights that way and the kids all got a bit of a nap in (BONUS!) When we returned, we were trying to think of something to do to kill time before Grandma and Grandpa Rowley showed up. I called a bit earlier and they said they just barely got out of town, so it wouldn't be until about 6 or 7 before we would see them. So we hung out a bit in the hotel room... played a couple games and then we got a call from them (g-ma/pa) wondering where the motel was. I asked my mom where she was and she said, "I think right outside the motel!" YEA!!! They tricked us and got there super early! So when they got their stuff unloaded, we took off to go to Sunset Crater. Macee insisted on taking a picture of me and my mom & dad.

A pretty flower on the walk.

We went back, ate some KFC take-out and then went swimming. Super fabulous!

The next morning it was time to pack up and head out for the Grand Canyon. We decided to go to the IMAX theater to see the Grand Canyon movie. I'm glad we did, because it was really neat! Then we headed out to see the sights. We walked the famous path from the Visitors Center out to the Canyon edge (with Macee crying the whole time that her knees were killing her and she couldn't do it!). Then walked the edge to Vercamps. The picture below is actually the path Chuck, Billy (my bro) and my dad will be coming up when finishing their rim-to-rim hike in 4 weeks. CRAZY!!! So I hiked down a bit to get the pictures.

Maddy, my dad and Chuck coming up the path

(they went down further than me).

This was a cool rock.

The whole gang.

My cute kiddos!!

Guess who's the boss???

After a long day at the Canyon (and earning the Jr. Ranger badge there as well), we took off for home, stopped at McDonalds in Flagstaff and headed for home. I think we tired these kiddos out!

Nichelle... this is for you!

2009-08-30T21:42:00.003-07:00

Heehee... memories, eh?

{Notice Macee}

I'm getting over my perfectionism...

2009-08-26T21:30:00.003-07:00

CRAZY!!! OK... I have no pictures to post with this and I find that VERY hard to do! But I'm doing it anyways! I'm gonna try and post more on here about what I do in my life... because I believe you all are just sitting around DYING to know ;)

So I'm back at school and I love it! My teacher is a bit off the wall, but I think she will make it a great semester for us. My favorite Bio buddy is in my class this semester which makes it even better! We're working on blood right now... SUPER FUN! One fun thing I was told in class about pharmaceuticals is... it's the management of poison. I found that very interesting... true, very true! Oh- and my last name is "Meiser" according to my teacher. Would you correct her, or just let it go? The past 2 days I let it go because I assume she will mispronounce it again... what would you do?

Macee and I had a great day here at home. After 4 hours of sleep I got up, got the kids out the door for school and then played the computer for awhile and then made my lazy bum go to the gym. Had a great workout and even went swimming w/ Macee afterwards. Super fun!

Maddy bruised her tailbone pretty bad yesterday (Monday) falling off the monkey bars and landing straight on her bum... she's going to school with a little pillow in tow for the next couple days to help it not hurt so bad when she has to sit all day long (because she is NOT staying home over a bruised tailbone!). Tomorrow is Enrichment... a Back to School theme... should be fun (at least getting out is always fun!). Last night had a girls night out... saw PostGrad and went to Chili's afterwards. Super fun girls to hang with. My poor family (OK... poor hubby) has not seen me hardly this week. But that's OK... he's been gone hiking lately on Saturday's, so now it's my turn!

Hummmmmmm.... I think my brain is DEAD so I'm gonna crawl into bed so I can get a good night sleep!

Tomorrow's To-Do List...

1. Visiting Teaching

2. Macee's pre-school open house

3. Make Maddy's baptism invites

4. Irrigation... well, the open ditch time...

real irrigation is Friday at 3something AM

(too early for me!!!)

5. HFPE mtg!!!

Super fabulous!

Have a great night!

MIA...

2009-08-23T23:22:00.002-07:00

To see why I've been gone (if you care)

go check out my other blog...

www.beaperfect10.blogspot.com

And if you don't care, that's cool...

Hopefully I will get my rear in gear and get back on here.

I start school tomorrow...

YEA ME!!!

I feel so backed up...

maybe I'll get caught up, or maybe not...

Maybe I'll just get over the perfectionism

and be OK with not having it my way all the time.

We'll see! :)

Just Returning from HP6...

2009-07-15T03:48:00.004-07:00

YUP...

we nerds went to the Midnight Showing of

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (#6)...

Instead of waiting outside in lines (there was a heat advisory today) they allowed us to sit in the hallways in the movie theater (thank you very nice movie theater people!)!!! So we brought in our card table and chairs and played a game of groups and piles. Super fun. Then we (Fawn and I... our boys stayed in line waiting) decided to take the tables and chairs back to the car and go get dinner.

When we got back, they had been let into the theater (at 6pm) and got us the BEST seats! Now we had 6 hours to kill before the movie began. So we ate, played a game of 3-13's, visited and some tried to sleep. It was fun. I love the energy that is in the theater!!!

Look at us... we are FABULOUS!!!

Chuck, me, Fawn and Devon

Me and my hubby

Me and my Fawny!!!

Even Itty Bitty joined us! He was super good and slept through the whole movie!

We saw some weird dressers... some girls in too short of skirts that I cannot blog about. TRUST ME... it was awful!

And saw some people I haven't seen in FOREVER... like JR... can't remember his last name right now, but I graduated w/ him (he came w/ Devon's cousin... small world!).

All in all it was a great night!

Thanks for all who joined us

and thanks Mortensens

for being willing to go

to all the Midnight Showings

with us and helping us feel young!

We love you guys!

Goodbye Beautiful Blue Eyes...

2009-07-14T11:47:00.002-07:00

Hello (soon to be) healthy eyes!

Today was a sad day in the life of KaraLyn Melser (that's me).

I went to the eye doctor assuming that I would be getting new contacts (blue, of course) and some cute new glasses. I came home with new clear contacts, no new glasses and a report that isn't so happy. For the past X amount of years (since 9th grade) I have been sporting the most beautiful blue (fake) eyes and today I was told that I have to stop wearing them due to the lack of oxygen my eyes get from wearing these non-breathing contacts. Since my cornea (the clear covering over the iris... that's the colored part) has not been able to get enough oxygen from the outside air, it has been getting blood vessels in it (it's suppose to be avascular... meaning without blood vessels) to try and get oxygen there another way. And now I have cornea edema (swelling in my cornea). The only way to fix this is to get rid of the oxygen depriving contacts and wear the best contacts out there that gives the most oxygen to the cornea. So here I go on a new road in my life... no more flirty blue eyes... this will take some getting use to, but it's the health of my eyes that is the most important. Now I'm condsidering Lasix or something of the sort when just last week there was no way I would do it because it meant giving up my blue eyes. So when I get my eyes back to normal, that may be in the future for my eyes! To me this is all very interesting and I wanted it all down to refer back to... plus for those interested in the anatomy and physiology of it, you could understand what's going on! Oh- I also had a retinal scan and I saw the back inside of my eyeball. In there I saw my optic nerve, and the blood vessels coming and going from it. It was awesome!!! No macular degeneration for me and he said condsidering what is going on with my eyes, I have no other problems. I have great periphreal view, no signs of glaucoma (whew... caz it is in my family history) and diabetes will do something to the nerve opening and it all looks good! So my eyes, besides the blood vessels invading my cornea, are in good shape! OK... this is forever long about my eyes... but it's super sad for me to have to say good-bye to my blue eyes...

May you rest in peace Beautiful Blue Eyes

1993-2009

A late night snack...

2009-07-10T23:34:00.002-07:00

Nothing better than a late-night bowl of cereal! Trix is the one of choice tonight!

Had a great day... ran into Mortensen's at Costco... ended up going to their house to eat dinner and play games... decided to go swimming... got home a bit ago w/ WAY tired kids! I love it! Now... I'm off to finish my cereal, read "The Fire of the Covenant" and hopefully fall asleep soon!

A new focus...

2009-07-08T09:58:00.002-07:00

You can't organize clutter; you can only get rid of it! - FlyLady

So that's what I'm gonna be working on. Go check it out if you feel overwhelmed with the tasks in front of you! Comment here if you already do FlyLady and it works for you... I would LOVE some pointers. My house isn't too cluttered, but when it comes to schedules I stumble... and Chuck is a total schedule/list person. So my "gift" to him is to get our house on a "schedule" (running on complete rigid flexibility) before I start school next semester (in just 7 weeks)!

Go check it out and learn to FLY with me!

4th of July... Part 1

2009-07-04T01:55:00.006-07:00

So we started our fun celebration of 4th of July Fun with our Friday Funday... which, thankfully, got to include Chuck (YEA... no work for him today, it was their holiday off!) So last Saturday, Chuck went to the library where he secured a pass for 4 of us to get into the Arizona Science Center for free (so we paid for one kid only... can't beat that deal!). He decided we should use it for when he had off work (which was today... Friday).

We took the Light Rail over to Phoenix and enjoyed a ride on that (I've never been... but the kids and Chuck had been once). It was fun! Maddy enjoyed getting to stand up while driving.

(Thanks Macee for taking our picture)

When we got to the Science Center we had a great time going from exhibit to exhibit. After we were done we asked the kids what their favorite thing was...

Macee said, "The house... you know with the garden."

Maddy said, "All the hands on stuff."

Tyler said, "The thing with the pipes and balls."

I had fun sitting in the seat that you had to pull yourself up to the top using only your arm strength.

Chuck enjoyed the tug-o-war... such a boy at heart! I love it!

A few other fun things...

The Lego exhibit... all on a castle theme.

This screen they could go behind and "catch" the falling stuff... it was cool to watch it from the shadow side.

And one last favorite of mine was the computer program that had you take your picture right there at the computer and edit it! Don't Macee and I look CRAZY???

When we were done with the Science Center, we were hot, thirsty and hungry, so we found a Starbucks nearby and used the otherwise useless giftcards on some expensive water, cookies and a yummy smoothie (hey, but it was all free to us!). Everyone was happy again and off we were to catch the Light Rail back to the main station and head for home.

When we got home, Macee took a nap, I baked cookies and the others rested and played Tetris on the TV for the afternoon and then we went to the drive-ins with the Mortensens! We saw UP and The Proposal. It was super fun. What was really fun was the storm that blew in and we watched the movie from under easy-ups (one between the vehicles and one over the back of the Mortensen's truck). They worked out nice. Grandma Mortensen and Lance even showed up to watch UP with us! It was fun and we love to go to the drive-ins! You can't beat getting a family of 5 in for under $15 AND see 2 movies AND you don't have to smuggle your food into the theater in an over-sized purse!

So... pictures of everyone BEFORE the storm hit!

Jonny, Macee and Maddy

Jack, Fawn, Itty Bitty, Damon and Tyler

G-ma Mortensen, Lance, Devon and Gunnar

Me and Chuck

I think we tired them out today!

I know I'm tired...

and I have to be up at 630

to go to the Ward Breakfast...

I should go to sleep!

Qwelf... ever heard of it???

2009-06-25T22:25:00.005-07:00

So we got this new game called Qwelf

and played it {{oh... way back in March}}

and I just came across these pics and videos

and they made me giggle...

I think I need to get in a giggly mood

and play it again!

Anyone care to join me???

So for your viewing pleasure [I hope...]

The people involved are...

The MORTENSENS!!!

The MELSERS [T/Kt...]!!!

The MELSERS [Ch/K...]!!!

Carla... and...

Sarabeth!!!

What a mask!

I had to make a mask worthy of a masquerade ball with household items... aluminum foil anyone??? Oh- and Golden Spoon spoons (see Steve... we put them to good use!).

Chuck had to pretend like his knees were stuck together, he had no teeth (or was it no lips?) and he had to sing to us (his inmates... you see he was an officer) and tell us about how he got tarred and feathered (I think that was it!)!!!

Devon... this explains it all!

I know I'm DUMB!!!

2009-06-06T19:17:00.004-07:00

I insisted on not wearing sunscreen...

Now I'm paying the penalty!

And I hurt... and I'm cranky!!!

And I should be drinking water...

NOT liquid sanity [DP]...

But it is all my fault!

So I have to PAY!!!

But hopefully I'll get a good tan...

kinda weird looking

{because of a cami I was wearing}...

but the farmer's tan should be gone!

{let's hope!}

Hokey whats???

2009-06-01T15:43:00.002-07:00

Heehee... this video cracked me up! She is a silly little girl!

The FINAL Melser Family (real camping) Campout

2009-06-01T13:33:00.011-07:00

We had our annual Melser Family Campout at the Bonita Campground just out of Flagstaff, AZ at Sunset Crater. We left Thursday (5/28) around lunchtime with a plan to stop and deliver some brownies to some of Chuck's dental offices in Flagstaff.

As we headed into the mountains, it started raining on us... it was BEAUTIFUL. I love the rain! My only hope was that it wouldn't be raining when we needed to set-up camp.

We made it to our campsite and got things set-up. While we were setting up, Chuck worked on grilling some yummy steak for dinner.

We got settled for the night... not sleeping too comfortably... you know, not my own bed and a 4-yr-old joining you in your sleeping bag makes for not the best sleep! But we survived and were awake at 4:45am (not my idea... I promise!). Finally got out of the tent around 5:30 and joined others by the fire. Sorry women... this guy below is taken! I know, he's hard to resist!

The kids had fun gathering rocks and just running free playing around. This is the first year in about 10 years that I really enjoyed camping because I didn't have a baby or a toddler that I had to keep a constant watch on. It was way super nice to just relax and let them play! Macee and Lucy had fun making what they called their "centerpiece". They had a great time playing together at the campout. Their relationship is a funny one... it's a love/hate relationship... watch out when they aren't getting along! But they did really good up here!

Our planned activity for this day (Friday 5/29) was to go to Sunset Crater and Wupatki Indian Ruins and see the sites at these locations. We first went to Sunset Crater. The picture below is everyone looking out at the lava flow. It was really neat to see.

Pictured below (left to right)

Back row:Rachel, Isaiah, Sarabeth, Tyler and Maddy

Front row: Ali, Macee, Lucy and Hana

Chuck and Macee in a knotty tree we found along the hiking path at Sunset Crater.

A view of the volcano.

This below is called a spatter cone. It is a little mini volcano that just erupts out of the ground.

After hiking around Sunset Crater, we were going to have a picnic, but smart KaraLyn forgot the paper goods and so we decided to head back into camp and eat and let the tired kids rest up a bit. It was a good plan. So after a bit, we went to see the Wupatki Indian Ruins. We walked down the path and stopped at all the numbers and read a little about what we were looking at. I think the kids really enjoyed this!

Here is the main "apartment".

The circular area pictured here was where they held community events and different ceremonies.

The kids sitting on a ledge with the "ballfield" in the background.

Maddy, Tyler, Hana, Isaiah, Rachel, Macee, Ali and Lucy

The kids surrounding the blowhole. It was so windy you had to stick your hand down in the hole to even feel the wind coming up. I remember when I was younger this was really nice to put your face above when it was really warm outside.

Tyler posing at a view of the ruin. (I know, the picture is a little lopsided...)

A group shot in the Visitors Center

Back row: Macee, Chuck, me (KaraLyn), Lucy, Katie

Middle row: Tyler, Isaiah, Maddy, Traci

Front row: Ali

Maddy was trying to get her hood on and this is what happened... I thought it was funny, so I took a picture!

Little Kelly with her monkey buddy (her harness). She loves to wear it around.

Since I didn't want another uncomfortable night with a 4-yr-old sleeping with me, Chuck gave up his cot and we stuck both girls in one sleeping bag together and they slept very good this night. Chuck and I put our bags together and I slept much warmer as well!

Chuck and I were in charge of Saturday (5/30) morning breakfast. We decided to make breakfast burritos. Tyler took this picture of us cooking. I have a bit of smoke covering my eyes.

After breakfast we loaded everyone in 3 cars (our Suburban, a 10 passenger van and a 7 passenger van) and we took off for the Grand Canyon. Our first stop was Desert View Tower. We walked to the top and looked out over the Canyon and then had to pose by the chimney thing that I remember posing by as a kid. I just took a picture of whoever was around.

A picture of the Canyon.

Macee was being a stinker, but Tyler and Maddy wanted a picture here.

A picture of the Desert View Tower. Mom Melser told us that some of our ancestors helped build this.

After this stop, we decided it was lunchtime so, we found a picnic area to eat lunch at and no sooner did we start making lunch, it started sprinkling! Then we were ready to explore, it was raining quite heavily. So we ran to the bus stop (it took a few different tries, but we finally found the right one while running through the rain). We took the bus to the train depot and got off and hung out at the El Tobar hotel lobby/giftshop while we waited for the rain to pass.

Little Macee was a bit upset it was raining on her!

The rain started slowing down, so we headed over to Vercamps and they had a Ranger Talk going on, so we stopped and let the kids listen to it. It was on Mules. Very interesting... at least the parts I heard.

After that, the buses were up and running again to go up to Hermits Rest, so we walked to the bus stop and took a ride on up. I got this picture on the way up.

A view from Hermits Rest.

My Family!

Mom and Dad Melser! Thanks for letting me take your picture!

After Hermits Rest, it was time to head back to camp. As we were driving back, it started raining on us. We were a bit concerned about it being cold and wet back at camp, but when we got back, it was just sprinkling a bit and so we put up tarps inside the big gazebo (as Chuck calls it... most of us refer to it as a canopy, but Chuck doesn't like to share, nor share others can-o-py.. heehee). Dinner went well that night (yummy chili to warm our bellies) and we took off to bed a bit earlier than I wanted to, but it was quite cold and we had tired kids... oh- and I was exhausted!

On Sunday (5/31) we woke-up and started tearing down camp (out of fear of more rain that could possibly head in) and ate breakfast and continued to tear-down camp. As we were packing up, I started to see the rain clouds heading in, so all while praying it wouldn't rain, we moved a bit faster and we were able to get all of camp torn down before it rained. The kids just hung around and came running when we needed their help.

Pictured below: the 2005 babies

Ali, Macee and Lucy (Breana unable to make it to the campout)

On our way out of camp, we pulled over to take a picture of the San Francisco Peaks with some fresh snow on top of them. They had some when we came in, but got more from the storm on Saturday.

We stopped at a quaint little resturaunt, called Kachina (located on Rt. 66) in Flagstaff for lunch. Although the kids had lunch at camp before we left, I knew I wanted to go here on our way home, so Chuck and I didn't eat lunch. The kids didn't really eat much, but we had fun just being us!

We were hoping Macee would fall asleep on the way to one last stop, just so she might be a bit happy... luckily she did! I love having a Suburban. We can stick all the kids in the backseat and not have them right behind our heads! So nice!

We stopped at Montezuma's Castle on the way home. Inside the visitor's center, there was a cut out of Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt (as my kids know... he's from Night at the Museum), and Macee asked to have her picture taken with him. So I said "sure!" all while laughing! (Macee just walked in and saw what I was doing and said, "Mom, that's me and him. We're so cool!")

Here is Montezuma's Castle.

Thanks for posing kids! It was quite warm as we were walking around!

Me and my Chuck! Thanks for making this an awesome trip!

The kids by an Arizona Sycamore tree. Notice it has white bark? I can't remember why, but I could probably make up something good!

That's how were feeling towards the end of this weekend... a bit tuckered out!

Why a picture of a semi? Well, let me tell you about the end of this nice trip and why Chuck's hands hurt by the time we got home. (story below)

So as we were driving home, there were quite a few semi's out on the road. We would pull over in the left lane to pass when we needed to and move back over when we were done. So there was a point at which we were passing a semi (I remember it was blue) and we were right next to it. While we were there, it turned on it's signal, wanting to change lanes into ours. Chuck was trying to get in front of it so it could change lanes and as we got up almost be in front of it, I looked in at the driver (this semi earlier was not driving so good, swerving around and I looked in at him then as well, noticing he was on his cell phone) and just as I looked, he grabbed his rope for his horn and honked at us... RUDE!!! He doesn't rule the road, we were trying to move just as fast as we could to get out of his way! So we got past him and moved on. The next semi we saw was riding the middle line fairly tight... scary (I hate driving beside a semi... you know, they could CRUSH us) and I looked at the driver, and he looked down at me and he was scary looking! But we got past him. Then the next semi (we decided the driver was conversing with blue-semi dude on the radio) was in the right lane and changed lanes right in front of us, making Chuck have to hurry and change into the lane they were just in. He had plenty of time before we even got close to him to change lanes, but decided to do it right in front of us. I thought that was very dangerous. I'm grateful I have a husband who pays attention to the road and those driving around us. Thanks for keeping us safe on the road babe!

So, we made it home safe after a great weekend away. I love camping and the outdoors and especially cooler weather!

Now, are you wondering about the title? This is the last Annual Melser Family Campout that we will be actually having in a campsite. It was decided previous to this campout that we were changing it to every other year, but then after this campout, mom and dad decided this is not their idea of fun, so we are looking at going to a cabin or something in 2011.

My Little Infomercial...

2009-05-27T07:22:00.003-07:00

So Maddy came to me this morning after watching an infomercial on Lasix... here's our conversation.

Maddy: Mom you know that doesn't cost any money... it said no money down.

Me: (not awake enough to want to explain) oh?

Maddy: Yeah... it will change your vision

Me: oh?

Maddy: And it will change your life!

Me: giggle... giggle

Maddy: Then you won't have to try and find your glasses in the morning!

She is such a silly girl! She makes me laugh. The Lasix infomercial has even my 7-yr-old w/ perfect vision SOLD!

A "Lock" of Love...

2009-05-15T18:04:00.006-07:00

"Mom, I want to cut my hair short." Wow... that was random... I didn't see it coming. My Maddy has been working very hard at growing her hair out. But I always told myself that if my girls want their hair a certain way (within reason) I will let them do what they want to do. So I thought about it and made her think about it and I came up with a plan! If it was long enough to donate to "Locks of Love" she could do it! I told her about "Locks of Love" and she was super excited! And it was long enough (has to be at least a 10 in ponytail)!!! So on April 28th, we ventured over to our "hair lady" and set out on Maddy's quest!

Here's her before picture! Both front and back.

Now... gathering it back into a ponytail.

Are you going to be brave Miss Maddy???

It's long enough!

Here we go...

It's going...

going...

GONE!!!

There is her 11+ inch ponytail!

I love her new hair do! It's so fun for her! And best of all she LOVES it too! Perfect for the summer... although I have to round brush it and can't just brush it and leave it down! But since she is super cute, it doesn't matter to me!

Adding in the summer blonde!

2009-05-15T17:59:00.003-07:00

I always color my own hair through the Fall/Winter... but when Spring/Summer hits, I gotta go get some blonde added in.

Beam me up Scotty!!!

Highlights of red and blonde setting in!

And the final product! I sure love it! It's fun and SASSY!!!

Colossal Cave...

2009-05-15T17:48:00.003-07:00

We decided for April Break this year to take a day trip to Tucson to take the kids to see Colossal Cave. We surprised them with the trip (which we rarely do because I'm super excited about it!). It ended up being a super windy day there, but we battled the wind and looked at everything we possibly could there. It was a fun trip for anyone who is curious about it... just pack a picnic lunch and head on down... although it is warming up and being in Tucson, remember... they are as warm as we are! But anyways... back to the story... well... let's let the pictures do the explaining!

The map of the cave...

The entrance of the cave.

Stalactites are the ones hanging from the ceiling

(because they have to hold "tite")

Stalagmites are the ones going from the ground up

(because they "mite" meet up with the hanging ones)

I learned that easy trick to remembering!

My outlaws!

Oh- and yes, I was there as well... I'm just always behind the camera!