Memorial Day Weekend Get-a-way

Every once in a while, Keith needs to getaway. Generally, it's in the summer and its hot. This year, it is summer and his A/C business has been very busy and so even though it hasn't been too hot {yet}, we decided to go up north for the weekend...

...at the last moment.

We called around trying to find a hotel up in Strawberry or Pine and finally found a cabin available in Mormon Lake.

So, off we went, too cooler weather and no phone service!

We were hoping to get up there by 4pm...

... but we didn't leave until after 4. But at least we were on our way to having fun!

Oh, you know I brought along a little something to work on too.

Backseat goofiness {courtesy of Emma}

Ah, relaxation...

...and a good prime rib dinner.

We had cabin 8. It was a really cute little cabin that had everything: two queen beds and a sofabed, a kitchenette, and a gas fireplace.

On Sunday, we did a little sightseeing at the National Parks near Flagstaff.

First, Sunset Crater.

We stopped first at one of the lava flows and did a little {lava} rock climbing.

A little perspective.

A beautiful view

Trying to get back to the car was difficult. We ended up having to trace our steps.

Then we went a little bit further down the road. We were hoping to see some ice caves we had seen years ago when Leah was a little girl and one of the kiddos {most likely Justin} was in a stroller.

But, even though the paths were smoother...

... the winds were stronger.

At first glance, this will look staged, but its not. We were literally being blown away the winds were so strong! Look closely at Keith's shirt and Emma's hair.

We decided shortly after this to turn around and leave. The wind was just too much.

But, I did take a few pictures of some old trees on our way out. They had such character.

On to the next site!

We hadn't visited the Wupatki ruins yet, so I was excited to go see them.

Wupatki Visitor's Center

I always take advantage of steps and get a picture of Keith and I, even if the light is a bit harsh.

We stopped to rest, mostly because after sitting around for the past 4 years, my endurance for walking isn't what it used to be.

We found this arrow carved in the rock while we were resting.

{This end UP}

We were fascinated by the way they incorporated the boulder into the building and how there was the one piece of wood used underneath which surely must have been replaced recently.

Keith pointed out the use of the different colored rocks in the wall. Decoration or is it even original?

The water had eroded the rock away here. Keith pointed out the little pebbles in each little indentation, remarking that the pebbles in the water is what eroded the rock away. To me, it looked like it could have been a little waterfall.

I really enjoyed walking around the ruins, but I think we would have gotten a lot more out of it if we had picked up a brochure!

After sightseeing, it was dinner time!

10 ounces of beef!

I did have help finishing...

Mormon Lake {on the way back to the cabin}

After dinner, Justin and I played a rousing game of Risk.

The dice are a little well loved. We determined that the blank side is the 1. The two just shows one little battle explosion and the other sides of the dice are {mostly} discernible.

You know how Risk can go on forever, so we decided to play until the neutral silver had been eliminated. Which kept the game mostly civil until the end, when Justin {who was winning anyway} went on a battle frenzy and conquered many of what I had hoped were fortified countries.

At the end of the game, Emma decided she wanted to play. But, one can only take so much of Risk.

We packed up and came home the next day. One of the hardest part about coming home is returning to the heat but it really wasn't hot while we were gone, so coming home was actually pleasant.

So, the only thing we really need to do now, is celebrate Justin's birthday which {sadly} is something that gets put off into the summer each year because of Memorial Day {and his lazy mother who keeps putting off setting up a party}.

How is it that one match can start a forest fire,
but it takes a whole box of matches to start a campfire?
~Christy Whitehead