OK, so just when we think we are getting back to a normal work and life schedule, it's ANOTHER long weekend away in the amazing beauty up north!
An amazing friend gifted us with a long weekend away in Sedona at a beautiful resort with breathtaking views of the Sedona Red Rocks! What's even better is it's only a short 3 hour drive from our home so the drive was bearable for both Cooper and I! I'm not much of a 'car ride' person as most know. I am horribly afflicted with car sickness. It's so bad that once I got car sick driving MYSELF so the short drive was a blessing! On the way there, Cooper took a short nap then woke up asking, "where's DONAS Mama?" So funny, we kept saying it's SE-DONA Cooper but once he puts his mind to call it that, that's what he's going to call it until he decides otherwise! He must take after the 'TOLAR' side of the family...oh wait, the Washburn's are just as bad! Poor boy is doomed to a life of stubborn independence!
Ok, our relaxing get-a-way wasn't quite the de-pressurizing trip that we both probably needed, but we got in a little down time! The Resort suite was excellent with a full kitchen, dining room, fireplace in the living room, and excellent bathroom accomodations. We enjoyed home cooked meals...aka a working vacation for us both in the sense of our general breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cleaning duties! None the less, it was nice to be in a place where the air is a little cooler, the pool is a little bigger, and the view is a lot different on all accounts!
As for activities, we made good use of my husband's brand new pride and joy...his Xterra! We did some trails and narrowly escaped with a slight smack to the rocker panel on the bottom of the truck. We drove away with just a little broken piece of plastic and some famous ARIZONA PINSTRIPES! I thought he'd be devestated about the scratches in the paint as he's constantly teased by us all that he's going to wash the paint right off the truck with his meticulous upkeep! To my dismay, not a flinch at all! I think he's looking at the scratches and the crack as a badge of off-roading honor to share with his Xterra Club friends! The way a man's mind works is amazing isn't it?!
Ok, so on to the fun stuff. We took a trip down to Oak Creek to swim and relax. The boys in their suits as I opted to stay dry and clothed to take a short nap. Reasoning, I'd only slept 4 1/2 hours the night before. A word to the wise, don't make the mistake of drinking coffee before bed if you generally have insomnia on a regular basis. Now that I think about it, not so much a word to the wise as it is a testament to my own stupidity!
As we all know, not all things go as planned. After a great picnic, we found a nice sandy spot to settle in off the bank of the Creek and I laid out my beach mat to settle in under the canopy of green. The nap didn't take on as I planned because I got a 2nd wind and what was apparantly a bout of daytime insomnia. Something I've not experienced before and wasn't the most relaxing thing, so I decided to play with my camera for awhile. Don't laugh at my pictures, the green canopy was really amazing!
Bob and Cooper came back up the bank with Cooper in the lead saying, "Mama, come see. You got to see dis Mom!" I blindly followed out to the creek and Cooper slid down the rock bank into the water only to have his feet fly out from under him on the slippery alge covered bottom. So much for staying dry, in I went to grab his hand and OOPS, I slipped and fell right in I held onto him for dear life so he didn't get swept down river while Bob stood on the bank laughing with all the other Creek goers! Nothing like providing him with a good laugh while I'm terrified of loosing my son down the creek. I guess I'm too uptight and he's too laid back. The Yin and Yang of our marriage never ceases to amaze me! The rest of the trip, I decided that opting for the pool would be a safer place to swim!
One of the pools at the resort had some great features. There was a water spout section for Cooper to play, a negative edge hot tub, and lots of room for swimming and relaxing. Cooper played with the other kids stomping, kicking, and punching the water spouts like a Ninja Turtle which was fun to watch as he ran around saying, "AWESOME!" That's his new favorite Ninja Turtle saying. Bob's convinced he's going to be an Ultimate Fighter when he grows up, I am praying God has better plans for him!
So, we are back home and ready to get back on the road for our next trip to Flagstaff shortly...there truly is no rest for the wicked especially when you are truly a Tolar!
