Family Vacation - Something is Fishy

The Rainbow Trout Farm

In Oak Creek Canyon

We had such a fun time pulling these little buggers out of the water. The boys decided that they were trained fish, they knew how to get the bait off the hook without being hooked. Good thing we are trained fisherman and knew how to out smart the fish.

Once you catch your fish you take them to the check out (tee-hee) they clean them for you and you can cook and eat them right there on the property. Since I am a planning freak we already knew this and we were prepared with all of the fixings for a great BBQ fishy picnic lunch.

The Mecham's Acting Fishy

Not so cute and funny anymore

Oh, the fish was so yummy and fresh tasting. Ignore Spencer he doesn't know anything about good food. YUMMY...YUMMY!

Family Vacation - Red Rock Country

After camping for three nights at the Grand Canyon we went and stayed at our timeshare resort in Sedona for four nights. Normally three nights camping is my limit but I really could have spent the entire week camping. But, instead I slept in a comfy bed with an incredible thread count, took baths in a jetted tub and cooked on a stove top with food that I didn't just pull out of an ice chest. I am a SURVIVOR!!
We love Sedona! The kids always talk about the Vortex and wonder if it is real. Last trip Spencer even snatched a rock to bring home so the Vortex and it's positive energy could live in our home. Dad roles his eyes and I just dream of a place where the energy is so strong and uplifting that it can have such a positive effect it can last for days afterwards. Hello, sign me up!

RED ROCK COUNTRY

Can you feel the positive energy?

Every day we would venture out into Red Rock Country in the morning and then resign to our resort for napping, swimming, mini golf and a movie.

Oh yeah feel that positive energy!

Family Vacation - Celebrating Independance

Old Town Fourth of July

Williams, AZ

A day filled with Old Town fun. A reenactment of the first William's 4th of July parade brought horse drawn carriages, soldiers and many people dressed the part.

Free entrance into the Aquatic center brought even more fun and for us campers a nice hot shower.

Roasted corn on the cob, cotton candy and a playground at the Community center brought happy tummy's and big laughs.

Yummy Mexican food on the dining patio brought a much needed break from camping food.

A good Old Town parade brought smiles, candy and lots of horn honking.

God Bless Our Country

Family Vacation - Junior Rangers

Everyone wants a badge and a title right? Well my three junior people definitely earned their title as Junior Rangers. They went on hikes, learned in museums, attended multiple Ranger programs, completed their ranger booklets and saw lots of wildlife.
The road to Junior Rangership at the Grand Canyon

Step 1: Ranger Programs

Story Time

The Tales of the Ravens

Fossil Hike

Step 2: The Ranger Booklet

BORING

She is totally faking.

Step 3: Experience the canyon

Not Boring

But a tad bit scary for mom.

Step 4: Take the sworn oath and become a

JUNIOR RANGER

VIOLA!

There you have it the Mecham kiddos are now Junior Rangers.

It doesn't get better than this.

Family Vacation - The Canyon

This year we decided to explore the great outdoors of Arizona and one of the great wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon. We are so blessed to live so close to such an amazing natural creation. This is the second time we have camped, hiked, explored, played and learned at the Grand Canyon.

I can not express enough how much I love the pines. I love the sights, smells and beauties of being in the mountains amongst the pines. What better way to escape the CRAZY of every day life then to live amongst Gods great creations.

I love camping this for me as a youngster defined family vacation. That's what we did camped and fished, oops I think I mixed those two up, we FISHED and camped. That is what vacation was all about and that is all it had to be about. MY LB and I wish nothing more then for our kids to put camping right up there with their most cherished kiddy memories. No phones, No computers, No video games, No rides, No silly people in costumes, No T.V. and ABSOLUTELY NO rushed schedules and places we had to be at a certain time.

Don't get me wrong I love Shamu and Mickey as much (o.k. maybe not as much as some) as anyone else but there is so much more to life to experience.

The real creations the ones that make your mouth drop, goose bumps multiply, eyes widen and your faith in the Creator of all reach new heights.

THE GRAND CANYON

It rained everyday! They were the biggest coldest raindrops I have ever felt. We watched as people ran for cover, put up their umbrellas or whatever else they could find and yelled to others to hurry up. NOT US!! We let the rain hit our warm bodies and laughed with delight as the big cold drops drenched us.

I can not begin to express the amazement we felt as we all stood looking over the edge. I loved watching the kids (when they weren't to close) their expressions reading excitement, anxiety and curiosity. This year they were also old enough to wonder, HOW? It was so much fun to visit the different museums and read about the hows and the whys and answer all their questions. Like MY LB and I they just couldn't get enough.

This is my favorite picture of the canyon. If you look closely you can see the Colorado River rapids. It is an absolutely ERROSIVE picture.