What-A-Day at the KOA!

The sign says, "Welcome Home", but what do you get when you mix a cat running around on a leash, a golf cart selling salads and advertising men in kilts, and a fat guy wearing choners with loafers in public (as if lightening has struck and ALL women think he's God's gift)? No, not my family reunion, although I wouldn't be surprised if Jen would have Fat Eddy on that leash... On second thought, that may have actually happened at one of my family reunions... But, this time the crazy riddle above has nothing to do with the Ruchtis and everything to do with the KOA!

That's right! Dave and I have had our very first, and quite inevitably our very last KOA experience. Growing up, Dave did all of his camping in tents and as far away from other campers as the land would permit. Me, on the other hand--- camping to me was staying at the family cabin in Island Park during the summers. Running water, a toilet, a shower, a bed... all readily available at my every whim. Before I met and fell in love with my man, the only tent camping I had done was at church girls camp... and at the time I DESPISED the arts and craps, I mean crafts that they used to make us do. The sleeping in tents part was bearable, the singing camp songs and making dream-catchers was NOT. Needless to say, I didn't finish my camping career with the young women of the Alameda Stake.

Now on to today! Dave and I have a great system. He does all of the dirty work, I make the s'mores! 'Nuf said! Since I am pretty much willing to go anywhere as long as he is in charge of set-up and clean-up, these two camping lovebirds find camping to be magical! We love to be on our own, away from the world, yet with those we want to be with.
I don't enjoy seeing John Doe's butt-crack from one campsite over, and unintentionally making eye-contact with a crazy woman in the bathroom from Oregon who thinks the bunion on her foot might need some medical attention. Apparently, I look like a nurse, cuz her foot was all up in my business. Oh yes she did!

We did have a great time hanging out with our pals, Gavin and Jessica, and their adorable little tyke, Kendall. Phoenix had fun, too, digging in the dirt and getting dirty. She had even more fun on all of the playgrounds we ended up taking her to. The Flagstaff-KOA is right across the street from the mall and Del Taco, which incidentally both have toys that Phoenix loves to play at. Even the KOA had an old-school playground for kids to play on. Urban camping at it's finest, am I right?

In just a couple of more weeks we'll be taking Phoenix and Gracie on a real camping adventure in Idaho. We'll see if she instantly looks for the toys. Boy, does she have another thing coming. Now that's a tantrum in the making!


Here's Dave and Gracie just before our "nature" walk. It ended up being a circle in a field about a few hundred feet around. But I did learn the name of the type of cypress in my front yard!

What you can't see is the incredible filth caked all over her shoes, hair, and pants because daddy said it's okay to get dirty when we're camping. I don't think he expected for her to start making sandcastles all over herself. She took an inch and ran a mile with it!

Phoenix Rose Turns 3!!!

We had a great day today. It started at the butt-crack of dawn because that's what time you have to get up to enjoy the outdoors in this godforsaken place. After a birthday doughnut and mommy's coffee, it was off to the park for an hour of TOYS! For lunch "we" enjoyed Peter Piper Pizza (and by we I mean Phoenix enjoyed)with Ryan and Kyle and Auntie B. We ended the day with yet another round of... what's that? You guessed it, PIZZA!... AND cake, of course! Phoenix got a broomset (my kids gotta carry their own weight early on this family), a laptop (like mommy's), and some bathtub drums! Oh, and I forgot the BEST one! Her very first pair of PUMAs!!! We promised her if she got potty trained then we would sign her up for a new soccer team in August. And guess what... oooooh yeah! I made it... or I mean SHE made it! (but really, I made it).


<== What a couple of CHEESEBALLS!!!


I really did mean to make a super special cake, but in the end... this! Maybe next year, girlfriend!

I swear that Phoenix's eyes get more and more piercing each and everyday!

I glance at these pictures I took of the girls today and I am amazed that I wasn't able to see how identical they look until now!!! Everyone said it, but I just couldn't really SEE it until I put their photos next to each other on this blog! Wow!

And here is Phoenix's "Mini-Me"

Man, I could use a haircut... and a less cheesy smile. I look like I belong in Austin Powers. But this is the only pic we got of me, so let me just say I think you're shagadelic, baby!

Casper May Be Living In My House

So, I'm not sure what any of you think about spirits or ghosts, but I have unfortunately been forced to answer that question as of late. You see, when you have a crazy, voo-doo sister-in-law (and I mean that in the kindest, most loving context) living next door (actually on the other side of the wall -- it's a duplex), you can't help but worry about what effect that may have on you. She reads Tarot cards, which isn't a huge deal, except that every time I go to her house she has a new book on astrology, tarot, and as of late WITCHCRAFT. She makes medicine bags full of different herbs that supposedly help with different problems. She burns her candles to channel energy and inscents to... I don't know... whatever inscents are meant to do. She asks her magic eight ball about important life decisions and has 3 different sets of Tarot. When she moved into the house she had a sayonce...... okay, okay, there was no sayonce, but the rest is true. She moved into the other side of our duplex about a year ago and when she did she said that she believed there was a spirit living in her house. Later, she found Tarot, astrology, and all the other wack-o, shmack-o stuff aforementioned.

So, onto me. My daughter is paranoid about this "bad guy" that lives in her room. At first we thought it was her imagination. Now, I'm starting to wonder if it may be more. Recently, she has been getting more and more scared of being alone in her room, especially if it is too dark. She no longer plays under her bed (where the bad guy supposedly is). The other day she said to me that she was ready to take her nap, but a few seconds later she came out and slammed the door behind her stating that she no longer wanted the nap. When I made her lay down in her bed with the door wide open, she screamed for 20 minutes until I thought she was having a panic attack. I thought she was possibly just trying to get out of the nap, so I thought I'd test her to see, just in case. I told her she could sleep on my bed, but if she started messing around then it was straight to her room. She layed in my room and was out within a couple of minutes. I was sick to my stomach. What if there is more to this bad guy thing than we'd like to believe? I have to say, I'm a little unnerved.

Survivor Theme Birthday Party!!!

I've decided to go all out this year for Dave's 30th birthday. Technically, his birthday has come and pass without much of a bang (actually, not even a crackle), so I've decided to make it up to him in a big way. I'm going to throw him a belated birthday party while we are in Idaho this August. It's going to be a Survivor theme party where we split the guests up into tribes and challenge each other to outplay, outsmart, and outlast the other team... or however that saying goes. I've come up with some pretty rad games, but could use a few more ideas if anyone has any to give.

Some ideas:
1. Fire Challenge -- make a fire with flint/steel and build it up enough to burn through the rope strung about 2 or so feet off the ground.
2. Spear Throwing Contest -- every person on the teams get 3 throws. Throws are worth points based on where the spear lands. The team with the most points wins the challenge.
3. Scavenger Hunt -- players search for puzzle pieces through clues/riddles. Once all of the puzzle pieces have been retrieved, the team goes to their assigned table and begins assembling. The completed puzzle will give the team the last clue needed to find the challenge prize... or some sort of version played off of that.
4. Worm Eating Challenge -- teams compete to see who can chew and swallow their gummy worms the quickest. I thought about making it some gross food like rice with some outrageously hot, hot sauce, but decided that I don't want to be responsible for any myocardial infarctions. Old people and hot stuff... they no likey!!!

We'll have a giant slip n' slide at the party, too, so I would like to come up with a fun challenge to use that one in. I'm thinking 5 or so games should be plenty and it needs to be geared more toward adults, although there will be some teenagers participating as well. I'm going to have easy, fun games for the little kids so that they can keep themselves entertained while the big kids have their fun in the sun.

Man, if I can pull this off then I should be considered wife of the century... year?...month?... okay, day!!! So, suggestions? Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Buehler?