I Love Hiking!!

Hiking up Madera Canyon to Bog's & Kent's "Springs"  

Let's just say, that they were true to the desert, since you really have to search for the water...  

Actually we climbed up to 6100 ft, which ascent happened to be all in the last 1/2 mile - Patrick may never go hiking with me again, or at least not straight uphill with Payson on his back.  On the way down Payson fell asleep on my back and his head kept bouncing against my back!  Who can sleep like that?  The "family" picture is what happens when I try to be in the pictures, oh, and us not having showered and all sweaty from hiking.  We were quite the treat that morning!  We've decided that hiking is a great way to spend time together & outdoors.  Walking, talking, beef jerky (which even Payson enjoyed), beautiful surroundings, aaahhhh, I just love it!

  

Payson tries to eat animal crackers with a pencil, not pictured is the attempt that actually worked!  How much more satisfying food must taste when you've truly worked for it!  He also found his way into the oven drawer, it was only a matter of time.  And, the pot lid, well, that was actually Mommie.  Oops!  Free advice:  don't burn a glass lid over flame, and then resume to use as normal, because, it wont function as normal and can't take a pot of boiling water, it will indeed shatter!

    

Payson found some keys in the "junk" drawer and ran to the front of the house to open the door!  Later he tried to set the table while I was cooking in the kitchen.  He did a pretty good job: place mat, fork, spoon, and bowl.  It's hilarious when we find out how much more he understands and remembers, and his desire to do everything himself.  If he can't reach it, he'll bring over is plastic $ store chair as an enabling device, the world gets bigger for him, and becomes more "over" for me!