Buddy: A Study (by Isa)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

My favorite? Buddy on the climbing wall.

Annual Father's Day Campout - Sunday

Father's Day morning was celebrated with pancakes and presents. Among other things, Isa showered Papa with artwork: all variations on the theme of sea turtles, Papa's "animal". There were surfin' sea turtles, underwater sea turtles, a sea turtle with removable "coupons" for kisses and hugs, and a book about "How to Be a Turtle."

The "How to Be a Turtle" got such laughs from Papa that I may have to write a separate post about it.

The weather was so beautiful that once we packed up the campsite, we decided to get one more hike along the rim in. Ina toted her trusty field guide the whole way, stopping to investigate every tree, bush, and bird.

Annual Father's Day Campout - Saturday

Saturday morning, we woke to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof. The rain stopped in time for C to cook up some eggs and bacon for breakfast.

Once fortified, we packed up for the day's hike along the rim to the Village. It was still cool and cloudy, so we loaded up C's backpack with jackets just in case.

Sure enough, about halfway through the hike, the skies opened up and it started raining again. We stopped long enough for me to snap the next picture; it was a favorite photo op from our first Father's Day Campout at the Canyon.

The view of the Canyon from the Village was incredible in spite of -- or likely because of -- the rain. Really, the view is always spectacular and ever-changing depending on the weather, the time of year, or the time of day.

The rain didn't let up, so we decided not to fight the crowds that were already cramming into the Lodges, and instead took the shuttle bus back to the campground. Conveniently, the rain had stopped by the time we got to Mather. On the short hike to the campsite, we were rewarded with the sight of these guys relaxing unperturbed.



Later, back at camp, Isa pretended she was Anasazi and tried to figure out how to make paint for pictographs. First she made a paintbrush out of pine needles, then she ground up some charcoal from last night's fire, then she mixed in some water, and tah-dah ... well, kind of a paintable mixture. It was a little watery; we later learned from a book in the Visitor Center bookstore that what was missing was some kind of binder, such as egg white, yucca juice, or blood (ick!).

Ina watched Isa for a while, then decided it was a nice time for a Good Sit near the fire.

After a dinner, the girls rode loop after loop after loop around the campground. C and I quickly realized we couldn't keep up on foot, so we positioned ourselves on opposite ends of the loop so as to keep them in sight at all times. Clearly we will need to bring our own bikes next time.


Two minutes after we tucked them into their sleeping bags they were out like a light.

Annual Father's Day Campout - Friday

For what is fast becoming a Father's Day tradition, we headed up to Grand Canyon for a long weekend of camping.

We arrived shortly after noon, and after set-up and a quick lunch, we headed off for the short hike to the rim.

By the time we got back it was Happy Hour, and Ina appointed herself Beer Delivery Girl.

The rest of the evening was spent relaxing around the fire, enjoying a dinner of hot dogs and salad, and perfecting/debating the proper marshmallow roast.

Crafty, Crafty... (Papa, don't look!)