"Follow The Yellow Brick Road" - Judy Garland

So I got tired of my whining.

There is NO "fall" here.  No changing leaves.  No cold.  No need for long sleeves.

So last Saturday . . . we headed north.  North bound to Sedona.  You see a little co-worker told the Pita a thing of beauty . . . "the leaves are changing & beginning to fall in Sedona".

. . . . You had me at "changing".  My day pack is packed.  So we woke up Peanut bright and early [like she went in her P.J's, early] and off we went.  With a promise of colored leaves, a 8 mile hike & even some fly fishing for the big-guy.

After our normal bickering during travel. . . .

 . . . ."you are too close" . . . . . "You drive too fast" . . . . "you are an angry driver" . . . . "you are NOT teaching Peanut how to drive" . . . . and a freaking whole lot of honking . . .

Ahhhhh Sedona.  The only fabulous City in Arizona where they are too stupid to put in TWO lanes that lead to the city.

First stop.  holy bummer.  How did I not know the 50k was today.  super bummed.  Would have loved to run it!  Saw a few runners at mile 17.  They looked great & strong.

Here's the photo Peanut captured of me wishing I was running.

Next stop.  Fishing for Pita.  Frolicking in the water for Peanut and for me FREEZING.  I got what I asked for . . . cold.  And you guessed it . . . only a long sleeve hoodie-ish thing [minus the hood].  So I sat trying to find my inner lizard on a rock to soak up the sun.  Ya, doesn't work when the rock is freezing too.  Anyway, spent 1.75 hours picking out items out of the Nordstrom Christmas Catalog . . yay!  I found my must have boots Karen!!  Bummer they don't come in red. ;)

So it's lunch time but the Pita wants to get a hikin'.  We have a lot of water and almonds.  Oh yay.   We are off.  It's beautiful.  b e a u t i f u l.  Even prettier than I had imagined. 

Yellow leaves all over the path/walk-way.  Awesome.

We got about 1.5 miles in and Peanut mentioned the word.  lunch. 

Peanut: when is lunch? 
[I look at the Pita]
Peanut: Do we have lunch? 
Peanut: Mom, please tell me you packed a lunch? 
Emz:  Kid you ate your "lunch" at 10:05. 
Peanut:  Mom, what time is it?
Emz:  ummmm, ya.  I don't know.  we're walking.  we're walking . . .
Peanut:  Mom.  Time.  Por Favor.  [yes, when the Pita takes Spanish lessons, we all benefit]
Emz:  it's like one kjhdaswtaysf [that's me slurring]
Peanut: one what?
Emz:  uggg, fine 1:35pm.

So we make it another 1/4 mile and we see "Happy Camper Joe".  Who says, what we think was, "howdy [no joke], you are all gonna love the view.  spent the night there.  only 3 miles to go to beauty".

The look from Peanut was priceless.  Then without saying a word she went to the nearby tree and did this:

Awwwww, ya.  That's my girl.  Such fierce determination. Such vigor.  Such excitement.

So we did what all parents would do.  Played one hour of "I Spy".  I could care less if I ever play that game again.  But it worked.  We got there.  And it was wonderful.  And worth it.  And awesome.

We did see a super cool mouse with serious issues.  kept going in circles. 

We stayed at least 5 minutes and.  it.  never.  stopped. 

Pita was going to "put it out of it's misery" but tears from Peanut --- quickly halted the hunt.  I have a sweet video of it that I have no clue how to upload or attach.  It's sad but freaking hilarious at the same time.

Peanut & Pita decided to follow camper Joe's advice and get their feet soaking wet in the water and go the extra 1/4 mile around the canyon.  Me.  No.  Thank you.  My blisters are almost fully recovered from October 2nd.  I'm sitting this one out. 

Turns out, the party-pooper . . [me] . .  was smart.  Guess who had freezing toes and needed "beaver skin" [AKA ...mole skin, I swear the kid will never remember the right word].

The 4+ mile trek back was hilarious.  Fabulous family experience.  My kid.  She's pretty funny.  Loved every whine and comment.

Like:
[each statement below is al la Peanut, where does she learn the sarcasm?!]

* Mom, spare me the "50 mile stories"
* Mom, this is not mile 48.
* So next time you expect me to walk 8 miles, could we maybe pack 7 Cheerios?
* I am hopeless.  [As she trips over her 42 rock of the day.]
* Ehhhhh, who needs to feel their toes anyway?
* so do I get a buckle or a pat on the head when this is over?
* I spy something that starts with a "s".  [no pause] soup.  Oh wait that was just a mirage.  [this kid reads too much].
* Where are MY 300 Spartan sleeves?  I am Spartan!
* Mom, look I'm you . . .[flexes her abs, raises her arms, then says MY LINE!]...... "I've freaking got this!" heeeheeeheee.

Not sure where she gets this personality of hers . . .but....I.  Love.  It.

Yay for family road trips.  Even ones without proper food.