It started out as a four day weekend trip up to the pines in Flagstaff. We were suppose to take the camper trailer but found out we have to replace all the flooring, and it wouldn’t be ready in time. Instead of canceling the trip (( the kids would have been bummed )) we decided we would tent camp this weekend. Yes, in the middle of summer. You see, we are smart people...... So anyways, we bought all the things we needed, packed up the Tahoe, and loaded the Razor on the Trailer. We left Thursday afternoon and 45mins into our trip my car started acting up. We had to call Brandon’s dad to come pick up the trailer so Brandon could drive the car without the huge load weighing it down more. We ended up dropping the car to our mechanic and loaded all our stuff into his dads truck to take the following morning. (( for some reason we still weren’t giving up on this trip....)) 

We get there, set up camp early in the morning, and wouldn’t you know... record heat temperatures in the afternoon. Perfect..... We took the kids for a ride in the Razor and when we got out my legs were soaked with sweat against the seats. It was hot under the pop up tent, it was hot in the tent. We couldn’t escape it. I was over it within two hours.... still though, we aren’t giving up. I think we were determined to make this trip work since the kids have been stuck inside with very few friends coming over to play because of COVID 19. It hasn't been a usual summer vacation. So we decided we will just stay a night and pack up in the morning. 

Thank gosh it cooled down later in the evening. We made dinner and Brandon and I went on another Razor ride while the kids stayed back with our friends who came with us. He gets crazy when he drives the Razor. 😜 Sometimes I remind myself of my mom when she is sitting in the passenger seat of my car. She will start gasping, gripping the door like she is holding on for dear life, and pushing down on her imaginary break pedal every 5 seconds.... apparently I'm a nascar driver. 😑 ughhhh... Anyways, we are climbing the cinder mountains and riding through the pines pretty fast when a BAT, yes... a freaking bat, flies right in front of me going the same direction as us... It wasn’t too close but close enough that I was a little scared so I screamed. Then, I swear it was in slow motion. I could hear it’s wings flapping in the wind. It pulls back... and I freaked out. I think I screamed louder then I ever have and there might have been some flailing arms like a crazy person. It came wayyyyy to close. Like arms length... Sooooooo what does Brandon do? Speeds up and is laughing soooo hard. 🤨 OH. MY. GOSH. I could have strangled him. He loves to do things like this to me. 

We finally get back , sit by the fire for a while, and then head to bed. As if this trip needed a little cherry to top it all off. Our air up mattress has a slow leak so every couple of hours we would wake up with a huge bow in the center of our mattress from it deflating. I’m a stomach sleeper so you can just guess how comfortable I was. We had to keep the generator next to our tent the entire night so we could air up our mattress. By morning we were ready to leave. Both of us this time. We made breakfast and packed up right away... Don’t get me wrong we still had tons of fun, and we will for sure come back. More prepared perhaps? Maybe with the trailer, maybe with the tents when it’s not summer, probably a full windshield on the Razor, and a brand new air up mattress we test out BEFORE we leave. 

We are pulling out and my 5 year old, Paxton, says “ I love the sound of leaving.” 😂😂😂