Desert Adventures

This adorable picture of Brad and December was actually taken at the Wild Animal Park, not the desert, but it accidentally got in the wrong post. They are looking at a little leopard-type cat that is being shown by its handler.


Here we are on the way east, out to the desert to see what we can see. December fell asleep in her car seat, as she is prone to do on long trips. As we drove through the super-windy mountains, we saw cities that had been ravaged by the wildfires. Much of the area we went through was black from the fires, and everything from the cactus plants to trees to homes were burned. We saw quite a few homes where only the foundations remained...with a motorhome or trailer sitting next to the barren foundation where the people now live. It was incredible to see how much the firefighters saved, though, too -- with the blackened line coming within yards sometimes of the homes and fields.


Here we are eating our picnic lunch in a little park in a little town that came up out of almost nowhere.



December liked playing in the dead leaves. I think she liked how they gave a satisfying crunch when she stepped on them.


This is one of my favorite pictures -- December peeking around the trunk of a tree in the park.


We were all able to get into this picture! Dad used the timer on the camera to get a picture of us in the desert state park.


Brad, December, and I in the middle of all the cactus plants


Hugging a cactus -- always a great idea


Mom and Dad in the desert


Reading the plaques on our nature trail walk.


Mom and Dad came out last week, from Tuesday to yesterday. It was soo wonderful to have them out! I liked how we were able to do alot more this time than the last time Mom was out because of the October wildfires! We did something different every day of the week, and then on Friday night and Saturday was the conference at the seminary. So on Saturday, Mom, December, and I went out shopping while the boys were at the conference. We got to sit in the hot tub at night, play cards, go out to eat, take walks, explore California, and Mom and Dad were able to meet our friends this time because our friends weren't evacuating anywhere! It was tons of fun to have Mom and Dad out.


So having them leave yesterday was really tough. I knew it would be, but still, it's no fun to say goodbye. I tried really hard not to cry all day yesterday and was occasionally successful. Brad had a rough day, too. He got sick, possibly from something he ate...and today I've started to develop his symptoms, too. Ick! December's day yesterday was no better :( She was really clingy and grouchy because she missed Grandpa and Grandma. So we all had a rough day yesterday! But we had such a great time while Mom and Dad were here. Here's a few posts to show you what we did.