Our memorable Memorial Day!

How we love to take weekend trips to my Grandpa's cabin! And taking advantage of the gorgeous Forest Lakes property on a long weekend is THE. BEST.

Saturday, the weather was COLD!  It was in the 80's in Phoenix, making Forest Lakes in the 50's!  I absolutely LOVE sweatshirt weather, so I was in heaven!

We took advantage of all the gorgeous surroundings and Grant got very accustomed to the hiking backpack.  

And lots and lots and lots of fun on the swings, thanks to Aunt Laura and Uncle Tom!

Linda and Mike camped their trailer on my Grandpa's property for the weekend, so we enjoyed their company as well.

Ode to the tire swing.

As long as I can remember this SUPER FUN tire swing has been right next to Patrick's Pond (which is about 1/2 mile from my Grandpa's cabin).  Every time we walk to the pond, we find the tire swing and jump on! 

These pictures are from our visit Saturday.

When Greg and Emma went back Monday some IDIOT/JERK/VANDAL had cut down the tire swing!!!  So sad.  So many years of memories on the tire swing and now it will be no more.

At least we had Saturday and the presence of mind to take a lot of pictures.  Maybe we knew deep down that this would be our last moments with our dear friend?  :)

Let's go fly a kite!  Up to the highest height!!

Emma got a princess kite from the Easter bunny, and we decided to let it soar it's maiden voyage this weekend.

It was a bit of a challenge, with tall trees and lots of under brush, inconsistent wind, and a 4-year-old at the helm... BUT WE (OK GREG/TOM) DID IT!

Oh this precious little guy!  Here he is doing one of my FAVORITE new tricks.  Any time we ask "who wants to _____" - he raises his arm high in the sky and yells "beeeeeeeeee!".   It started the last few weeks of preschool, when I would call through the house, "OK!  Who is ready to go to preschool?" - to which I would hear a sweet little Grant yell "beeeeeeee!" while raising his arm.  Doesn't matter what you ask... he is always willing to participate.  Love this little kid so much!  SO SO MUCH.

On Sunday after church, we strolled around Willow Springs Lake, and enjoyed the GORGEOUS weather and the scenery!  Grant (who is still unstable on his feet) had trouble walking on the rocks and took quite a stumble causing MAJOR rock burn, in two places, on his forehead.  Poor little guy.  You will notice the marks in later pictures.  He is seriously ALWAYS falling and bumping his head.  Hope he doesn't have permanent damage someday!! Darn the HUGE "orange on a toothpick" Adams noggin.

My sweet little Emma and I.  She LOVES going up to the cabin.  It is one of the highlights of her little life.  She tells everyone for weeks about our planned trips and then is SO excited as we journey up to our favorite place.  Emma loves being outdoors and has really taken a liking to our Patrick's Pond hike and would BEG every day to go.

While watching Mary Poppins one evening, Grant pulled up his favorite stool right next to Greg, and then grabbed Greg's pinkie as a type of security blanket.  At one point he was laying his cute little face right on Greg's pinkie.  So cute.

My Grandma Hancock passed away almost a year ago, and our family has a cemetery on the cabin property.  Her head stone has recently been completed and placed at her gravesite and this was the first time we were able to see it.  So special to have her near our beloved cabin.  I used to think it was strange to do this, but now I realize how special this property is to our family and how many wonderful memories we have here.  And now I would gladly be buried with the rest of my family on this sacred ground.

On Monday we went to the fish hatchery, which is always a fun trip.  Grant and Emma loved seeing the fish jump around, and the drive down and up are worth the effort!!

What a beautiful country we live in!!  How blessed we are to enjoy the gorgeous area of Arizona!!

Hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend as much as we did!