4th of July at Big Lake, Arizona

The whole family went camping on our 3rd annual fourth of July trip. Our destination this year was Big Lake, Arizona which is just south of Springerville on the Arizona/New Mexico boarder in the White Mountains. Among us: The Ritter's, The Flahart's, The McCarty's, The Reichwald's, The Clark's, The Ritter-Clark's, The cute couple Jaime LeComte and Aaron Hathaway, Christine/"Teenie"/"CVL"LeComte, friend of John Micheal, Christian, and our cutest grammy Lula Newfield. Doggies came with us too: Roxy, Lindsay, Tinker, and Ellie. All together 23 people, and 4 dogs.






















Most of the gang went up the Sunday before July 4th and spent a week there. Tim and I arrived 7/3. We had a great time! It rained on the way up to Big Lake and every afternoon. We fished, hiked, mountain biked, grilled YUMMY food, took much deserved long naps (41/2 hours one day!!), canoed, made the BIGGEST s'mores ever, sang campfire songs, told silly/scary stories, and just enjoyed our company together.



The weather was so beautiful on the lake. We all enjoyed taking turns on the canoe that The McCarty's brought up. Thank You McCarty's!!
























Roxy's first canoe ride!
These S'mores were SO BIG they were bigger than the graham cracker and chocolate they sat on. Looks to me like everyone completely enjoyed them. I love Jaime's face eating the marshmallow right off the fork. Classic.

Look at the size of these things!!!!

It was a great trip. Tim and I decided to take an alternate route home through the indian reservation which turned out to be a beautiful trip and well worth it.


















Thank you to all that came and all the love that was shared!

...And This Concludes Summer School!!!

I decided to take a summer class at Gateway Community College (In Downtown Ghetto Phoenix mind you!) to become a LPN or Licensed Practical Nurse. I had such a great experience! I had the privilege to have clinical rotations at Phoenix Children's Hospital and Banner Good Samaritan Hospital.

PCH was intimidating at first. I thought, how could I ever see sweet little babies and children going through chemo or caring for them post-operatively? I really thought I would cry the whole time I was there. But, I didn't! I was strong! =) After that experience, I could see myself being a pediatric nurse, which was never even considered an option before. Banner Good Sam, also was great. I even got to witness a live, natural birth. The miricale of life is a great thing, but I now know, it's not what I want to do for a long term job. It's a lot of lets sit aroung for 6 hours checking pressures and fetal heart rates and then an intense hour of delivery, maybe. Then you are home. I just need more action than that!

So, after 6 intense weeks of summer school I am finally done. I took my final today and did really good! I got a high B, which I am proud of. I have always been a B student, and always will be a B student. The next step is to take AZ State Boards aka: NCLEX-PN. I'm not sure when they will schedule me to take the test, but I will keep you all posted. So other than studying for boards, I plan on reading a book of MY CHOICE and sitting POOL SIDE for the rest of the summer.