scrappy the turtle.

We made a new friend today.  

Our normally quiet dog was barking his head off in the yard because this little fella was there.  

Would you believe we've lived on these 3 acres outside of town for over 4 years and we've never seen a turtle? It was a big day.

So obviously we got a box and kept him in the house for a few hours to observe him.  

He scratched the box pretty much the whole time trying to get out, so the kids called him Scrappy.  

We learned that he is known as a three-toed box turtle and may live to be up to 100 years old, that he'll munch on the leafy top of a strawberry, and that he was approximately 12 years old (based on the number of rings on the under side of his shell).  

And that, my friends, is what we homeschoolers like to call "science" for the day.  

It was quite possibly the best day of Emmett's life.  

He was ecstatic over this little turtle!

He just kept shrieking and pointing. 

 

We kept him until Britton got home from work and then let him go in the shade of our yard.  

 

Hope you live 100 years Scrappy!

apples.

We have a great big apple tree.  

The apples have never turned red and never seem to get sweet.

Britton and the kids bought me another apple tree for my birthday and we planted it hoping the two would cross pollinate and be good for each other.  

The big one now has loads of apples, so we decided to pick some.  Surely I can make something yummy if I add enough sugar and cinnamon, right? 

Doc Ella.

Ella loves playing doctor with her baby dolls and stuffed animals.  

She uses my 30 year old doctor kit and whatever else she can find in her dress up basket to complete her look.

I bet my Grandpa "Doc" Savoy, whose mother inspired Ella's name, would be so proud of little "Doc Ella".  

summer vacation: home.

Let the laundry begin.

summer vacation: route 66.

Our vacation to New Mexico gave us the opportunity to check out some of the landmarks used to inspire creators of Disney's 2006 movie, Cars. It was fun for us to see how Route 66 became a part of Radiator Springs.

Ramone's Paint and Body Shop was inspired by the old Conoco gas station in Shamrock, TX.

The mountain range that sets the backdrop for the film is courtesy Cadillac Ranch, just west of Amarillo, TX.  

It was 111 degrees when we stopped at Cadillac Ranch.  It's just this huge dusty field in the middle of flat, windy west Texas.  Britton cocked his eyebrow at me when I started getting everyone out of the car.  You must walk a good 100 yards to get to the cars.  He was a good sport about it and even found a can of spray paint with enough left to graffiti our last name.  But here are his top quotes from the event...

"That was like standing in front of an open oven."

"OK.....definitely in the bottom three road stops EVER."

"The dirty air blowing in my face was like sucking a car exhaust pipe."

(looking through photos in the car) 

"The kids look like they're mad and wanna cuss in all these pics.  If Miles would have cussed, I wouldn't even have been mad."

I just always want to remember what he said because it had me in stitches the entire time we were there and for miles down the road.  

Luigi's Casa Della Tires and the leaning tower of tires is partly inspired by this old leaning water tower.  You can read it's interesting history HERE.  Basically, the deliberate lean was used as a marketing gimic by the man who owned the truck stop and restaurant where it sat.  People would stop in to make sure all was ok and while they were there, the would eat and fill up their gas tank.  

In Tucumcari, NM, you can see the film's inspiration for the mountain shaped like a radiator cap.  Each year, local high school students repaint the town's initial.  

And though it's not from the movie, there was a very nice rest stop with a car museum in it near the New Mexico border.  It was a great place to get out and let the kids stretch their legs and offered free admission.  If you're traveling that direction, it's a must.

"Adventurer Miles" enjoyed making these connections, but probably not more than me!

summer vacation: instagram style.

From my Instagram feed.  

#bussvacay2013

It rained almost every day.  

We enjoyed watching the storms come in over the mountain from the front porch of our cabin.  

We hiked a 2 mile trail the first day.  

When we finished we noticed the sign that said the trails were closed due to fire danger and the fine was $5,000 per person.  

Oooops. 

We adventured in the prayer garden each day.  The kids loved it there.  

 Miles got his first hole-in-one on the putt-putt course.

 The next day, Britton got 2 hole-in-ones.  

"Hey.  Take my picture too."

 Ella and I found a patch of grass that was like carpet.  We sang the lyrics from Tangled...

"Just smell the grass! The dirt! Just like I dreamed they'd be!
Just feel that summer breeze - the way it's calling me
For like the first time ever, I'm completely free!
I could go running
And racing
And dancing
And chasing
And leaping
And bounding
Hair flying
Heart pounding
And splashing
And reeling
And finally feeling
Now's when my life begins!" 

We played loads of games in the cabin.  

 Miles LOVED the Santa Fe Depot. 

 I LOVED my first trip to REI.  

I've wanted to go to that store for at least 15 years.  

 We paddled.

Miles and I went for a walk.  

He got tired.

I realized he's giant. 

 More games. 

 Lost a disc playing disc golf.  

 Ella was never more proud to find anything in her life. 

 Fed some ducks. 

 Emmett LOVES his backpack.

 I carried 2 of these 3 a LONG way home. 

 More games.

 It was never more than 85 degrees.  Perfect weather!

 Hiking wears him out. 

 They were so proud to have climbed this high on their own.  

M's finger is exactly where they're standing in the previous photo.  

It was an amazing vacation.  We enjoyed every single second!