One more time...

... of escaping the scorching heat of Phoenix, even if just for the day!  We took a little trip to Flag with the Swopes again, and this time managed NOT to get drenched!  ;o) 

First stop was Lockett Meadow, now I hadn't been here in ages - but I don't remember it taking quite so long to get to the meadow/pump-house at the top.  Maybe it was our children who dawdled, asked to be carried, and stopped to rest every five minutes.  Maybe.

Lauren loved stopping and listening to the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves.  It might have been just another excuse to stop walking, but she was too cute to argue with about it. 

Harper was all set to head off on an adventure all his own!

Paige spent the time being schooled in the art of eating sunflower seeds by Daddy.  She would actually chew on them for a while and then spit it all out on the ground.  Not much nutritional value there, but it kept her happy and busy!

Look, all four of the kiddos!  It is a miracle that they were all looking at the camera at the same time.  I love Porter's "cheese" face!!!

We stopped and had a few rounds of pinecone baseball.  LOL!  Porter was hitting them very well.  Lauren was content to just run around with a stick.

Wow - this one has such happy eyes for Daddy!  Amazing, but Paige's babyness is nearly gone.  She is starting to look like such a little girl!

This spot was the end of our journey as hikers returning down the trail told us we had another mile or so to go.   Lunch sounded much better, so we hightailed it for the cars and headed to Beaver Street Brewery.

 After our lunch we went to the Flagstaff Arboretum to soak up a little more sunshine.

The pond was pretty fascinating...

Little Harper is so adorable right now, I just want to hug him looking at this picture!  Both the little ones were surprisingly happy to hang in the strollers during this excursion.  I think the hike must have worn them out!  They didn't nap though... not a wink!

Lauren racing through the sunflower maze.

Stopping to smell a flower - or eat it - or crawl inside it... I'm not sure.  =)

Aren't they cute?

And funny?!?


I love them.

It was a long and eventful day, and totally worth the drive!  As soon as we arrived home and stepped out of the car into 102 degrees, I was so glad we had gone!  Even if it meant Paige looked like a zombie for the next two days from not napping!

Thanks for coming along, Swope family!  You made our trip all the more fun!