Beat the Heat - Durango Style

The temperature is reaching 118 degrees in Phoenix. We are officially melting in the inferno. That's why our planned getaway to the mountains of Durango, Colorado couldn't have come at a better time. Thanks to some sweet hookups of my bestie Rebecca, we were able to spend five days in the cool mountains of Colorado in a well furnished house with plenty of activities for the kiddos.

This trip meant the reuniting of P Sizzle and Swizzle. We met Rebecca, Scott, and Emma along with their Texas buddies Luci, Scott, and Camden at the airport and immediately headed to our digs for the week.

We spent time at the park, waved to choo choo trains, rode horses, raced down the alpine slides, swam in the hot tub, roasted marshmellows, and jumped in bounce houses.

Mornings consisted of coloring, bead making, painting, and sticker stickering.

No caption needed.

Peyton talked a big game about going in the bungee ride - even put on the harness. But as soon as they strapped her in, she panicked, and immediately demanded her father rescue her from the torture chamber.

Gossip hour.

Peyton's initial reaction to horseback riding. She was terrified and begged me not to make her do it.

After a few seconds, and a promise that I would not let go of her hand, she calmed down and enjoyed her ride!

Enjoying the scenery from the top of Purgatory.

Alpine slide race. Daddy and PK beat Emma in round one, but lost in round two.

Best friends squared.

Peyton is wearing a sweatshirt. In August.

Learning the art of s'mores crafting.

Handbags and Ice Cream

Peyton hearts her daddy. To say she is in a "daddy phase" is an understatement. So when Martin got called out of town (again!) for a long work trip, I was slightly concerned that 7 days alone with Mommy and PK would be a challenge. While Peyton Bear missed her dad every moment of the day, and repeatedly told me how much she "wanted Daddy," we made the most of our time together. And I proved that being stuck at home with boring old Mommy has its perks.

She wore a tutu. She got her nails painted pink and purple sparkles. She picked out a hot pink sparkly backpack ("just like Dora!). And she ate bright blue ice cream.

We did crafts, including building a pink princess castle out of foam shapes. We played hide and go seek. And we read Eloise at the Plaza.

Daddy who?



Mommy and PK enjoying a Saturday evening out to dinner.

Peyton's handbag of choice (Mommy got one too!)

Playing at the splashpad in her tutu bathing suit.

"I want the blue ice cream!" Please note the purple headband paired with the pink bow. Peyton told me she needed both to complete her outfit.

Yum yum.

Livin' the Good Life...Cabin Style

A glimpse into Peyton's life at the cabin...

Easing the stress away in the hot tub.

Letting her creative juices flow with a craft.

Exhibiting her inner diva on a walk though the tree lined streets.

Enjoying a cocktail in her robe.

Charming the pants off of everyone at dinner.

Peyton's Hair Salon - Open for Business

While spending the 4th of July at the Richardson family cabin, Grandma and Grandpa spoiled Peyton with a new toy. And her life has never been the same since. Peyton picked out a new doll (later named Karina) and a hair stying chair, complete with smock, play scissors, hair dryer and brush. Peyton shampoo'd, dried, and cut every single one of her stuffed animals' and dolls' hair at least 40 times each, charging each patron $20. Daddy was in charge of collecting payment. She even did our hair as well. Funny thing - as much as she was ub-sessed with the hair chair at the cabin, she hasn't played with it since we've been home. Perhaps she knows it's appropriate to wait 4-6 weeks between cuts.

Snow White gets the celebrity treatment.

Kneeling down to make sure everything is even.

1, 2, 3, BLASTOFF!

I can only assume Peyton learned this at school. She did not learn it from me. But whatever the source, this is one of Peyton's new favorite things to do lately (even if she was a little camera shy at the get-go).  Pretty darn cute, if you ask me.

Trying Out a New 'Do

I'm not gonna lie - Peyton's hair is a challenge. We've already discussed the mullet, which is still present, although it is growing in a bit. But, she has inherited my directionally challenge hair - it all falls directly forward in front of her eyes.  I refuse to cut bangs - so every day we MUST have a clip, bow, or some other device holding it out of her eyes. Today, I tried pulling it straight back in a piggy at the top.  It took about 15 minutes of me brushing, wetting, and grabbing to convince the wayward hairs they needed to bo back, not forward. Hopefully, this will achieve two important goals: 1) keep her hair out of her eyes all day, and 2) train those crazy hairs to move back!

Quack Quack

When six of Martin's college buddies decided to make our home the destination for their 2012 get together, I quickly made arrangements to take Peyton away for that weekend. While Martin and the crew did who only knows what to my house, Peyton and I made the 2.5 hour drive to Show Low to spend a relaxing weekend at the Richardson family cabin. 

Let's start out by saying Peyton LOVES the cabin. Leading up to the trip, she talked about it non-stop. I'm guessing her affection for the cabin stems from the fact Grandma and Grandpa spoil her even more than normal (if that's possible) while up north. Special activities are planned, her favorite food is prepared, and she gets as many treats and as much juice as she can possibly desire. (As a side note - cabin life is pretty great for Mommy too. I have two doting grandparents who take on a lot of the work with Peyton, there is usually napping, and as with Peyton, I get as much juice (aka wine) that I could ever want).

The highlight on this trip was duck feeding. Grandma and Grandpa had originally planned to bring a few slices of bread to the lake. I advised them it would be best to bring an entire loaf. Although slightly shy at first, Peyton quickly warmed up to the idea of feeding her new friends, and couldn't get enough. Within about 10 minutes, the loaf was gone.

Duck feeding = huge success!

The weekend also included cocktails in the hot tub, a nature walk, flower picking, and several showings of Snow White. Much to my surprise, Peyton and I returned to a standing house that was clean and free of any major trauma.