So much of April was spent in ARIZONA and it has been AMAZING! We were in Williams and at the Grand Canyon at the beginning of the month and then we went to see our friends the Hall's in Las Vegas. After that week in Vegas, we headed back to Arizona. We went to Lake Havasu, Arizona. Dawson's dad, Ivan and his wife, Julie were there for the week. They are considering Havasu as a potential retirement spot. We enjoyed several meals with Papa Ivan and Grandma Julie and even went on an awesome hike with them one day. In Havasu, the kids were able to swim every day as the pool there was heated. It was great exercise and we spent lots of time there as the weather was pretty warm.
We enjoyed morning and evening walks along the shore of the lake and on the trails through the RV Park. I loved seeing all the quail run along in front of us but Summer really wanted the rabbits that she sniffed out all over the place. The kids looked for lizards and Q really wanted to see snakes. Thankfully - none were found by us....although Papa Ivan and Julie saw a rattle snake on one of their trail walks.
Summer got into a stash of Easter chocolate while we were there - so that was along week for her - not feeling well and having to work all the wrappers and chocolate out of her system. We did a lot of site seeing around the town of Havasu we found an awesome ice cream parlor called "the Scoop" - all homemade ice cream and oh so good. We had ice cream there with Ivan and Julie but we will have to bring daddy back before we leave. It was fantastic ice cream.
The drive out of Havasu was AMAZING - the rocks, the mountains, the lake areas, and the golf courses - beautiful!!!!
We left Havasu on Saturday, April 16th and headed for Phoenix....Dawson had appointments and a conference for work so we had two good weeks to see and enjoy Phoenix/ Scottsdale area. We parked our RV at Dawson's high school friends backyard - Melanie and Mark -- wow! Thanks for such a great set up. Melanie and Mark run an animal rescue shelter called "Woofs, Wiggles n Wag's" - you can check them out at www.woofswigglesnwags.com. If you are in the area and looking to adopt a fur baby - give them a call. If you just want to help the shelter, please consider donating to them on a regular basis.
It is truly amazing what they do taking in sick animals and fostering them back to health, getting them spay and neutered and then adopting them out to forever families. It was a great 2 weeks of service projects for the Fercho kids. We helped with various adoption events both weekends, cleaned up after animals, organized donations, and loved on several awesome puppies. We got attached to a sweet puppy named Rose, but she found a forever family while we were there - so we were grateful for that. It was amazing to see what goes into running a shelter. Melanie and Mark - you both are amazing! What you do for the dogs and cats truly is a gift - keep up the thankless work. The world needs more people like you both!
We did school several days outside enjoying the great weather in the yard. It was goal of our trip to serve along the journey.....this past 2 weeks we truly served the animals and helped out Mel and Mark were we could. It was eye opening to be there with them 24/7 to see what goes into the rescue/shelter animal work. Many sweet dogs were adapted while we were there.....that was so great to see and be a part of the process. And we saw a mama dog take in new born puppies that were 3 days old and turned in without a momma. It was miraculous to watch. Brownie....your a sweet mama and all your puppies are doing great. We will have to keep track of all of you as you get adapted out in the months ahead.
Summer was still under the weather the first week at Mel's but thankfully she was sick at the right stop. Mel was able to reach out to some vets she works with and she got good information from her them that assisted me in getting her stomach all fixed up. It worked like a charm and we got Summer feeling better before we left town. So thank you for that too Melanie.
We also got to see Melanie and her singing partner Van perform at several of their gigs. We were their groupies for the last 2 weeks. We will miss the music and the good times. The first one was on a sunset cruise boat on Saguaro Lake - it was an amazing evening with amazing scenery and sunset. We saw an eagle and mountain goat as well. This is a MUST do if you are in Phoenix! It was truly spectacular. We had a very relaxing evening as a family and the girls got to hang out with the captain when we were done. I think we went to 4 to 5 events to listen to Melanie and Van while we were there. Quite the groupies!! The girls both love singing and enjoyed all they could helping out with the music, The boat cruise, the golf course restaurant in Mesa, a patio in Carefree (with Connie and Denny joining us), brunch in down town Scottsdale on the Park Patio, and then Friday nite at a local establishment happy hour. It was all a lot of fun and we enjoyed meeting Lisa (Van's) girlfriend, too. If you are in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale area - check them out .....http://vanandmelanie.com/
Mark's mom, Phyllis also lives with them and has some very awesome care takers that we got to know this week. Sonja and Rita - you were both very good to us. It was a pleasure to meet you both. Sonja - thanks for the tea - it will be enjoyed! We met Mark's aunt and cousin and his sister to this week.
We met Mel's girls, Amanda and Allie - you were both great.....we enjoyed our time with you and Chase and Nick (Mark's sons) - it was a pleasure to meet you both as well. All four of you are great and if you are ever in Kansas City - please let us know.
Dawson had several appointments in Phoenix and ended this week/weekend with his company participating in a conference in town. The kids and I enjoyed one day at the resort swimming, floating on the lazy river and going down the water slide. It was fun. The kids and I also enjoyed a hike one afternoon in the Phoenix Preservers - making it to the top (with lots of whining) to enjoy some amazing views. The trip down the hill was great - we had lots of fun. Summer enjoyed the hike too - getting hot at the end, but she is feeling MUCH better.
We enjoyed many great meals, some cooked up at home by Melanie and many out at some fun places around town. To name a few, the Green, Chompies, the Rau, and the Pita Pocket. It was all great!
On Thursday of this past week - the kids and I went to the Arizona Butterfly Conservatory. It was fabulous. We saw so many amazing butterflies and learned a great deal about the Monarch Butterflies and their migration pattern and lifecycle. It was great. The kids loved it and really didn't want to leave - it was super relaxing to sit in there with so many cool looking butterflies flying all around you. In the adjacent building, we also went through the mirror maze and did the lazer game -which I am proud to say "MOM WON"!!! The mirror maze was a little freaky as it took us awhile to find our way out the first time.
Friday evening while Dawson was still at his conference events, the kids and I went to the "Sugar Bowl" to meet Melissa (my cousin's good friend) and her youngest daughter, Anna. It was great to see them and hang out - even for a short time.
All in all - we learned so much this past few weeks.....it was a great stay in Phoenix...tonight we are in Yuma, Arizona and tomorrow we roll on to San Diego......California, here we come!
Thanks again to Melanie and Mark for a great few weeks parked in Phoenix. Papa Ivan and Grandma Julie- Lake Havasu is a keeper on the list.
Lots of Love to all -
The Fercho's
Only Live Once Road Tour
We enjoyed morning and evening walks along the shore of the lake and on the trails through the RV Park. I loved seeing all the quail run along in front of us but Summer really wanted the rabbits that she sniffed out all over the place. The kids looked for lizards and Q really wanted to see snakes. Thankfully - none were found by us....although Papa Ivan and Julie saw a rattle snake on one of their trail walks.
Summer got into a stash of Easter chocolate while we were there - so that was along week for her - not feeling well and having to work all the wrappers and chocolate out of her system. We did a lot of site seeing around the town of Havasu we found an awesome ice cream parlor called "the Scoop" - all homemade ice cream and oh so good. We had ice cream there with Ivan and Julie but we will have to bring daddy back before we leave. It was fantastic ice cream.
The drive out of Havasu was AMAZING - the rocks, the mountains, the lake areas, and the golf courses - beautiful!!!!
We left Havasu on Saturday, April 16th and headed for Phoenix....Dawson had appointments and a conference for work so we had two good weeks to see and enjoy Phoenix/ Scottsdale area. We parked our RV at Dawson's high school friends backyard - Melanie and Mark -- wow! Thanks for such a great set up. Melanie and Mark run an animal rescue shelter called "Woofs, Wiggles n Wag's" - you can check them out at www.woofswigglesnwags.com. If you are in the area and looking to adopt a fur baby - give them a call. If you just want to help the shelter, please consider donating to them on a regular basis.
It is truly amazing what they do taking in sick animals and fostering them back to health, getting them spay and neutered and then adopting them out to forever families. It was a great 2 weeks of service projects for the Fercho kids. We helped with various adoption events both weekends, cleaned up after animals, organized donations, and loved on several awesome puppies. We got attached to a sweet puppy named Rose, but she found a forever family while we were there - so we were grateful for that. It was amazing to see what goes into running a shelter. Melanie and Mark - you both are amazing! What you do for the dogs and cats truly is a gift - keep up the thankless work. The world needs more people like you both!
We did school several days outside enjoying the great weather in the yard. It was goal of our trip to serve along the journey.....this past 2 weeks we truly served the animals and helped out Mel and Mark were we could. It was eye opening to be there with them 24/7 to see what goes into the rescue/shelter animal work. Many sweet dogs were adapted while we were there.....that was so great to see and be a part of the process. And we saw a mama dog take in new born puppies that were 3 days old and turned in without a momma. It was miraculous to watch. Brownie....your a sweet mama and all your puppies are doing great. We will have to keep track of all of you as you get adapted out in the months ahead.
Summer was still under the weather the first week at Mel's but thankfully she was sick at the right stop. Mel was able to reach out to some vets she works with and she got good information from her them that assisted me in getting her stomach all fixed up. It worked like a charm and we got Summer feeling better before we left town. So thank you for that too Melanie.
We also got to see Melanie and her singing partner Van perform at several of their gigs. We were their groupies for the last 2 weeks. We will miss the music and the good times. The first one was on a sunset cruise boat on Saguaro Lake - it was an amazing evening with amazing scenery and sunset. We saw an eagle and mountain goat as well. This is a MUST do if you are in Phoenix! It was truly spectacular. We had a very relaxing evening as a family and the girls got to hang out with the captain when we were done. I think we went to 4 to 5 events to listen to Melanie and Van while we were there. Quite the groupies!! The girls both love singing and enjoyed all they could helping out with the music, The boat cruise, the golf course restaurant in Mesa, a patio in Carefree (with Connie and Denny joining us), brunch in down town Scottsdale on the Park Patio, and then Friday nite at a local establishment happy hour. It was all a lot of fun and we enjoyed meeting Lisa (Van's) girlfriend, too. If you are in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale area - check them out .....http://vanandmelanie.com/
Mark's mom, Phyllis also lives with them and has some very awesome care takers that we got to know this week. Sonja and Rita - you were both very good to us. It was a pleasure to meet you both. Sonja - thanks for the tea - it will be enjoyed! We met Mark's aunt and cousin and his sister to this week.
We met Mel's girls, Amanda and Allie - you were both great.....we enjoyed our time with you and Chase and Nick (Mark's sons) - it was a pleasure to meet you both as well. All four of you are great and if you are ever in Kansas City - please let us know.
Dawson had several appointments in Phoenix and ended this week/weekend with his company participating in a conference in town. The kids and I enjoyed one day at the resort swimming, floating on the lazy river and going down the water slide. It was fun. The kids and I also enjoyed a hike one afternoon in the Phoenix Preservers - making it to the top (with lots of whining) to enjoy some amazing views. The trip down the hill was great - we had lots of fun. Summer enjoyed the hike too - getting hot at the end, but she is feeling MUCH better.
We enjoyed many great meals, some cooked up at home by Melanie and many out at some fun places around town. To name a few, the Green, Chompies, the Rau, and the Pita Pocket. It was all great!
On Thursday of this past week - the kids and I went to the Arizona Butterfly Conservatory. It was fabulous. We saw so many amazing butterflies and learned a great deal about the Monarch Butterflies and their migration pattern and lifecycle. It was great. The kids loved it and really didn't want to leave - it was super relaxing to sit in there with so many cool looking butterflies flying all around you. In the adjacent building, we also went through the mirror maze and did the lazer game -which I am proud to say "MOM WON"!!! The mirror maze was a little freaky as it took us awhile to find our way out the first time.
Friday evening while Dawson was still at his conference events, the kids and I went to the "Sugar Bowl" to meet Melissa (my cousin's good friend) and her youngest daughter, Anna. It was great to see them and hang out - even for a short time.
All in all - we learned so much this past few weeks.....it was a great stay in Phoenix...tonight we are in Yuma, Arizona and tomorrow we roll on to San Diego......California, here we come!
Thanks again to Melanie and Mark for a great few weeks parked in Phoenix. Papa Ivan and Grandma Julie- Lake Havasu is a keeper on the list.
Lots of Love to all -
The Fercho's
Only Live Once Road Tour