Suntan Lotion

Friday, March 16th.

Today, we we went to the continental breakfast again. I think I see a pattern. Then, my Mom and my older brother went to Taliesen West, the rest of us to a nearby playground. When we were there it occured to me we could have had this trip sponsored. The amount of suntan lotion my Dad applies daily to us is preposterous. We must go through a bottle daily. I think I know why we're in debt... However, this time, I applied the sunscreen. Then, my Dad decided to go to a different park. There, he reapplied all the suncreen. I guess he doesn't trust me... After applying loads of sunscreen we picked up Mom and Elliott from their 90 minute tour. Then, we went shopping. For clothes. Women clothes. At a women's store. How did the minority get their way? And she wouldn't even let us go into the store. She said we were "dressed too shabby." Did she get the idea from the man in a tuxedo walking by? After she finished at the store she wanted to go to ANOTHER store, this time for 90 minutes. We the majority, left and went and ate Japanese food. We returned to the hotel. My mom and Elliott went for a run (he complained a minute into it) and the rest of us to the pool. Notice how my mom does things with Elliott? And not me? I feel neglected... Anyways, we went down to the pool to discover it was dominated by two baseball teams. Without a notice to all the room they were taking up, the noise they were making and the splashing they were doing, we hopped in. Soon, pool girl came down with some ice cream. Maybe there's hope for us yet...

Ethan

Biking boys or chicken mama?

March 17th, 2012 (Saturday)

At the end of the Desert Classic Trail

Another boot camp killer day. We (the two oldest boys and me) went riding on the Desert Classic Trail in South Mountain Preserve. The guidebook described it as a "challenging ride" both "easy and moderate." So what is it? Challenging? Easy? Moderate? Can't the writer make up his mind? Seven minutes into the ride and I'm heaving. Forty minutes in and both boys want to turn back. It is hazy with a warm breeze but when you are biking--it is hot. We are riding over the lunch hour. We have water and raisins. I won't let them turn back. No. We are riding one hour out and then back. A two hour workout in the heat. Mom decides. It is just that way in our family. The trail has level parts but roller coasters up and down. That part is actually fun. It is the steep boulder-strewn washes that are grim. They give advice again. "Mom, you need to pedal down the hill faster so you can get up the other side." "Mom, you need to change your gears on the way up." "Mom, move your butt behind the seat on the way down." "Mom, you need to stand up more." And then loose gravel and rocks. I watch two bikers seriously wipe out. Not encouraging. "Mom, you need to keep your pedals even over the rocks."  Who brought these children along? So much to remember. The last 15 minutes are grim. Quads are whining. Butt is feeling delicate (this is a family blog). Hands tired from gripping desperately on handle bars as I reverberate over endless jutting rocks. Face emanating heat. Red and burned from the hazy sun. "Are you having fun, mom?" Someone tell that child to be quiet. We arrive back at the parking lot and water is quickly inhaled. I stretch out horizontally on the shaded picnic bench. There are parts of my body that seriously ache. My abs hurt from lifting weights. I want to rest. "Mom, can we go now." "Mom, what are we doing next." "Come on, mom, let's go." I love my children. I'm sure of it.
P.S. If you are a chicken and ride down the steep washes with your brakes on, it means you have lost momentum and you are going to have to work really, really hard to get up the other side. Who has had the tougher workout? The chicken mama or the biking boys?

Swimming

Saturday, March 17th.
Today when I went for breakfast I had waffles cereal. Then, we left to go on an easy bike ride hard, long and tiring hike pushing our bicycles. We went for about an hour in one direction and then it took 50 minutes to get back. I was exhausted, we ate, and then my Mom wanted my older brother and my younger brother to go biking. I just wanted to go back to the hotel. Which we did but they hadn't made the room up yet so we had to leave. At the pool Ellis learned how to swim and actually swam.