Observations While on a Family Vacation

We've returned from our sojourn in Ramah, New Mexico. Four days of stuffing our faces and hiking while trying to find ancient pottery shards. Here are my findings:

• The McKeans pack for a weekend trip like no other family I know. We had food enough for a month. It was amazing. I don't think I let more than an hour pass by without putting something in my mouth. We were out in the middle of nowhere, after all. It was at least 5 miles to the nearest restaurant. We could have starved.



• I asked Chris if he'd taken any pictures during the trip and started scrolling through the camera. He'd taken the camera with him on a hike and artistically captured some trees au natural. "There's nothing on here but a bunch of pictures of stupid trees!" I said. Hmm, maybe should have been a bit more supportive of his artistic endeavors. I did have the wherewith all to wonder how he puts up with me.



• While playing hide and seek with Hannah, Carrie and I were assisting her in finding Jacob. She was a little reticent about going into the room alone because I think she suspected he may jump out from his hiding place and scare her. She informed us that we were to accompany her on her search and if Jacob scared her, she would scream like a little boy. A little boy. Someone taught that girl right.

• We went on a family hike to El Morro. The hike led us up to the top of a bluff where an ancient Indian civilization once stood. It's 800 plus rooms had been partially excavated giving us a glimpse into what life may have been like in 1200 AD. At the top of the bluff, all of us remarked on the amazing view. One of the park rangers happened to be up there at the same time to answer any questions we may have. One of us did have a question. Allen wanted to know all about the modern sewage treatment plant he could see in the valley. I'm willing to bet she'd never had anyone ask her that question while beholding a centuries old ruin. Sewage treatment is an important issue and not to be taken lightly.


• We all had a great time. It was fun to have that many females available to hold Haven at any given time. Who cares if Haven kept us up every night, right? Vacations are fun because they are so restful.