Flying U Ranch 2016 - Our Favorite

This could be my favorite blog I get to do every year. This year is no different but it is a special one because some of our favorite people in the world joined us....FINALLY! This year also marked 20 years ago that we discovered this peaceful, relaxing, unique, AWESOME spot on the planet.

People ask us all the time, what do you do there? So, here we go....

1. I describe it as a mini Walnut Grove (for my Little House friends). Not kidding....old west town previously used as a stopping point during the gold rush (the ranch has well over 100 years of history with the original cabins and out buildings)! It's very rustic and so cool.

2. Unguided horseback riding across 60,000 acres of aspens, birch, lakes, woods, open fields, tall grasses....utter beauty! You get the same horse for your stay and don't worry if you have little riding experience - it doesn't matter. The ranch hands are fabulous and match you with exactly who you should ride! Being on the trail has to be one of the most melodic and relaxing feelings.

3.  Get off the grid. Back in day, there was no connection. Now you can find a little wi-fi at the main store, but its slow and, really, my phone died on day 1 and I didn't look again until we left. No tv, no radio, no news.....just peace and hanging out, playing, and having the best time ever doing not much at all!

4. Go for a dip. Green Lake is right across the street and one of the most beautiful lakes. You can  kayak, jump in, go on a boat ride, float around....just enjoy!

5. The most delicious meals are prepared with love every day! Just listen for the bell and make your way to the lodge to eat!

6. Friendships. They just grow here!

7. Watch them take the horses out AND bring them in. It's so worth the early alarm!

8. Hay rides, square dancing, movies at the old theater, play games in the old stable, run around outside, play cards, rock on your rocking chair on the front porch, hang in the saloon, take a walk, visit the horses, feed scraps to the pigs (a highlight after each meal), basically just do whatever you want and enjoy!! Love your family, love your people, just relax!

For us, this place represents the beginning of our life together and the growth of our family and traditions we love. We love it!

And to the Scrivens - we LOVED being here with you and experiencing this place together....FINALLY! I'm not kidding when I say we've been trying since way before kids to get them up there. And now they are hooked and a new season of traditions begin!!! Love you four!!!!!

For some previous years of Flying U Fun....follow the links below!

Flying U 2015

Flying U 2014

Flying U 2013

xoxo

-Stacy

Since We've Been Home.....

Well, the past six weeks or so since we've been home have been filled with family and friends and school and work and regular life. All good things. It has also been filled with sad tears from kids missing Thailand, feeling so grateful for opportunities to experience cool new things together as a family, some serious photo book making, and some MAJOR research and dreaming of possible future trips. Literally, they will pull out the globe, find the tropic of cancer and tropic of capricorn and spin. This is followed by Google research and subsequent book check outs from the library to further explore options!

I mean, they are on a search for more water like this. I can't blame them, really!

Cooking Club happens here in a few weeks and, no surprise, we will be making Thai food. I best get my cooking hat on and get to planning and practicing. I do not proclaim to be a great Thai cook. But there is no time like the present to start practicing!

I will say this. Travel brings more perspective than anything I've ever done before. I was the girl who hadn't even been to Eastern Washington when I left to college. My travels growing up were minimal. So once I started traveling as an adult, it's like the world became my oyster. I value learning about other parts of the world. I value trying new foods and communicating in other languages and always being humbled. I love the reminder that there is a whole lot going on out there outside my little dot on the map! And I want that for my kids! And I am seeing how it is shaping their perspective of people and the world.

So this blog post is all about the little nuggets of wisdom or a-ha's I've overheard or come upon through discussions since we've been home.

1. Nate learned that not everyone with white skin speaks English. I'm not joking. I don't think this little thought ever even crossed my mind until he said something off the cuff about it. We met lots of travelers from France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Republic of Georgia, Spain, etc, etc. Some spoke a little English, but some did not! Huh, what a great thing to learn. Awareness!

2. A few nights ago on the way home from somewhere, I quietly drove and listened to Audrey school Nate in the subject of karma. Oh boy, did he get an earful for whatever he did to her! She clearly was paying attention during our temple tours and learnings about Buddhism. Karma has come up many times since our return, and I'm pretty sure it's here to stay!

3. My kids are hilariously open to flying for as many hours as they need to to get anywhere. In fact while researching possible future trips locations, they quickly google flight times. 4, 6, 8 hour flights...please...so easy!

4. My daughter and two of her besties are currently saving for their Thailand trip after graduation. They are a little torn, because they realize they should also be saving for a car and college, but they are just moving along in stride and saving! I'm not joking on this. It's how these girls think. And I love them and love hearing them chat about their plans. If anyone will follow through - it's these three!

5. Experiences. I would much rather experience something together as a family than buy anything. And I am pretty sure that feeling is unanimous in my house!

6. I think the kids may be able to coordinate the details of our next trip....by themselves.

7. I thought Nate forgot, but the other day he wai'd a lady (possibly Thai) when we passed by her. A wai is the bow that all Thais do when they greet, give thanks or say goodbye. It made me double take and I didn't say a word to him. So awesome.

8. Thanks to the Thai Hut in Gig Harbor - my kids and husband will always have a place to say, "sawatdi" and "kop kun" (hello and thank you).

9. Elephants. Gendreaus are in love with Elephants. In fact the Easter Bunny even brought an elephant treasure in their Easter baskets. Nate was floored that she (the Easter Bunny is a she in case you didn't know) knew of his new-found love of all things elephant.

10. Before we left - there were a few hot topics/fears that had surfaced with regard to traveling so far away to a place none of us had been before. Things like "will I get malaria?", "what if we get sick from the food?", "what happens if I accidentally drink the water?", "what if there are terrorists?". I'm not kidding....5th graders lay it out on the line. So for my kids....traveling to Thailand, having the time of our life, problem solving when we needed to, not getting Malaria, meeting the coolest people, not getting sick, loving the food, and not running into terrorists was a confidence booster for sure!

I think for me, my take-aways were many. But first and foremost, a reminder to show gratitude and remembering to keep it simple. It's easy to get caught up in the go-go-go and the sometimes crazy 'thing focused' part of our culture. So I have found myself saying on several occasions (more than my usual), "really?.....not there...not interested....don't need it....go play outside....we are good just where we are" a lot.

I love our country. We are a melting pot of so many different cultural influences. We are lucky on so many levels and in so many ways. It's the little things - like turning on the water and drinking from the tap. It's access to medical care. It's being acknowledged by our government as contributors of our country. It's about having good jobs and access to education. I don't want to ever forget to acknowledge those things as blessings,  and I don't ever want to forget the people around this world that don't have access to the same things. They deserve it as much as we do!

So for now, I end. I like letting thoughts simmer after a trip.

I have finished my big-gigantic photo book and it's "in production". The photos are many and the memories will last forever.

To Audrey, Nathan and Todd. You three are my favorites in the world. You rule!

Happy day!

-Stacy

P.S. If you'd like to peruse/find the other Thailand blog posts......here you go
****Thailand Blog Post #1
****Thailand Blog Post #2
****Thailand Blog Post #3

Flying U Ranch Adventures! Best tradition ever!

So, as you have probably seen on my blog, we discovered a little slice of heaven about 18 years ago! The Flying U Ranch is a very special place to us. You can revisit this blog link (click here) for a little back story. Let's just say that way back in our pre-kid days, we'd visit the Flying U, watching other family's kids run free having the time of their lives. We'd dream of the day we'd return with our own kids and share with them this beautiful place where there are no screens, tons of funs, great adventure, and the best imaginative play ever. And now, here were are. And to share it with special friends just makes it that much better. 

I have to share this photo....circa 2005. Audrey age 17 months! 

Our trip last month was fabulous. We added a new 3 month old (she rocked her first trip), a new family (we loved having you guys with us), more days, every type of weather you can imagine and FABULOUS fun! 

Before I share my photos, I asked Audrey if I could share a story she wrote at school a few weeks back. It was perfect and I thought it needed to be forever documented on this blog! So first Audrey's experience and then the photos!!!! 

Cheers to fun family traditions - whatever they might be for you! Just don't ever stop making fun memories! 

By Audrey, age 10......

The Flying U

In August, the week before school started , my family , my friend Jenna’s family , and my friend Kelen’s family went to the Flying U ranch! It is in Canada. You ride horses there and stay in little cabins. They provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My horse was named Zepher, my mom’s horse was Camaro, my dad’s horse was Dino, my brother’s horse was Kahuna, Jenna’s horse was Maiden, her dad’s horse was Bruno, her sister’s horse was Dixie, Kelen’s horse was Ziena, her dad’s horse was Slim, and her brother’s horse was Blaze. It was really fun! We got to swim in the lake, go on a hayride, play games, go see the horses and pigs, and play in the hail and rain. We saw cattle, bucks, and we heard coyotes howling. We had a fire and s’mores too! We saw the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, and we saw a glimpse of the Northern Lights! There was really nice ranch hands and their names were Amanda and another boy who’s name I can’t remember!  Amanda was from Australia so she had a really pretty Australian accent. During the storms we would go into the lodge, play mexican horse and have cookies and hot cocoa. If I had to pick anywhere in the world to go, I would choose the Flying U Ranch!


Sweet girl.....I couldn't have said it better myself! 

 Nate found a shrew about 5 minutes after arrival. 

 Old Schmidt Ranch. So awesome.

 The craziest storm ever came through. 

And this is what she thought of it! Ha!

And of course the hail came and he decided to get pummeled! 

Happy Flying U!

-Stacy