Birthday Dessert in the Desert

I can't leave out our trip to Topaz Mountain. My Dad wanted nothing more for his 60th Birthday than a camping trip out to the desert with his family.  The camping weather out there in September is pretty close to perfect. Cool nights and warm days. 

 

We hunted for Topaz and tried to catch lizards.  We had good luck with the Topaz but not so much with the lizards, they were just too speedy. Karen did catch a Horny Toad though.

Ruthy and Grandma

This was Ruth's very first camping trip! I want to make her a little necklace out of one of the Topaz we found so she will have something to always remember it by. I still have little earrings and a necklace my dad made for me from one of our trips out here.

Playin' Horseshoes with Papa John

Dad cooked his famous  dutch oven chicken and dumplings and for dessert it was cherry chocolate dutch oven cake...complete with a birthday candle. Once the sun set we took a night walk down to the empty highway to go through the tunnel and lay on the warm road while looking for falling stars (something we loved to do as kids)

Listening to one of Papa John's campfire stories

The next morning it was more Topaz hunting and target shooting and a little spray painting. ;)

Tim, Scott and Brittany couldn't come to the camp out so we had a little backyard BBQ the next day. Thanks for the pictures Sarah!

 

Dad got a Cotton Candy Machine and it was a big hit with the kids. Happy 60th Dad! We love you so much.