because we see things

On Mother's Day we packed a picnic dinner and drove up to the lake that is near here. We have been there before, mostly just on the lake boating with cousins, but have not explored the surrounding area very much. So, we thought we would look for a nice spot for a picnic dinner and watch the sun go down.

There were two directions that we could choose to follow. Our driver chose the one to the right of the lake which meandered around and very soon looked like it would be taking us down near the river. We kept following it and found a couple of guys fishing. There were a couple of remote campsites but mostly the area seemed pretty desolate. We decided we would go back up by the lake. As the road winded around, the driver and myself had our eyes on the hills and dam in front of us. From the back seat a loud... "there's a gila monster!" came spouting out of the youngest girls mouth. Followed by..."there are two gila monsters on the road!" and then "stop the car!"

I handed the camera to the oldest daughter, thinking she would just lean out the window, but no...a closer view was in order. So, with cautions of "don't get too close" and "if they bite...you will die before we can get to the hospital" and "they are so poisonous" came from the daughter in the back seat. The dad and I were watching saying "that is close enough" and "quick...get a picture." She with the camera was saying... "how fast can they run?"
Not very fast.... is what I read here when I did a little research about the one we found in our garage. Slow moving and kind of lethargic. So, we figured she would be safe, at a good distance away, using the zoom on the camera. The smaller one did turn and look at her, but then proceeded to amble off into the brush.
It took a little effort to get up and over the hill.

This bigger one was more interested in getting into the grass and brush. Camera shy I guess.
So off they both went. They were in the road when we first drove up on them and as quickly/slowly as they could move they were on their way. Now, if anyone is counting, this makes 4 gila monsters that we have seen since moving here to Arizona. Four. So for everyone that tells us..."I have lived here my whole life and have never seen a gila monster"... hang around us. Because in the sixteen months that we have lived here, let me remind you, we have seen four. Four.

We followed the road back to the lake and this time took the road to the left, which brought us to an area that overlooked the lake. We carried our stuff and found a nice place to sit. Other than just a few people here and there, and a flock of vultures flying around eyeballing our sandwiches, we had the place pretty much to ourselves. After our picnic by the lake we strolled around the shore a bit. We took a few more pictures. And, why yes, the girls caught some fish! Did I think they might just try to toss them on me?

Does it look like it had been out of the water for awhile?

Do you think someone was using them as bait and left these three behind? Do my kids know that just the littlest thing they find is a perfect opportunity for a photo? Do you think it is time for a manicure?

And then, as the sun was going down, a celebration along the shore was just what we needed to end the day.

I love sisterly love. It makes a momma happy.
Oh ya! Happy.

Go ahead jump!
Jump a little higher!

Although we felt a bit like the slow moving gila monster... the dad and I managed to celebrate the sunset too.
Go ahead...jump!

disclaimer: the fish were someone's bait that they had left on the shore. they were already past the living stage...we were not the ones that kept them out of the water to die an untimely death.