When sitting in a recliner, it is always best to wear a helmet!
Sunday, July 27, 2014
A New Bed for Lizzie
Lizzie has never gotten much of anything new. She gets her sister's hand-me-downs. She never really minds (not yet - at least), but boy was she excited when the big truck came to our driveway to bring her something new.
A new big-girl bed, with a trundle.
She took a 3 hour nap in the new bed yesterday afternoon without complaint. She also slept all night without getting up to wander around the house in the middle of the night. Maybe this will solve her bad sleeping habits, where she wakes up somewhere new in the house each night.
We already dropped the crib off to a friend who is expecting a baby in early October. Ah - the end of an era - out with the baby stuff and in with the big-girl stuff. Hopefully next, it will be under pants, so we can be done with diapers!
A new big-girl bed, with a trundle.
She took a 3 hour nap in the new bed yesterday afternoon without complaint. She also slept all night without getting up to wander around the house in the middle of the night. Maybe this will solve her bad sleeping habits, where she wakes up somewhere new in the house each night.
We already dropped the crib off to a friend who is expecting a baby in early October. Ah - the end of an era - out with the baby stuff and in with the big-girl stuff. Hopefully next, it will be under pants, so we can be done with diapers!
Happy Birthday to Kristin
Out of the blue one day last winter, a package arrived for Carolyn from my college roommate, Kristin. In it was a coloring poster and markers - similar to one that I had done in college with my roommates. Carolyn vowed to take her time and make it really nice.
The other day, I told Carolyn that it was Kristin's birthday, so she got the poster out and finished it so she could show Kristin the finished product on her birthday. It took a few extra days beyond the birthday, but here it is.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Supercalifragilisticexpialodocious
Carolyn and I went to see Mary Poppins on the stage. She got to meet mary and burt after the show.
Lizzie stayed home with dad.
I am pretty excited that carolyn choose me to go with her because it was a great show.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
The poet
Our neighbor recently installed one of those neighborhood lending libraries, where kids and adults can take and leave books. Carolyn loves walking down there and picking out new books to raff in the evening.
This library is particularly nice because it displays information or drawings or poetry done by neighbors. It also has a spot for "treats" for dogs and humans.
Carolyn worked hard on writing an original poem, and asked the owner of the library if she would display it.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Summer Camp - Trefoil Ranch
Carolyn's first experience at sleep-away camp was a two-night, three-full-day visit to Trefoil Ranch in Provo Canyon. It was a girl scout camp, even though she is not (yet) a member of a troop. In her words, "it was so cool!" And, she cannot wait to go back again next year.
I have some great memories of going to girl scout camp when I was younger, but Camp Whipporwill was nothing like this place. Just look at the scenery and how nice the lodges were. Given how hot it was the week they attended, the girls slept in tents (just like the traditional platform tent that I remember from Camp Whipporwill), but the camp recently built modern cabins that have 5 bunk beds each. The toilets are in a separate building close to the campsite, but they had tile floors and flush toilets, definitely not the outhouse latrines of Whipporwill.
As we drove up to camp, Carolyn and Taryn's energy levels increased. They were excited, nervous, and started taking pictures of the scenery outside of the car windows.
Then, once we arrived at Trefoil Ranch, we had to wait for the gates to be open.
After that, we loaded their bags on a trailer and there was a very thorough sign-in process, with multiple stations set up along this long sidewalk. Once we got to the end and were up by the main lodge, it was time to meet their counselor and to say goodbye.
Carolyn's official camp buddy was Taryn, a friend that she knew (kind of) from Montessori. She is 8 years old and has a shy, cautious personality; I think this was a good fit for Carolyn's more brazen, independent personality. Carolyn's friend, Elise, also attended the same program, but was in a different counselor group, so they did not see her too much after the initial check-in day. Here are two selfies of Carolyn, Taryn, and Elise -- they must have taken these right after they said good bye.
Carolyn's camp name was Peach. Her counselors were Badger and Lilly Pad. Who knows exactly what they did at camp. She keeps remembering new songs or games that she learned or telling us other stories she thinks of, but we have very few photos to know what actually happened. She took a camera, but must have dropped it or got dirt in the lens because most of her pictures are partially covered by the lens. Try to look through the lens in these photos to get glimpses of the fun and adventures that she had.
Thankfully, there were a few photos of her group posted on the Girls Scouts website. I think we were especially lucky to get the photo of her and her horse. Horse back riding was the highlight of the camp! She is not in the other photos, but they are of the other campers in her program.
When we arrived to pick her up, she was quite subdued. (I think she was tired!) She had just made a trip to the Trading Post, which was probably another one of the highlights of her time at camp. I am pretty sure she plotted long and hard about how to get the most bang for her $20 account. She chose a stuffed horse, a pink bandana, and the lion hat.
All in all, her first time away at camp was a success. We will do it again, for sure. We may even do a one-night mother/daughter or father/daughter campout this fall. Those are at the other Utah Girl Scouts camp called Cloud Rim, which is supposed to be even nicer. It is right on an alpine lake, so has water activities, instead of horses. In addition to the horse stables, Trefoil Ranch also has archery and a high ropes course, but you have to be older to do those activities.
I have some great memories of going to girl scout camp when I was younger, but Camp Whipporwill was nothing like this place. Just look at the scenery and how nice the lodges were. Given how hot it was the week they attended, the girls slept in tents (just like the traditional platform tent that I remember from Camp Whipporwill), but the camp recently built modern cabins that have 5 bunk beds each. The toilets are in a separate building close to the campsite, but they had tile floors and flush toilets, definitely not the outhouse latrines of Whipporwill.
 |
| Main Lodge - with dining room, arts studio, and other social spaces |
 |
| New Cabins - Sleeps 10 |
 |
| Platform Tents - sleeps 4 - this is where Carolyn slept with Taryn (her friend), Sunset, and one other girl whose name was not known |
 |
| Bathroom building by camp sites |
 |
| Dining Hall |
 |
| Outdoor Amphitheater for full-camp programs |
As we drove up to camp, Carolyn and Taryn's energy levels increased. They were excited, nervous, and started taking pictures of the scenery outside of the car windows.
Then, once we arrived at Trefoil Ranch, we had to wait for the gates to be open.
After that, we loaded their bags on a trailer and there was a very thorough sign-in process, with multiple stations set up along this long sidewalk. Once we got to the end and were up by the main lodge, it was time to meet their counselor and to say goodbye.
Carolyn's official camp buddy was Taryn, a friend that she knew (kind of) from Montessori. She is 8 years old and has a shy, cautious personality; I think this was a good fit for Carolyn's more brazen, independent personality. Carolyn's friend, Elise, also attended the same program, but was in a different counselor group, so they did not see her too much after the initial check-in day. Here are two selfies of Carolyn, Taryn, and Elise -- they must have taken these right after they said good bye.
Carolyn's camp name was Peach. Her counselors were Badger and Lilly Pad. Who knows exactly what they did at camp. She keeps remembering new songs or games that she learned or telling us other stories she thinks of, but we have very few photos to know what actually happened. She took a camera, but must have dropped it or got dirt in the lens because most of her pictures are partially covered by the lens. Try to look through the lens in these photos to get glimpses of the fun and adventures that she had.
Thankfully, there were a few photos of her group posted on the Girls Scouts website. I think we were especially lucky to get the photo of her and her horse. Horse back riding was the highlight of the camp! She is not in the other photos, but they are of the other campers in her program.
When we arrived to pick her up, she was quite subdued. (I think she was tired!) She had just made a trip to the Trading Post, which was probably another one of the highlights of her time at camp. I am pretty sure she plotted long and hard about how to get the most bang for her $20 account. She chose a stuffed horse, a pink bandana, and the lion hat.
All in all, her first time away at camp was a success. We will do it again, for sure. We may even do a one-night mother/daughter or father/daughter campout this fall. Those are at the other Utah Girl Scouts camp called Cloud Rim, which is supposed to be even nicer. It is right on an alpine lake, so has water activities, instead of horses. In addition to the horse stables, Trefoil Ranch also has archery and a high ropes course, but you have to be older to do those activities.
Happy Birthday, Dad -Family Hike
If we can't be with you to celebrate in person in Ohio, we figured we may as well be out enjoying the mountains. So, our family hike last night was dedicate to Grandpa Mike.
(subtitles: Carolyn said "I am sorry that you did not feel well on your birthday." Steve said "The only thing that could make this better is if you were here with us to enjoy the scenery")
Happy Birthday, Dad.
(subtitles: Carolyn said "I am sorry that you did not feel well on your birthday." Steve said "The only thing that could make this better is if you were here with us to enjoy the scenery")
Saturday, July 12, 2014
RIP Flutter
Our light purple betta fish named Flutter died this weekend. Carolyn got him as a birthday present last year, so his time as part of our family was a little over a year.
Steve's thought at the funeral-- flutter, even though you had a growth on your eye and we thought you were going to die when we barely knew you, you lived a long life and showed us what it means to persevere.
Carolyn's thought-- we will honor your birth. We will honor your death. Thanks for being our pet the past year. Your death is acceptable because you are pretty old for a fish.
My thoughts were not said or loud -- Thank god. Now I do not have to clean that tank again!
We had a funeral before dinner on saturday, where carolyn dug a hole in the flowerbed and buried him. She is now painting a memorial stone for him.
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