Point Reyes Camping 2008

Well we finished up another fabulous camping trip with Mammy & Grumps in Point Reyes, CA.
The kids had so much fun and I swear they were smiling and happy the whole time. Ev & I both felt like we were free to completely enjoy them and had so much fun doing so. This was the first year in our 7 year tradition that no one needed naps. It was so nice and I was able to really enjoy their ages. Whereas in the past it hasn't been as much fun with a baby :) The kids picked up some neat new tricks from Grumps their favorite being the Mariachi impression he did of our Mexican camping neighbors from last year. Really quite hysterical, If I had a Mic I'd capture it for you all to hear. I caught Micah singing "Yo no Tengo tu Amore"

We arrived on Wednesday after an early start (10 am) and set up camp. While Ev, Mammy & Grumps were setting up the site I was on kid patrol. The campsite was fairly deserted and they got to ride their bikes all around and go to the playground on their own. Then we discovered ripened blackberries on the bushes that ran behind our site and down to the little stream. The kids picked and ate, and then picked an ate. They were purple by the time camp was set up. We just chilled out for the rest of the day and had dinner, s'mores, etc.

Before the camping trip I was very thankful that Micah had not potty trained because I would rather change diapers then troop up to the bathroom a million times a day. Micah on the other hand had different ideas and went the entire day with out a single accident. He quickly acclimated to peeing in the bushes and continued to do so all through out the trip. He's been in big boy underwear since we got back.

Thursday we woke up and get everyone dressed and packed up lunches for a trip to Muir Woods (a new addition to our trip). It was so beautiful and peaceful there among the redwoods ~ almost made me want to hug a tree! They had this AWESOME treasure hunt that guides you through the paths and makes you read the signs to find letters to a clue. The treasure hunt book would tell you to take 30 paces and find a tree with a cave then read the sign and find on the third line, fourth word, third letter. Then you write down the letter. It was so informative and enjoyable as we hunted. At the end of the path you have to use your clue to find a hidden treasure box. The kids LOVED it and I highly recommend it to all families!

Friday we went and got oysters & clams and then hit the Beach (Limantour?) but it was beautiful. We ran and tried to beat the waves and Micah in particular laughed & laughed as he ran with Grumps. Then we headed back to the site where Ev & Grumps shucked oysters for eating raw & grilling and Mammy steamed clams in this AMAZING beer concoction. We had a fan-tabulous dinner and then showered & relaxed for the rest of the night telling stories around the campfire.

Saturday we went wine tasting (which was pretty fab too) and then headed off to drakes beach where the kids played in the sand, built sand castle, climbed on rocks and overall had a great time. We topped it off with Hot Chocolate in the cafe and then headed back to camp for our last night. I was coming down with a cold and wasn't feeling the hottest. We had S'mores and relaxed by the campfire. We had some pretty crummy neighbors that pulled in that night and built this HUGE bonfire that was killing the trees in their site. The only thing good about those neighbors was the guitar. He played and sang beautifully ~ in fact he sang the song in my slideshow at the end of the post and it really made Ev & I want to learn the guitar.

Sunday Ev woke up feeling crummy and we were pretty grumpy and ready to head home. The three of them packed up camp while I played with the kids at the campground. It took forever to take down our Taj MaHal of a tent which is ginormous! And then we headed home to unload and do tons of laundry.

Here's a slideshow of our adventures!

Can you spot the kitty?

The other day the kids were packing for our camping trip and gathered up all their webkinz on the couch. Tiny (our kitty) climbed into the pile and made herself a spot. She is really a character and fits in with our family perfectly. She has the Siamese smarts (she plays tag with the kids) without any of the siamese snootieness. (I know ~ it's not a word.)

What Lainie did the other night!

We were getting the kids ready for bed after their baths the other night when I heard Lainie whimpering in the bathroom, then full blown crying. I wandered in and found that she had twirled a comb in her hair all the way up to the scalp. I tried getting it out for a few minutes but it was so tangled and knotted that I decided we probably needed to just cut it out. Ev, usually the voice of reason and with a whole lot more patience for this stuff than I usually have, worked on it for a while and was finally able to free the comb. I came to my senses and took a picture about halfway through him working on it. It was MUCH worse in the beginning :)

My First OOB

I am SOOOOO Excited! This is my first attempt at an OOB (out of box extraction in Photoshop) and I think it turned out AMAZING!



Paper
Explore Solids Kit by Catrine (catscraps.com)
Weathered Neutrals kit by Anna Aspnes (designerdigitals.com)

Stitches
As I am kit by Creashens (catscrap.com)
Saffron Villa kit by Anna Aspnes (designerdigitals.com)

Frame
BUtterfly kisses by Rhonna Farrer (twopeasinabucket.com)

Ribbon
Odaddy collaboration (catscrap.com)

Flowers
Beth Kit by Lynn Grieveson (designerdigitals.com)

Buttons
Nanyang by Lynn Grieveson (designerdigitals.com)
French Summer kit by Lynn Grieveson (designerdigitals.com)
Nelly kit by Lauren Reid (littledreamerdesigns.com)

Lace
Lacey Days by Kate Teague (twopeasinabucket.com)

Font
CK love note


Journaling
I love the way Mrs. Stewart captured your interactions on this day. You love one a nother and you are always your best playmates.

Killer Video

Tash is loving Vampire Weekend too and tipped me off to their video on you tube. LOVE IT!

911 call

I know, I know it's staged. But it still cracks me up :) Both Mammy and Ev sent me this today ~ gotta share it!

Chicken Fights and New Music (For real this time)

My sister and her 3 girls were in town a few weeks back. One of the days they were here we went over to Mom & Dads with them and Chicken Fights quickly began. I have 4 brothers. It started out with the twins as the "horses" and then Tom got a "rider" and then Tev hopped in with a rider too. The cousins always have a great time together. Between my sisters, Aunts & cousins all the kids have someone close in age to play with.



Tahlie going down ~ of course Jordan won!
The victory dance:
Taur & Tom with Alorah & Zaiah ~ not sure who won this battle.



And then there were THREE horses & Riders


Eventually there were 4 horses and riders involved. I think Jordan still took them all :)


Lasly I know I posted a week or so ago that I had new music up on the blog but for some reason it wouldn't all upload. So I just spent awhile and got it all uploaded. One of my favorite groups that I just discovered is "Vampire Weekend" (Micah digs them too) Check them out on the right ~ their songs are 03. A-Punk and 11. The kids don't stand a chance. You should listen to them all though ~ all my current favs are in there :)