Ohanapecosh

It has been a busy week or two -- getting ready for a long camping trip, finishing up errands, fulfilling our already busy schedule and then finally... relaxing while camping at Ohanapecosh! This was our first time ever camping here and we liked it so much I think we plan to return next year - if not for the long trip with everyone, then for a long trip by ourselves at least!

Each year we do a 5 day camping trip with lot's of folks - family & family friends. We invite all those we would enjoy camping with and then spend the week exploring the forest, swimming, playing and visiting. It has become a favorite little tradition of ours, one I really look forward to each year.

Ohanapecosh is located in Mount Rainier National Park, the south eastern entrance. It is a beautiful forest, clean camp facilities and wonderful nature programs to enjoy.

I of course, took a *ton* of photos... and I mean a ton! I will break them up into a few different posts for ease of loading and reading. I'll start with our camp ground area. Our particular site overlooked the Ohanapecosh river and an amazing natural landside that literally wiped out the side of the hill down into the river and the adjacent camping loop. It may not look like much in the photos - but really, it was quiet amazing! (Interestingly enough, I never took an actualy photo of just the slide... what was I thinking?) What a neat view. I think at some point we all tried imagining what it might have sounded like, looked like and felt like when it happened. I can't even imagine!

One morning Bryan, Holly & I got up a bit early and headed out on a trail to see Silver Falls. This was Holly's longest hike to date - a bit over 2.5 miles long.... and a lot of this was up hill so probably very up hill to her! She did wonderful and had a lot of fun! We encountered lots of small streams, mini falls, deer scat but no deer and watched some woodpeckers in the forest canopy.

A very nice time!!!

Look how itty bitty Holly looks in the forest... so small! Silver Falls

Lesson in Lucky Charms

We had a special treat of Lucky Charms cereal at home this week -- Holly's first time really getting to enjoy these treats! She of course loved them! The first time or two she had a bowl I noticed how she intently chose to eat all the marshmallows out first. This took a lot of work on her part. By the final time she had some Lucky Charms she again worked hard to get all those sweet marshmallows out and then sighed about how she had no more left, asking for more.

This was a great little lesson, one I am sure we have all encountered, but we talked about spreading the marshmallow love throughout your whole cereal experience. Not to pick them all out first and then trudge your way through the remaining oat cereal. A lesson in patience.

She thought for a bit after our talk and then later told me... "I shouldn't eat Lucky Charms". I asked her why and she said, "It's too hard to not eat all the marshmallows first! I have no patience!" LOL!!! What a lesson!!! Such a grown up statement from a small little kiddo - one that sometimes we all need to apply to life. Even though the marshmallows are wonderful and she wanted to eat them all up, she recognized that she isn't ready! Wow!

Hmm.... what can *I* apply this too now?

Daddy's Girl

Daddy!!! It's been a long time coming in Bryan's eyes I am sure... when will she be a Daddy's Girl? Well, I would officially declare that time has arrived. The sun rises and sets in Daddy's eyes now. When he is home she wants to play with him or be with him non stop, even if it just a trip to the ol' Home Depot. When he leaves for work she gives him some good love & advice about his day... every day! "Have a good day Daddy. Be careful Daddy. Drive Safely. I love you!" It is rather cute!

During the day it is also all about Daddy! She mentions several time a day how much she misses Daddy and then tells me "I really miss my Daddy. Don't you Mommy?" As well, he is pretend playing with us a lot now, we talk about him a lot and she even plans out what she 'wants' to do wtih Daddy when he gets home.

So, Daddy... I think your day has come! She is a Daddy's Girl! Enjoy it, savor it and soak up those tender & fun moments - they are going to go fast! Slow down and let each day just offer up what it will offer you & Holly, have no regrets and cherish it!

"Blog That" Bryan Says...

Our neighbors moved last month while we were camping. We came home to new ones.

I am rather sad - as even though our neighbors weren't home much, they were very enjoyable! Bryan in particular really hit it off with them - the guys went out for beers, we hung out and talked and we visited a lot at night over a fire pit, good beer & wine and lots of laughs! What was really nice, it was almost always spontanious! And, their dog - Sasha - was wonderfully energetic, but sweet. She has actually spent much time with us since our yards seem to merge into one big space. I leave our french doors open often during the day and she would always come in and visit, lay with Holly and say hi. It was nice - she *really* grew on me (and made me want a dog)!!! So, when they broke the news they were moving... we were sad to say the least!

So, we returned from a long camping trip to new neighbors. Now - while I meant to get over their soon to welcome them... I didn't! I watched the house as I would come and go to see if I could tell people were home. And, it never seemed they were. The couple times we were all home as a family, there would be no cars over. I never made it over there to welcome them.

This past weekend their little girl was out riding her bike up and down the drive way, obviously looking to get Holly's attention. Up and down, stop - pause - wait... repeat! It took a bit until Bryan caught on (with my nudging) and took Holly over to introduce them. She is quiet a bit older than Holly, but seems like a sweet girl. I went out to meet her as well and was greeted by her & her parents... with a gift basket for us! WHAT??? That is not how it is supposed to work!

Turns out he too is a homebrewer and a ship wright. He passed on some bottles of home made meade, some snacks and the such. Very nice!!! And, talked shop on boat building -as we built our own kayak and are planning to start another boat soon. Lots to talk about.

But, now... I feel like a big turd for not greeting them better! They beat us to the punch ~ what a crummy neighbor I am :( So, Bryan razzed me and jokingly said "Blog That"! So, here I am... blogging my crummy neighbor story! Moral of the story... don't be the shy one (raising hand) and knock on the door, bring a basket of cookies and say hi -- before they completely unpack, get settled and grow gray hairs waiting! LOL!

Roller Coaster & Ferris Wheels

I am so bummed - I forgot my camera!

We headed down the Thurston County Fair to see Skip, Nancy & Blayne. Blayne shows and competes horses with 4-H and originally she was scheduled to perform today. So, we planned to head down and watch - her division was moved to last Wednesday... but we still went down anyways to see others perform, visit and enjoy the fair!

Most of you know we live about a moment from the state fair grounds and drive by them what seems daily. Every time we do Holly points it out and asks when we are going to go? Which I am sure every child in our town does to their parents! As well, Holly tells me that this year Daddy is taking her on the big roller coaster & ferris wheel. Well, she is still too little for the roller coaster - but the ferris wheel was on the plan for the fair this fall.

Today at this small fair they had a handful of rides... and wouldn't you know a kids roller coaster and a big ol' ferris wheel. We did a fair ride band to ride as much as she'd like and ride she did! She hit them all, including the ferris wheel & roller coaster.... I watched - *camera-less*!!! Wah! I was so bummed as I really wanted to get some shots of her on these rides she had been really wanting to enjoy. I just didn't think in my mind we would encounter that today - little did I think I guess! Oh well - she had fun and that is what counts!

Northwest Trek & Making Ice Cream

Saturday was a very fun day - we had Grandpa Hawk over and headed on out to Northwest Trek for a morning of animals! If you haven't been - this is a great park, very natural, an open range area you take a tram through to see animals and nature paths galore! It is a fun way to spend the morning. Well, Saturday was a nice cool, over cast morning and I swear animals love it way more when it is cool & overcast. They tend to be a lot more active. We took the tram and saw everything out there - three moose, bison galore, mountain goats, big horn sheep, huge elk and so on! We enjoyed a picnic lunch and a long walk through the park too!

That night we came home to BBQ dinner and visit. For dessert... home made vanilla ice cream! We broke out Holly's ice cream ball and worked together to make vanilla ice cream! It was awesome! If you don't already own an ice cream ball OR if you are ever looking for a cool gift idea for just about any age... an ice cream ball is wonderful! I highly recommend it! And, homemade ice cream truly beats anything you can buy at the store, it's easy, quick & fun!

Coloring Fun

I think I have mentioned before how much Holly loves a good art project, right? Well, this includes coloring... she loves a good color book, fresh new crayons and room to spread out. The other day we were coloring and she didn't have enough space - so she packed up and moved down to the floor to 'really color' she said. As if we were not already 'really coloring'? Oh well!

I have this passion for new, fresh, sharp Crayola crayons. I will share, but deep down I don't want to! Crayons for some reason are so personal. The way one colors alters a crayon and it's use - like if you color on it's side you make it too pointy or if you color blunt like it dulls your crayons. There is a tender technique to coloring where you rotate your crayons and keep an even point... this is my favorite way. Hence, my hesitation to share. Ha! In fact I'll share my little secret... I have my *own* box of crayons and Holly has her own. Bad, I know!

Well, I have obviously started to rub off on Holly. She informed me the other day on her rules of coloring and that *I was doing it wrong*. I had borrowed a crayon quickly from her box to write something and she told me I was ruining her crayon. Bad, bad, bad -- I know! I guess it is time for me to let it all go and just learn to color with dull & pointy crayons - before I ruin her!

Wish me luck! :)