Camping Adventures!

In September we decided to enjoy of the beauty of California and took a couple of camping trips. It was such fun!!!(Albeit a LOT of work with 3 little ones, one of which still was not walking!) As we prepared the girls for the experience by talking about camping and sleeping in a tent, etc., they were not at all excited at first. They had visions of bears and bats and spooky noises. (We have a Arthur's First Camping Book, that's the only thing I can think of that would have put such ideas in their heads.) Once I told them about S'mores, however, that sealed the deal and they were excited after that!
Labor Day Weekend we camped one night in Big Basin Redwoods State Park- California's First State Park and then in Portola Redwoods State park the next night. It was the kids' first camping experience and they loved it!! They thought it was cool that we had headlamps for them to wear. They liked sleeping in the tent and even thought it was neat when the pesky raccoons wouldn't leave us alone!! (They did manage to swipe a box of Wheat Thins from us)

After our first night of camping, we walked around some of the Redwood Forests and saw a lovely little waterfall, had a picnic lunch then got in the van to drive to our next campsite. Most of you who know us well, know we like to save a buck whenever we can. Since we decided to camp Thursday and Friday nights of labor Day Weekend (the less busy nights, we figured), we didn't bother paying the $7 reservation fee and decided to just go and get a campsite. Well, that worked out fine the first night, but Friday night we wanted to try beach camping, so we drove along the coast to find a spot and they were all filled up. Bummer. So, we headed back inland to a more obscure park (obscure because you have to drive quite a while on narrow, winding mountain roads to get there) But, hey! We got a campsite, no problem!! We ended up camping at Portola Redwoods State Park. We took advantage of some of the activities they had going on and went on a Ranger-led nature walk Friday evening and also to a Children's activity Saturday morning. The kids loved seeing the animal pelts and talking about banana slugs.

It got a little cold during the night, but I had brought enough warm clothing and bedding that we were fine. The girls slept amazingly well all weekend in the tent. Grant didn't do so well the first night, but did much better the second night.

Here are pictures of that camping trip:

S'mores making 101; Daddy is a great teacher. Gotta love the headlamps!

Watching Daddy cook breakfast! That's one of the things I love about camping. Kenneth is in charge of the cooking!


Dirty little man (but he sure is happy!)

Getting ready for bed. Yup- all five of us slept in a 3 man tent. They're small, right?!

Heidi and kids on a Redwood stump

Dad and Grant on a little walk

Mom and girls inside a hollowed out Redwood

Teensy, Weensy Waterfall in Big Basin Redwood State Park

Picnic Lunch

Gorgeous trees!


The girls had so much fun climbing and playing all over the campsite!




By the second night they were pros!


Enjoying the S'mores!

Emma lining the tarp with wood so the ball wouldn't roll off the tarp and down the slight hill.

Emma at the tent

Playing in the dirt

Portola Redwoods State Park

Arianna emerging from a tree

Kenneth with a view of Silicon Valley in the background. Picture taken from the Palo Alto Hills. The drive home from Portola Redwoods State Park was incredible.


The second camping trip we made was to the gorgeous Yosemite National Park. Unfortunately, we could only stay for one night. It was quite a hike for us to get there- about a 3 hour drive, but all in all I think we are glad we made the trip. (Most of us, anyway. Emma's comment after it was all over was, "Mom, I don't ever want to go there again- that was too far to drive!) That all being said, Kenneth and I both admit that we definitely let our sense of adventure go a little too far. It got down below freezing that night and Kenneth was starting to get sick. It was very cold. I got very little sleep because I was so worried about the kids staying warm enough. Grant was up earlier than everyone else, so he and I ended up hanging out in the van for a good hour in the morning so as not to wake up the whole campground. Finally, I had to wake Kenneth up because we were so cold and I could not manage to start a fire while holding Grant- yeah, I tried. In addition, Grant would NOT stay on the tarp as he did on the last camping trip. He was filthy, dirt everywhere, including in his mouth.

I had been to Yosemite when I was young and Kenneth and I had been when we were dating, but I was again hit with the Park's breathtaking beauty. It is an incredible place. So, after breakfast, we packed up and drove down into the valley (about 45 minutes from where we were camping) We hiked around just a little, saw Half Dome from a distance, went to see Bridal Vail Falls (which was barely a trickle at this time of the year), had a picnic and made the long drive home.

Here are some pictures of our Yosemite Trip:

The girls loved exploring

We never knew our daughter was a mountain goat!

We had such fun climbing all over the rocks near our campsite

Mom and Emma atop a rock

You never knew I was so strong!

Our favorite part of camping!

This is the morning. Can't you just tell how cold it is looking at this picture! Good thing I had looked at the weather report before we went and brought all our winter stuff!

The gorgeous Yosemite Valley

Emma looking over the bridge- Half Dome in the background

Dad and the kids

The deer weren't afraid of people at all!

Look how close they were!

El Capitan
Beautiful

Climbing rocks below Bridal Vail Falls

The girls sitting on the rocks below the falls

El Capitan on our way out

Good Things

I just had to share these good things I have really been appreciating or enjoying lately. I thought about making a Thankful post, but then didn't want to spend the time to come up with a comprehensive list (how awful!) so, here are some of the things I have enjoyed lately:

1) Fruits and Vegetables! A friend of mine organized a produce group and we have been relishing the bounty! We have had so many different kinds of produce and have been loving it! I love all the colors and flavors! We still have loads to eat! Yum! I have always loved this scripture:

Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart. Doctrine and Convenants 59:18

2) Going along with the above post: Roasted Cauliflower! I never really knew what to do with cauliflower. Sure, a little steamed cauliflower was okay, but I rarely bought it because I didn't want a whole head to have to eat. With this produce run I got quite a bit of cauliflower because I wanted to puree some and a friend told me about roasting it. It is fabulous! Even Emma asks for seconds and wants to share it with friends and relations! So, cut into florets, toss in a little olive oil and sprinkle on some seasoning salt and put it on a rimmed baking pan in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes. You will need to keep an eye on it and move it around once or twice. It is so delicious!

3) Jersey Knit Sheets: We were given a set of Jersey knit sheets for our wedding (Thanks again P&L!). I don't know what it was about them, but I had no interest in using them and didn't for 4 years or so. Then one day I put them on. I LOVE them for the Winter time. Not so much in the warm times of the year, but for cool nights, it is so nice to get into bed (or get back into bed) and not have freezing cold sheets; Especially those nights when the kids are getting me up 3 and 4 times a night between the three of them!

4) Parenting Class- I have been attending the Church Sponsored parenting class this fall and it has been a great experience for me. I have really learned a lot and hope I can be a better parent for my wonderful children. I only thing that would make the class better for me is if Kenneth were bale to attend with me. Maybe someday!

5) A couple of great movies- In the last month, Kenneth and I have watched a couple of really fantastic movies that I wholeheartedly recommend:

One Good Man, made for an LDS audience, and Fireproof, made by a Christian group. The later is particularly inspiring.

Well, Those are the great things I wanted to tell you all about.

The Best Daddy Ever

Lately I have been noticing often what an incredible father Kenneth is to these 3 little ones. I love catching moments like these on camera. He is so loving, funny, and caring with them. He is always looking for ways to teach them and to spend time with them. We love you, Daddy!

Daddy and the girls in the Logan Canyon during our visit to Aunt Karen and family
Daddy and Arianna on Sunday afternoon.

Story time
Story before bed

Pizza Party Videos

So, I successfully posted some videos this evening, so I thought I should try these again. You have got to see this little dog in action- he is so cute!



This is the parade we had in the backyard so the kids could show off their costumes. It is hilarious to me that the girls stay right around the bush walking nicely and then you see the silver bullet zoom by- the oldest boy at the party!

Grant man growing up!

Grant is 14 months old today!! Wow! I can't believe how fast he is growing up! I guess technically in some ways he is growing up slowly. . .just yesterday he took his first steps!! 7 in a row and a couple more here and there throughout the afternoon/evening. He definitely wants to walk now. This morning he was walking down the hall steadying himself on the wall. I am going to list bullet style some of the other things this little man is learning or doing at the moment:

• Grant has started to almost insist on spoon feeding himself things like yogurt and applesauce. It is, of course, a messy prospect, but one which leads to greater independence, which I am looking forward to!
• He seems too young to already know how to do this, but he knows how to throw a tantrum with the best of them. Funny little guy.
• Going along with that last one, he is also learning to try to get what he wants from his sisters. He will pull their hair and swat at them when they are doing something he doesn't like or when he wants something they have.
• This little guy has an early-morning gene in him because he is awake 9 days out of in the 5 o' clock hour. Fortunately, I suppose, I am mostly used to this now and am learning to accept it.
  
• Kenneth is embarrassed to admit this one, but Grant is going through a phase where he always wants to be wearing his sisters' necklaces. He kind of looks like a white, baby Mr. T (minus the mo-hawk!)! I think it's adorable.
• Grant loves anything with wheels, anything electronic or anything that resembles a ball. He even goes after ladies' walkers in Relief Society. He even calls muffins "balls".
• He gives hugs and kisses on demand. This is what makes all those those dirty diapers worth it!!!
• He folds his arms for the prayer- he can even read the cues and knows when to do it by himself!
• He is saying so many words: diaper, car, truck, tickle, hot, go, door, park, ball, "all done" and he will 'roar' when we talk about lions. He is talking so much more than his sisters were at this age.
  
• One of his favorite activities right now is climbing up and down my step stool that I keep in the kitchen. The first few times it scared me to death, but he hasn't fallen yet.
• A few things to notice in the video:our lovely 'vintage' kitchen, again Grant is wearing the necklace, and listen to him say, "ball". The girls are painting at the table behind me in case you are wondering what they are doing. Isn't he adaorable!
  
• Like any real male he loves digging in the dirt!

Enjoy the sibling love at the end!

• His facial expressions are hilarious. He has the funniest smirks and smiles.
  
• Finally, he is always so excited to see his Daddy when he comes home.
  

Dress up Pizza Party

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that my post last year for Halloween was "Halloween Grinch". Yup- that's me. I just don't like the holiday. I never have. We didn't really celebrate it when I was young; I never went Trick or Treating. I hate all the spiders, witches, ghosts. Yuck. Last year we did take the kids trick of treating and The girls were afraid of all the decorations at peoples' doors. Then, last month, Arianna really was scared of the Halloween decorations that she saw in Lowe's. She was terrified. So, we decided not to subject her to all of that this year. My kids also don't need all that candy. (Truthfully, I don't need all that candy. If it comes in the house, I can control their intake, but Kenneth and I generally eat WAY TOO MUCH.)

But, I do want my kids to have fun. So, a friend and I decided to have a Dress Up Pizza Party. Earlier this week a family in our ward gave us a whole bag of costumes, so my kids were so excited to wear them to the party! We let them make their own mini- pizzas, had a little parade around the backyard, had dessert and let them run around. It was such fun.

I am realized blogging in real time is so much more fun! So, even though I am still way behind in all my other blogging, I wanted to get this up here tonight for you all to enjoy before the "H day" itself! (And yes, this is our rental home in case you are wondering. For those family members who have asked to see pictures of our place)
Here are our kids and their friend and their pizza creations. Notice my baby boy looking so grown up!

Yum! Enjoying dinner

The cutest puppy you ever have seen! (Little Grant)

Our little ones (Notice Emma and Arianna sucking down the juice- can you tell they don't get it very often!) Emma is Ariel (The Little Mermaid) and Arianna is Minnie Mouse

Sweet little Minnie




Here is a video of our little Costume parade in the backyard. Well, I tried for over a half hour to upload the blasted video and it wasn't working so, for now. . .th th th th th. . that's all folks!