Around the House

1st time since she was a baby that she fell asleep playing.

Reading books with Daddy.  In her top three favorite things to do.

Daddy's bath time hair styling.

Helping for family pizza night.

Pizza making is so much fun!

Come on Dover, come on Dover . . .!

Our annual day at the races was a blast!  This year we tried breakfast at the track.  Long before the races begin, you can enjoy a breakfast buffet in the club house while watching the horses warm up.  It's the best deal because you don't have to pay for parking that early, the buffet is much cheaper than buying lunch or drinks later (4.50 for bottled water or soda- I don't think so!), and Monica could actually see the horses up close.  After a morning walk/nap in the stroller, the track opened for racing and we received the souvenir of the day.  Blankets. People were lining up to purchase more for $3.00 a piece, but if you want one, you can buy one on ebay for $7.00 and up!  While waiting for the races to start we fed the baby goats (I know they are called kids, but if I had written that, you would have thought we were feeding stray children) and Monica road a pony.  She wasn't happy when we first put her on it, but cheered up real quick when it started moving.  We stayed for the first four races, only winning once.  $2.80 win on our $2 bet.  Yea, we've got skills.  After that it was mid afternoon and, considering we had been there since breakfast, it was time to go home.  It was a beautiful family day with the "neigh neighs."  Unfortunately I didn't check the camera settings or look at the pictures I took until part of the way through the day so the first ones are bright and blurry.  Now I know what people must have felt getting a roll of film back only to discover their pictures didn't turn out the way they wanted. :)

She wanted us to let her out of the gate with the "neigh neighs."

Getting a better view.

Who needs horse races when there are stairs?

The kind stranger noticed the camera problem and so we fixed it for our family photo in front of dirt.  The one  in front of the flowers didn't come out. :(

The kids.  She kept saying, "Baa."  It's a hard distinction.

She loved feeding them and would have stayed there all day if we let her.

Camping 2012

I remember camping a lot as a kid.  So much that I'm sure we must have gone more than once a summer- mom? dad?  Now as an adult, the prep and energy it takes to go camping makes me think we will just do it once a summer.  That being said, we really enjoy it when we go.  Last year Monica was not mobile and I thought it was going to be hard.  It wasn't.  Perspective always changes what is "hard" when it comes to kids.  This year I was worried it was going to be "hard" with mobile Monica.  So I schemed, what would make camping with a 1 1/2 year old easier? . . . distractions!  That's right, we invited friends with a child Monica's age.  It worked pretty well.  There were no burns, not even a cut.  That's a success, right?  In addition, we "adults" enjoyed the time with friends too.  We fit in all the good camping traditions- sleeping in tents, foil dinners, hiking, swimming, napping, games, reading, s'mores and scotch and cigars (what?, that's not a traditional camping activity, well, don't tell Tony).  Our camping trip for the 2012 summer was a great success, already looking forward to next year.

Daddy building the fire, Monica lending support by snacking.

We brought Monica's portable seat to strap her down if need be, unfortunately I forgot the tray.

First foil dinner attempt, second attempt looked and tasted much better.

Monica and her friend, Isabella, in their big kid camping chairs.

Lining up for breakfast.

Hiking is so exhausting.

The girls were obsessed with the cars, inside and out.  That, or they really wanted to go home.

Playing at the beach.

Kabobs for dinner night two.  Yum!

Singing songs around the campfire, well, in the same campsite as the fire.

Good morning!  Monica treated the tent as a giant bouncy house, I think it was only thanks to exhaustion that she slept.

Monica "helping" Daddy take down the tent.

Family photo at the end of our trip.  Dirty, smelly, tired and happy. 

Way to go Idaho!

For the last part of our westward adventures we headed to north Idaho.  Thanks to the immense generosity of good friends and their ENTIRE family, I have vacationed there almost every summer for 10 years.  Affectionately known as Pork Fest, the week includes relaxing, reading, swimming, boating, games, chatting, laughing and EATING delicious food.  It was Monica's first time since we couldn't go last year and she enjoyed being outside and hanging out with other kids.  Getting good sleep in the tent was a little challenging with a babe, but luckily the most taxing thing I did during the days there was lift a fork to my mouth.  Thanks to everyone for their generosity in letting us share in the fun!

The Palace Place near Priest River, ID.

The center of attention again!  If you look carefully, she's actually backwards in the walker and twisted herself forwards.  She climbed in herself.

Sitting with Father Pigmass.  Don't ask.

Getting ready for the Pigmass celebration.

Aaron helping Monica ride the bike.

Happy Pigmass!

The kids are responsible for the fire building in Idaho.

No tubing or water skiing for me this year, but the jet skis were a lot of fun.

Nana and Papa!

After the Seattle leg, we drove back to Pullman and Nana and Papa came to visit!  If I thought Monica was spoiled before, two sets of grandparents doting on her confirmed it.  We enjoyed a Saturday BBQ at the river, good conversations, date night for Tony and me, a modified tour of the Pullman area (have to enjoy Cougar Country and Ferdinand's) and just plenty of time for Nana and Papa to spend with Monica.  I was so pleased when Monica warmed to Nana and Papa in a heart beat.  Skype is such a blessing!  Once again, the pictures do a better job of showing our time together than my words.

Playing is hard work.

The sand was hot, Nana and Papa are problem solvers.

Papa on nap duty.

Monica's "pool."

Chocolate chip zucchini bread for breakfast.  Can you tell we're at Grandma's?

Grandpa took us to the WSU Dairy.  Monica liked the baby "moo moos."

Being the center of attention is the BEST!