But it's a tradition

Every year we go on a camping trip down to the beach with four other families. We always have a great time. I like it because the girls outside playing and just having a good time playing with the other kids.

When it happens depends on when we can reserve the campground. This year Jeff wasn't able to come with us. School starts next week so he was busy with meetings and just trying to get everything ready for the new school year. So while he worked, we played.

Camping was a learning experience. They learned how to correctly make pancakes.

Or, that sunglasses help keep the smoke out of your eyes.

Or, the best way to dig a hole in the sand.


They also learned how to dig for crabs.

This year Robyn actually got near the water. The first night she went wading in the ocean but that quickly ended as she managed to fall down when a wave hit her. The clothes never did dry the whole time we were camping. She really got soaked!

Posing. I don't quite understand the innertube around the waist but she spent a lot of time with it on. I guess it made her feel safe?!

We were sad to leave but we hope to be back next year!

The last little bit of summer

Well, school starts next week and boy, am I ready. Robyn is excited as she is going to be starting kindergarten! I'm excited too -- I need the break. :)

Nothing exciting happening the last couple of weeks. Annalise finished up her sewing class. My old sewing teacher taught her and a couple of friends how to make a bag.

Here's the almost finished bag. I need to get a picture of the finished project. The next project is going to be pajamas pants.

Last Saturday was Annalise's last swim meet. She did summer swim team again this year. I was only able to take two pictures before the camera battery died.

The swim meet is pretty casual. It's more like a time trial rather than a competitive meet. The parents help out with the timing and handing out the ribbons. Jeff helped out this time. It's not very hard and you get the best seats in the house.

This week we headed to the beach -- not the ocean, but to a small beach on the Sacramento River not far from our house. We met some friends there and Annalise took along three friends to celebrate her upcoming 11th birthday. We were afraid it would be cool at the beach but we were pleasantly surprised and we enjoyed a nice afternoon. While we were there we even got to see a wedding. Now that's not something you see every day.

Next week -- camping!

They were so close I could almost

To mark the occasion of my 40th birthday I wanted to do something special, something I would normally never do. There were lots of ideas but it had to be close to home. So, that made the list a bit smaller. I decided that I wanted to go to Safari West. It is a 400-acre African animal preserve just outside of Santa Rosa, so it was close enough for Jeff & I to go there for a day. My friend Suzy watched the girls while Jeff and I went on a tour.

Besides taking a jeep tour through the property, Safari West also has an aviary filled with a variety of birds. This is a Crane -- you know we had to take a picture of Benjamin Franklin here! Did you know they get their mates by dancing?

Ibis.

Cheetah.

Safari West jeep.

The first half of the tour we rode up on top. We like the top seat, though it did get hot. It had a best view!

The first animals on the jeep tour were the giraffes. They were really neat. We got to see several baby giraffes. One mama was still pregnant and ready to deliver any time. No, it didn't happen while we were there. :(

This giraffe came right up to the jeep while we were sitting on top. Made us a little nervous because he was eating at the time -- didn't want giraffe cud dropped on us.

Our guide gave us all the names of the animals and they went in one ear and out the other. This is a type of gazelle??

Rhinoceros -- I DO know what they are called. :)

Our path through the preserve. It was very bumpy! Thank goodness for seatbelts on the top seat!

Zebra & antelope (I know the zebra but the antelopes, well I'm just guessing.)

View of the jeep from the back seat. (You can see the feet of the people sitting up top.)

Jeff & zebras

Wildebeasts.

The tour lasted about 3 hours which was plenty long enough for us. We really liked our tour guide Amy. She was fun and informative at the same time.

Afterwards we drove over to Calistoga for dinner. You have to try the Hydro Grill. They make a killer lasagna!

Hello Mother, Hello Father, Greetings from Camp...

Last week we went to Utah and had a wonderful time! Annalise went to a soccer camp at BYU so we used that as an excuse to make a trip out of it. Sorry to all those we didn't get to see. Between staying in Riverton and traveling to Provo everyday, we just ran out of time.

Jeff was at UCLA the week before so the girls and I drove out to Utah by ourselves. Well, not exactly. My friend Christine and her two girls came along with us. We had a blast driving out. Who knew the time could go so fast!

So Saturday I picked up Jeff from the airport and thus began our week of fun. We stayed with friends in Riverton so that night we saw the fireworks in Riverton. Since the 4th of July was on Sunday, all festivities in Utah were either on Saturday or Monday.

carnival ride

waiting for the fireworks

On Sunday we went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City with our friends.

Annalise & the Barlow crew
We stayed with them the whole week and had a blast! Robyn isn't in the picture because she was pitching a fit just outside the picture.

girls in front of Christus at the visitor's center at Temple Square

On Monday, Jeff & Annalise ran a 5k in Provo. I tried to get a picture but they were just too fast (and people kept getting in the way!).



Soccer camp at BYU. It was only a half day for four days but she had a lot of fun. I'm sure it would have been more fun with a friend but Annalise is a trooper and made friends while she was there.

One of the days while we waited for Annalise we went to the Monte L. Bean Museum on campus. Boy, is that a weird museum! There are dead, stuffed animals everywhere. The butterfly above is made up of hundreds of butterflies. Just bizarre.

After the last day of soccer camp we headed up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls. It's really beautiful and the water is COLD! That didn't deter the girls though. They waded through it and started climbing up the rocks. They must take after their dad because I would never be so brave.

And First Place Goes To. . .

Last week of our county fair and for the third year in a row I entered a few things. This year Annalise entered something as well. She entered her peanut butter brownies and won first place. She worked really hard them. She wanted to practice making them before the fair so I think she has made a total of 6 batches of brownies (we're a little brownied out). All tasted good but the last one was the best. We're so proud of her and her hard work!

I did much better in the county fair than I did in the Dixon May Fair and in last year's county fair. I entered three things and won first place on all of them. I do have a confession -- the competition was not very stiff. In fact, the only competition I had was on the scarf and there was only one other one entered. Anyway, I'm still happy with the outcome because I love getting those blue ribbons!

a stamped cross-stitch pillowcase I made for Robyn

a scarf I made from leftover alpaca yarn from a sweater (I love this yarn -- it is soooo soft)


Robyn's Christmas dress

No Downhill for Me

It was recently my birthday, my 40th birthday to be exact. It turned out to be a good day. I had to share it with Jeff because it was Father's Day and I shared it with Annalise because it was her dance recital that day. Even so it was nice.

It started off with Jeff announcing to the church congregation that it was my 40th birthday. I was happy to see a lot of people were surprised by the number -- I may be 40 but at least I don't look it. People thought he was in trouble for announcing my age but how little do they know me. I really don't care about the age, I was annoyed that he announced it from the pulpit. I like my birthdays to be quiet affairs with little fuss.

Jeff likes to tease me about my age. I'm actually 6 months older than him. You think being the older one would command a little respect -- nope, not in the least! Anyway, he was teasing me that everything is down hill now. That's when I told him. I may have stopped climbing the ladder but I'm going to stay on the platform for a long time.

The next day the whole family (even Jeff) went to Six Flags Magic Kingdom. We took Annalise's friend Tess and had a good old time. We ended up splitting up for maximum fun. Jeff took the older girls so they could ride the BIG rides while Robyn and I hung out together.

So, we went and saw a show

rode lots of rides

and Robyn managed to get soaking wet.

It was a good day!

Dance Recital 2010

It's the time of year. Oh yes, dance recital time. I have strong feelings about these recitals. First off, there are four freaking performances over three days. Secondly, the last two years they have been held over my birthday and Father's Day. I have the dubious pleasure of periodically sharing my birthday with Father's Day. Hopefully next year the recital will be on a different weekend or else I might go on strike! Okay, I'll probably won't because Robyn will be starting dance classes in next year, and I promise to stop whining. Here are some pictures from the recital:

Short video of a portion of Annalise's dance: