Van Damm-It!

There aren't a whole lot of "firsts" that the girls and I get to conquer together.  This weekend we managed to find one - camping!  Some friends of ours invited us to camp overnight with them in the Van Damme State Park in Mendocino County. I had never been camping before, that I can remember anyway.  I felt sort of embarrassed admitting this fact cause every good Kentucky born,bred and raised girl should know about camping.  Originally the plan was for us to get a sitter for the girls and enjoy some grown up time but alas babysitting plans fell through and so it was a family affair. 

I spent a good part of the day Friday packing and prepping for our big adventure and we ended up hauling an entire pick up truck load of stuff with us for a one night stay.  The weather out here can be so fickle that you just never know if you will need shorts or your winter jacket.  I packed alot of things we didn't need and forgot to pack a lot of things we could have used but at least I know for next time.

One of the main reasons this particular camp site was chosen was for the prime ocean diving right in front of it.  Part of our gang went out spearfishing/diving and came home with some really nice fish and Emily M got a really nice abalone.  While the fisher folk were out doing their thing Emily H and I stayed at camp and managed to keep the girls entertained, fed and most importantly kept the fire going.  I really wish I would have been able to find the camera early in to our adventure so that I could have captured Avrie refusing the marshmallows that Emily kept making for her.  5th times a charm I guess! 

Bedtime was less than great, Piper who is usually out by 7 did not want anything to do with sleeping in a tent and well, she didn't seem real happy with the camping experience all together.  She was up most of the night, crying in our tent and I'm sure annoying fellow campers but oh well that's the way it goes I guess.  Looking back on it I think maybe 16 months might be just a little to young for camping.  Either way I'm glad to be able to say that my girls and I had our first camping adventure EVER together.  Just wish I would have been able to find the camera....

Morgan and I are already talking about finding a sitter for the girls for a weekend so we can go back and just sit back, relax and enjoy.  It was so great to fall asleep listening to the waves crashing and the "church bells"  ringing, in between the cries of Piper anyway.  I hope we are able to get back there soon but for now I'm just looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight! 

Yay! We finished a project...for once!

If you have kids around the ages of my girls, you will probably agree that it is much easier to stay at home than to pack up all their crap and plan your schedule around possible meltdowns and nap times to venture out.  It just so much easier to stay home where you know all the neccessary child proofing is in place, you have plenty of the fav snacks and most importantly you know exactly where the time out chair is.  Only problem with staying home all the time is it gets pretty boring.  Our yard has been such a mess that I even hide from embarrassement when the PG & E guy comes to read our electric meter.  There was absolutley no way I would have friends over. 

In my heart I knew that the only way we would get any yard work done was if I invited some people over - this way we would be forced with a deadline to get it all done. Last weekend the work began.  Morgan borrowed a small excavator and had a transfer load of baserock delivered to the house. Last Sunday he had managed to pull out the existing vegetation and put a layer of baserock down but due to flat seas and salmon fishing thats about as far as it got. 

Today we went into town, picked up some plants, a fire pit and a pressure washer and managed to get the rest done.  It all turned out pretty nice, not perfect by any standards but it is definatley good enough to have some friends over, make some smores, have a few cocktails and a few laughs.  Good thing too cause we are having friends over next Saturday.  We rented a jumpy house for the kiddos and are looking forward to a good time with good friends.  Hopefully Morgan and I will be responsible "yard owners" this time and wont let it get overrun with weeds, leaves and garbage.  If we do, well then I guess I will need to invite one of you over so we can start this whole process again!

Avrie's Princess gloves

Excavator and Baserock delivered - no going back now



Before





Avrie riding with Daddy getting started





Helping me plant the flowers





My first time using a weed eater





All done



Mermaid I picked out to remind me of my sister



So much better!