Shaver Lake 2012

Every year in August my family and their friends take a camping trip. The location has changed a few times over the last 12 years but the last few years they've been going to Shaver Lake (Camp Edison) in Central California. The problem with the trip being in August is it is a crazy busy time of the year for McCall so she is never able to go. I usually try to go but opted out last year because it would just be too hard to camp solo with a 1 year old (plus making the 5 hour drive). Now that Baines is 2 I decided to go. I already had to take the week off of work since our babysitter (my Mother) and summer back up babysitter (sister-in-law) were going on the trip. I talked friends Tim and Ingrid to be my carpool buddies since they we leaving at the same time and headed up to Shaver Lake.

The weather was great and the campground is beautiful. Camping semi-alone with a 2 year old turned out to be way more difficult logistically then I thought it would be. Luckily I had help from everyone there or it would have been a total nightmare. I'd have to ask my Mother or Sister-in-law to watch her while I did simple things like set up the tent, run to the rest room or try and cook food. As you probably could imagine a stubborn 2 year old has her own agenda of what she wants to do and would flip out when told she had to stick around me while I worked or cooked.

My parent's and my Bother/Sister-in-Law's trailers were also very helpful because they had electrical hook up's, AC & TVs. Whenever Baines got moody she would want to go inside and watch "Buzz." They were like comfort zones for her. Over the week she probably watched Toy Story 1, 2 & 3 at least five times each.



hamburger bun hat?

  The iPad was also very helpful to keep her calm, she did not like to be around the big group of people we had camping with us (strange place and people she does not know all that well). We have a lot of educational games on the ipad and keeped her entertained. It was something she was familar with so while we all sat around the campfire she would play her games and she would not mind hanging out.

I stayed the week and then had to come home and get back to work but my parents were staying another week and we could not get a babysitter so Baines had to/got to stay another week. That means, sadly, McCall has to go two weeks without seeing her. Most of these pictures were ones I took just so I could keep send them to McCall's phone. It's hard to keep a phone or camera out while chasing a 2 year old around and especally while we were at the lake; it was almost impossible.


Me: smile for Mommy
B: stop it! 




proud rock climber



 Our Friend's Julie and Jeremy site was Baines' favorite hang our spot because they had some plastic flamingo's and because they had two real cat's in their motor home. She would spend all day trying to play with the kitties if they would have let her. We'd have to go by and visit the flamingo's every once and while.



hugs





Papa giving the kids a class on tree rings

  The place was loaded with rocks and boulders. Good ones that she should climb over and play on.



Blue lolly pop!



I was not able to get many pictures of the lake area because I could not keep my phone on me near the water. I had to almost stand guard at the waters edge to make sure she would not run too deep. The sand shelf dropped off FAST so she would be in over her head within about 3 feet from the edge. After the first day or two she understood and we were both able to have more fun in the water. Hopefully others took more photos at the beach and I can add them later. Overall the trip was fun, not very relaxing, but fun. Leaving Baines there for anther week sucks as well but we did not have any other options. My parents are in for a busy week.

The end to November

Since the weather has been so beautiful the past few weeks we’ve spent a lot of time at the park.  As you can see its Baines second favorite thing to do (first is going for a bike ride)  

We had Thanksgiving early on the 19^th with Nicholas’s mom’s family.  There are tons of grandchildren so it’s always a good time for the kids.  Nicholas’ cousin Austin and his girl friend surprised all the little kids with their balloon animal skills.    Baines got a crown and a corsage. 

  

   

Our Sister-in-law Andrea got a cold the other weekend so we took Dean for a few hours.  Baines enjoyed the company at the park

As I said the weather has been beautiful in fact last weekend it was 80 degrees.  This is one of the reasons we live in California   Baines and I were in shorts and t-shirts sitting outside watching the boys install the new door.  (We’ll post some pictures soon.  It’s amazing).  Our neighbor brought over tangerines from her tree and Baines was grubbing them up.  

Sunday nap time

My two favorite people!

Park

Yet again I have to leave for work today. I've been gone 3 times this month so now I officially deserve the worst mother of the year award. I hate leaving... I feel like I miss out on so much. She is developing so rapidly and everyday is different.

At least I don't have to worry about Nicholas. He is such a good dad. This last week his parents were on vacation, he stayed home to watch her all week. She has a blast hanging out with him and I'm super jealous. I know he's going to be the fun parent since I always work. Boo!!!

Anyways, I have to enjoy the moments I do get so we squeezed in as much fun as we could yesterday. The park is becoming one of her favorite places. She yells and laughs at the Dogs, Points at the airplanes, crawls up and down the hills, and Nicholas was helping her walk/run in the grass. She loved it! and lets be honest, we did too!

Career Options

Nicholas thinks she'll be the next Alicia Key's? On Saturday she was jammin with his cousin Austin.


Or she could be a furniture mover?

PS the mini temper tantrum is awesome. Girl gets frustrated easily, nothing like her mother.

Happy Fathers Day!

All dads should have mustaches, they just should!

10 Months- Delayed...

Yeah, I know I’m really behind not just on the blog but life in general. We’ve had a very eventful June so far with no slowing down. Baines 10 months just zoomed past without recognition. I was in Texas for 7 days (Yeah that’s right 7 whole days) and it sucked but I made A LOT of money. I still hate leaving my little Bubbies!

When I returned Baines grew up so much in a week. She is talking so much more. She says Dog Dog, OH NO, Bubbas (butterflies) and lots of other. She loves to point at everything, It’s so cute! When you take her outside she points at the trees and says “Ta Ta Ta”. We also loves playing the game Where’s. We say where’s Daddy, and she’ll point to Nicholas and laugh. She knows Mama, Macie, Bugita, Papa, Nana & her nose too.

While I was gone she got her first tooth. I was hoping she would wait till I returned, 1. because I wanted to see it first and 2. because Nicholas would have to deal with cutting a tooth by himself. He had a couple rough nights but they both survived. He did an awesome job while I was gone even with a broken arm. He had his cast taken off and got a brace so he could better manage the baby. I think that really helped.





I mentioned Nicholas’ cast but I neglected to mention how he got it… well over a month ago he was riding his bike home from work and was hit by a car. Super scary for him but extra scary for me because my baby needs a daddy! His adrenaline was running after it happened and initially thought he was fine. 5 hours of waiting in the ER later he discovered his wrist was broken with possible ligament damage. Last week he went for an MRI and he did in fact break his scaphoid and tore the ligament so he needs to see a hand specialist for surgery. So he's back in a cast, again!



Aside from the medical issues we’re still waiting for the Drivers insurance to resolve the cost for a bike replacement. His super nice, super expensive road bike is toast! Please cross your fingers that they’ll cover the damages!

On the plus side the house is looking BAD ASS!!!!!! Nicholas and his dad have been working super hard on the house. I’ll let Nicholas do the house update since that his area of expertise.

At the Farm

Saturday we went to Riverside to have lunch and celebrate Nicholas’ grandfather’s birthday. While we were there we stopped by my coworker Kelli’s house. They have a large property with horse, dogs, and tons of goats. Baines had a great time meeting all the animals. She even got to ride Bert the goat.