First Camping Trip

We just finished our first overnight camping trip at Live Oak Campground in Casper's Wilderness Park.  We chose a site within 20 minutes of home, just in case we needed to head home on short notice.  We really didn't know how Violet would do.  She actually did great and had an "awesome" time.  Despite the proximity to civilization, it was remote enough and we heard both coyotes and owls nearby.

We set up the tent to the sounds of a nearby campsite blasting bad 80's music.  Suddenly the radio station threw in "Let it Go" from Frozen and Violet's excitement increased.  "Elsa is camping!"

After setting up camp, we did the nature loop hike.

Taking a break on the hike.

Violet was not a fan of the noisy flies  however.

Later that night we had a campfire and made s'mores.  Violet preferred her marshmallows separate from her chocolate.

Getting ready to roast marshmellows.

Roasting with daddy.

She slept pretty well that night and Eric and I were able to enjoy the campfire until late.  It was rough setting up and packing up all within 24 hours, but overall Violet did great and seemed to really have a good time.

Just prior to camping, we went to a preschool friend's birthday party at the petting zoo.  Violet had a great time with the animals and mom loved the catered food (bagels with three kinds of lox).  I didn't take advantage of the bar (mimosas and bloody mary's) but enjoyed the spread none the less.


Violet rode the train, savvy enough to run to the coveted "engine" seat.

She requested to ride the black horse Shadow.

Riding Shadow.

There was her first experience with a pinata.

Enjoying her spoils.

Child of the corn.

Dad with a goat.

She is my daughter!

If the fact she is totally headstrong didn't make it obvious, Violet's love of chocolate like her mom is as good as any DNA test I know.

Chocolate ice cream aftermath

An unrelated story:
These are the stories if I don't write down, I will forget.

Two weeks ago Violet and I went to Claim Jumper after dance class with her friend and her friend's mom.  The girls were busy playing together as us moms chatted.  Usually I never can chat when I go out to lunch with a friend and bring V along but the girls were entertaining themselves.  Suddenly I noticed that Violet had been wetting her napkin, tearing off pieces, and wadding them up.  I can't remember what her "tell" was, but suddenly I asked "Violet did you put napkin in your nose?"  She nodded yes.  I told her she needed to get it out.  As her finger dug in furiously, pushing the ball of napkin further and further back, her eyes got wide with fear.  My friend said "She probably didn't really put any up there."  But I knew, I just knew.   That look of panic on her face said it all.

So I held closed the other nostril, held my palm out to catch it, and told her to blow her nose as hard as she could.  With each unsuccessful blow, I could feel my panic rising but outwardly I tried to remain calm.  I was already picturing the visit to the ER in my mind.  On the third blow--success!  A bloody piece of napkin flew out of her nose, missing my outstretched palm, and sailed across the table.  A look of relief was on both of our faces.  And then her 3 year old friend sitting next to her, probably grossed out by the whole exchange, vomited.

Once we stopped laughing, we paid our bill and tipped well.


A couple pictures of Eric and I in Santa Fe from this weekend:

Me with a fish head.

We went to the folk art museum and they had an exhibit on Japanese kites and the kite festivals.

We made a kite at the Folk Art Museum.

Then we visited the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.

An origami swan made of metal

Swim

Violet has been enjoying her swim lessons.  She is sort of doing something resembling swimming at this point, although I'm pretty positive she would drown without someone in the water with her.  She is fearless about the water which is both admirable and frightening at the same time, considering she can't actually swim as well as she thinks.

She taught herself to do a somersault under water this week (video coming soon).

And a new dress ("princess dress" according to Violet) from Auntie D.  She is about all things princess right now.

Egg Hunt!

A couple of weeks ago, Violet went to the easter egg hunt at the community center.  Growing up Jewish, this is all pretty new to me.  I enjoyed sharing her excitement.

Anxious to start!

She didn't seem in any hurry to gather eggs at first.  It wasn't until her friend opened one that she realized there were gifts inside and then she picked up the pace considerably.

A much faster pace.

Enjoying the spoils with Emily.

Straight from the Oriental Trading Company, they are easy to please.

Hanging in the garden with Emily.

Hey who put googly eyes on that butterfly?

Mommy won this!

A recent trip to the flower store:

Picture by Violet--Yes I bought those flamingos.

 And a recent trip without Violet:

Solvang:

San Luis Obispo wall of gum:

Yuck!

 The famous Madonna Inn.  Lots of pink...

Video update

Hawaii movies

Chuck E Cheese

"Let it Go" from Frozen

Hawaii

Violet and I just got back from our first visit to the big island.  I went for a work conference and my friend Jenee joined us with her son Nicholas.  The flight there was long.  I foolishly thought it might be easier now that Violet was 3 but it wasn't.  She didn't nap at all and needed to be constantly entertained.  At least there was no crying.

Between leaving at 6 a.m. from LAX and not napping on the plane, Violet was literally rolling around on the floor near baggage claim.  Jenee is such a good friend--she whisked Violet away to go pick up drinks and giving me a bit of a break.  It also got Violet up off the floor of the airport.

While we waited for our room to be ready, we stopped for lunch. Violet enjoyed her first spam mosube of the trip.

Yummy spam!

Then we checked into the hotel which was right on the beach.

Other than lecture, the trip was full of alternating between the beach and the pool, then watching kids movies at night in bed.  Jenee was a saint, watching both kids when I was in lecture.  I don't think I could have handled it.

Hotel Lagoon

Eating at the pool restaurant.

Watching TV after a long day.

Somehow Violet managed to fool Jenee into believing that she was allowed to eat fruit loops at home and manipulated her into letting her have them for breakfast two days in a row.  How did they get so smart at 3 years?

The last day we were there we had the best weather of the trip and we went to Hapuna Beach which was not far from our hotel and was just gorgeous.

Clear water.

Violet took this picture!

Violet and Nick

It was a short but sweet trip.  Despite the age difference, the kids got along great.  I can't wait for our next trip.

Peekaboo!