Fourth Of July 2010

This year for the Fourth Of July, I took Esperanza to see the infamous firework show at Fort Vancouver. I was thankful to hear they had started it back up again after it was cancelled for the first time ever last year. I grew up going to this amazing and free local firework show. They charge now, but it is definately worth it. My sister Mary went with us and we had a great time!

Having fun with a sparkler Throwing 'pops' Esperanza responding with a screaming NO when I asked if I could take her pictureMary and Esperanza dancing to the music at the FortA bad respresentation of the firework show (couldn't figure out the 'firework' setting on my camera) Watching the the sky light up with pretty colors

Playhouse Play

So I haven't made much progress with cleaning up, decorating, painting or furnishing the playhouse. That doesn't deter Esperanza from wanting to play in it thow. She loves her playhouse! I did however finally clean out the sand box part, so we've had a chance to play in the sand lately.An empty playhouse means more room to jump, dance and run around

Enjoying a warm evening on the deck

Berry-Licious

Earlier this week I picked up some berries at a local farm and made some jam. I don't seem to be too excited about strawberries this year, and neither is Esperanza. But we couldn't keep our handa off the raspberries. I canned raspberry jam the regular way then made strawberry freezer jam. She may not have been excited about the actual strawberries but she went gaga over the strawberry freezer jam. Mmmm! We are both patiently awaiting the arrival of blueberries...can't wait to go pickin' & stock my freezer again.

Camping at Creasap Bay

Val and James Blomdahl (the newlyweds) invited their wedding guests to go camping with them for the weekend after their wedding last Thursday. They reserved a group camping site at Creasap Bay. Though the thought of being the only adult 100% responsible for my crazy kid while camping was a bit scary, I didn't hesitate about going. We packed up my tiny Ford Focus (w/ no a/c), met up with the Veach's in their camper van then met up with the Blomdahl's in their mobile home and we all caravanned north to our camping spot.

The group camp site consisted of 15 seperate normal camp sites, kind of set up in a circle around a big common area with a picnic shelter and huge play/field area - and all surounded by woods and the bay. It was pretty neat and everyone much knew everyone else so it was safe to let your kids run around (to a certain extent) because everyone was looking out for everyone else. I didn't know anyone except the Val #1 and Val #2 parties, but little ones change things like that quickly. Like the wedding, there were a ton of kids - most of them under the age of 5. It makes all the difference in the world when you have a small kid and there are other small kids to play with. Thank goodness! We had a great time and had very few problems or breakdowns from either Esperanza or I. We left with all body parts still in tact and only two bruised/skinned knees (Esperanza, not I). I took a lot of pictures, enjoy.

Did you know that deer swim? And I mean swim all the way across a huge lake, and then back! Strange.

The crew: Jameson, Val, Annabelle, Carter & Esperanza

Loving her surroundings

Kids playing in the camp site field

It might have been hot, but this water was freezing! Here's Carter & Annabelle contemplating on how deep they want to go.

Esperanza just played in the sand. She wouldn't even put her toes in the water.

Breathtaking scenery

Yuck- hot dog! Does the fact that it's organic and rediculously expensive make it any better? Probably not.

Giving me the 'crazy eye' because I want that bag of chips back!

Crack!

Unresistably cute!
Esperanza and Carter kickin' back with crayons and a coloring book
So there's a story that goes with this one: Val had to come up with a 'time out' place for Carter. Since there are very little corners but lots of trees in the woods, Val decided that when Carter got into trouble, he had to hug a tree for 4 minutes (he's 4 years old). He was threatened many times and usually reversed his attitude pretty quickly, for fear of having to hug a tree. Well, low and behold, the time came and he did get to hug a tree. I wasn't there for it, so this isn't the actual event, but this was the tree. It's obviously a little bit funny...but coming from a 'tree hugger' perspective, it kind of sucks that the kid will forever have a negative memory about hugging trees.
Carter looks surpised b/c he won't look at the camera unless I trick him by saying 'look, here's a cookie' or something similar

Esperanza whining for something

Newlyweds Val and James (she makes the best guacamole!)

Nursing my 'baby'

Annabelle

Esperanza snuggling with Jameson before bed! I think she misses her own daddy, she had to borrow someone else's for a moment.
Our tent felt empty without Armando

I have to tell another story about this kid Carter ~sorry Val~ The last night that we were there, the entire group of campers got together in the picnic shelter for a pot luck dinner. We all ate then they had a cake cause it was someone's birthday. So we were eating cake and everyone was pretty much looking out facing the kids that were running around playing. Carter was among them. All of the sudden, Carter pulls down his pants. This is pretty common b/c he REALLY likes going pee outside. But he also knows it's a private thing and it shouldn't be done out in the open. So Val kind of covers her face with mild embarrasment and says something like, 'oh man, he's gonna go pee'. But then he squats. And then he poops! Keep in mind there are at least 30 or more adults watching - and eating cake. And there are another 10 or so kids in the field. Even from about 20 feet away, we got a very good visual of what he was doing. Poor Val, she was so embarrassed, jumped up, ran over to him, pulled his pants up 'mid-poop' and drug him away (I actually wonder if this was the time he had to hug the tree). Everyone thought it was funny and the guys thought it was actually pretty cool. Anyways, as you can imagine, he was still being talked about the next morning. Sorry to leave you with the poop story, but thats all folks.

Blomdahl Wedding

Valerie Logan and James Blomdahl tied the knot! And as a side note - Valerie & James Logan are different friends than the Valerie & Jameson Veach I often talk about. It gets confusing at times for all of us since we're all friends.Last Thursday evening, Esperanza and I went to their wedding at the Abernethy Center. The ceremony was held outside in a beautiful setting called Abigails Garden. It was probably one of the most enchanting weddings I've ever been to. The scenery was breathtaking, the kids were well behaved and the weather was perfect.

Other than the ceremony part & a quick goodbye a few hours later, we didn't see much of the bride and groom. The reception was held in a huge tent just steps away from the ceremony site...but Esperanza REALLY wanted to play outside. And, since it's all about Esperanza (thow outside of our little bubble it was really all about Val), that's what we did, for about 3 or more hours. She didn't want to eat, watch the cake cutting, listen to the toasts, meet or mingle with people, dance, etc. Nope, outdoor play was the only thing on her mind. Luckily I was in love with the grounds as well and didn't mind being outside with her (though I did attempt to get her inside to the party several times). All in all, I got a gazillion pictures of Esperanza and not one picture of the bride and groom (above photo courtesy of Val's facebook page). So here you have it, pictures of Esperanza at Val & James' wedding.

Ang & Jess' son Parker with Esperanza on the car ride to the wedding Parker and Esperanza running and playing in one of the fields There were several little ones close to Esperanza's age that she played with
And here come a few of my favs...
Annabelle and Carter running to burn off some energy Carter giving his mama, Valerie Veach, a big smoochEsperanza is a landscapers worse nightmare - she spent a good part of her time tearing up the immaculate grass!

Exhausted & ready to go home

Congratulations Val and James! Thank you for inviting us to share this special day with you.