Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Camping


Where does the time go? We went camping for Dave's birthday (July 23) and I am just now getting around to posting pictures. I've had about a week now of no naps from Harrison. And it's killing me... I usually hop on here during his nap time. Do you see where I'm going with this?


Anyway, we went camping at Dosewallips State Park for 2 nights. This is the same campground where Dave and I went camping for the first time back in 2003. We decided to wait until the last minute when we were inside the window of the 10 day forecast so we had an idea of weather. The we nabbed a spot wherever we could find one available. The last time we camped was two years ago and we booked it 6 months out for the same time, Dave's birthday. It rained the entire time. Good times with a baby crawling through the mud. Lets say we learned our lesson.

We booked spot 94. It said 'view site' so that was exciting. And then we got there. There was a view all right. We were on the river. Really on the river. There was no little beach. It just dropped off into a semi-fast moving river. Now I not only have to keep Harrison from falling into the fire pit, I also have to keep him from falling into the river. He is actually a really good listener so that's not our problem. Our problem was he was really clumsy that week. He had fallen a few times in our yard and scraped up his knee. He was tripping over things that have been there for months. Strange. During our set-up Dave put out a large stick by the river and that was Harrison's 'do not cross' line.

After we got our little two day home all set up and while we were making dinner a ranger stopped at our site. She got out of her truck and asked if we were there the night before. We told her we had just arrived. Then she said "there was a report..." And I wanted to say "didn't you hear us? We just got here... no report about us lady!" And she continued "... of a black bear in the river." Oh great. Now I've got the fire pit, the river AND a bear!!! Oh boy. She said that it hadn't been confirmed yet and that maybe it was just the herd of elk that live in the campground. Oh man - nature at it's best. So of course, both mornings that I woke up I looked and looked and looked up and down the river. Nothing. No bear. No elk. What a bust.

But we did see a snake! Harrison and I were walking around in the woods right next to our site when I spotted it. I told him to come back towards me but didn't tell him why. So he came running and accidentally stepped on the snake. Oops. I guess I should've told him why I wanted him to come back over. And maybe I should've carried him. He scared the snake and it freaked out as did Harrison. He started screaming and crying. (and probably woke up the campground because it was fairly early in the morning)

We had a great time camping. Harrison loved it. He loved sleeping in his new sleeping bag in the tent. We've already booked another trip for the beginning of September. We can't wait - and how nice it will be to not have a river RIGHT next to our camp spot.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

3 hours later


Thank goodness it's cooling off. In the meantime, we're hunkering down in the basement for the night. And that, of course, is much too exciting for Harrison as he's still awake at 10:00 pm!!

Hot enough for ya?

Heat wave

Oh man ~ I feel like I am back in Southern California. (minus the smog, of course) It is SO hot up here right now. Today is officially the hottest day on record in Seattle. http://www.kirotv.com/weather/20191266/detail.html We spent the evening yesterday throwing water balloons at each other and running through the sprinklers. We've been eating lots of popsicles. And we hit the local wading pools twice so far this week. Tonight we're planning to sleep in the basement where it's considerably cooler. Hope you're keeping cool wherever you are.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Dempsey Family Cabin


We went to our friend's family cabin a week ago on Hood Canal. It was only us two moms and our 3 kids. We spent one night and it was lots of fun! Harrison loves playing with his buddies, Owen and Clare (or Clara as he calls her). The kids had fun 'fighting fires' in the woods with Owen & Clare's Nana. They even got to ride in the back of her pickup truck. Remember those days?? I remember going to Lake Tahoe and watching the fireworks on the 4th of July and then piling into the back of the truck to drive home.



And speaking of Lake Tahoe... I spoke with my dad this weekend and they had another bear break-in at the cabin! He says this is about 5 times now. They pry open the door and then head to the kitchen to help themselves to some food. This time they ate dog food, ice cream and syrup. Boy, they sure are living the life. When I was younger we would have so many people at the cabin that we'd set up tents outside for overflow. These days I wouldn't do that. And before we left we always put the metal trash can out by the street with a rock on top of the lid. That would surely keep the animals out!! I laugh at it now. They now have these metal containers where you lock your trash in so the bears can't get to it.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Toilet training


Today's visitor












This is what we found today when we looked out of my bedroom window. When he saw us he ran to the back of the yard but was frightened by Harrison's swing set. Then he came back towards the house and lingered for a bit.