California Trip Day 2 - Redwoods: Big Trees=Big Fun

Doing a Junior Ranger walk and learning about habitats.

Tidepools

It was a big tree...

So was this one.

And this one.

Those too.

Gabby loved to catch the millipedes. Sam did not want to hold them.

Bulldozing the beach.

We left Crescent City and went in to Redwoods Parks - there is a chain of state and the national park and you go from one to the other all day and from forests to ocean views. We did a hike and learned about habitats from a California State Park Ranger. The big huge enormous amazing redwoods just went on for miles and eventually you lost a little perspective on them. But those were some big ole trees. We hiked a couple of short hikes enjoyed ocean views when we came around to those, too. We spent our second night at a KOA Kampground in Eureka, California. This was was up on a windy hill so not quite as cozy as the first but we still enjoyed it.

California Trip Day One - Travel to the edge of the Redwoods

Our cabin in the Redwoods

They were standing on one side of the trunk. I was standing on the other side of the same trunk.

Swinging on the porch

Saturday we left DuPont and drove all the way to Crescent City, California. This was the first night of two that we stayed in a KOA cabin. These cabins were scattered about right in the redwood trees, which was very neat. I had been wanting to try the cabins out but never have been at the right place, right time. I figured it had a large potential to be miserable with having to make the beds and go to the bathhouse, especially with a newly potty trained three year old. In reality, it was nice. This campground was a little bit nicer than the second one we stayed in but they were both nice. I won't say that we saved much money by doing this, which was disappointing, but it was nice to park right at the door and have a playground for the kids. After going for supper, we came back and they played till they had all the riding out of them. We had ice cream and then went to bed. We did find the simple style to get us in bed earlier and up and out earlier the next morning. No distracting TV, everyone hurried in the bathroom, and the kids were ready to try out the bunkbeds each evening. We did have to carry bed linens, pillows and towels with us to use these but we had plenty of room for them so that wasn't a problem. All in all, we will probably do it again if the opportunity presents itself. We were ready to hit the Redwoods the next day!

Daisy Bridging

June 6th Gabby bridged to Brownies. It sure feels like I just signed her up for Daisies in Kansas yesterday. She did a lot in her two years as a Daisy and is looking forward to being a Brownie. She was in two awesome troops as a Daisy! Thanks to everyone who worked with those troops to make her time in Girl Scouts fun. Yes, this one one week earlier than the boating trip and yes, the weather is a nasty as it looks! It was rainy and cool and a little miserable but if they're going to be Girl Scouts in Washington, they're going to have to deal with it!

Boating American Lake

Three of the five bald eagles that were circling the lake all afternoon.

Happy Jordan!

Daddy's face after jumping in the very cold water. Jordan stuck her head in my shot just as it was focusing so it ended up on her instead of him. You still get the idea...

Which ones are the smart ones - the ones in the boat or the ones in the lake?

At least they're smiling!

Finally, after nearly two years of no use, the boat came out of storage yesterday. The last time we used it, we got stuck on the lake in KS in September of 2008 with a engine starter problem. By the time they pulled the engine and fixed it, it was October so the boat was winterized. We pulled it out here in January of 2009 and it sat all last year while Robert was deployed (no Arledge family to use it this time). After spending a great deal of time cleaning it, the moment of truth came when he started it up here in the alley. We headed out to American Lake 1) because it's close and 2) because there are always a lot of boaters on it in case we get stuck. Last time we got stuck, there wasn't a soul around for quite a while.

We rode around the lake for a while, watching the eagles hunt and then the kids just had to try to water. It has not been in the 80's once yet this year. Barely in the 70's a few days. This water is c-o-l-d. Jordan went first - she's the least affected by the cold. After a couple of swims, she didn't want to get back in. Sam took one dip in from the back and one quick swim and he didn't want to go back. Gabby, and therefore Daddy, lasted a bit longer, swimming around for five minutes or so. Hopefully we will find more time to use it before the summer is up. Hopefully the lake will warm up a little. That's probably wishful thinking. Glad I bought that wetsuit in Montana. Hope it still fits.

Columbus in April

Gabby and Jonathan

Ben and Sam

Cousins

Relaxing after a fun day!

I am dreadfully behind in posting all the fun things we have done since Robert returned. Between the new computer and blogger's sudden inability to upload more than one photo at a time, I just can't get them posted as fast. So I am going to randomly try to catch up as best I can.

We visited my sister in Columbus for a day while on return leave. The kids love to play together and had a great short visit. Can't wait to see them out here in a few weeks!

Art Show

Gabby took three sessions of art classes this winter and spring. At the end, there was an art show. Here is the art work she had in the show.

Locks of Love

Gabby cut her hair yesterday for Locks of Love. It's been growing since right before she started Kindergarten, 18 months ago. Her long hair was beautiful but her short hair is also beautiful and will be great for summer. This morning she was commenting on how nice earrings would look now that she can see her ears. No dice on that one. We are so proud of her for bravely cutting her hair and generously donating it!

Checking out her long hair one more time.

First cut

Halfway there

Checking out her new haircut - beautiful!