Advice for Camping with Kids...

Learn from our experiences...

1. Relax..that's the whole point right. Make sure they get dirty by exploring their world closely.
2. Bug spray...I'm really cautious about what we put on the little guy but don't want him itching for days to come either. Pants and long sleeves really minimized the bites and he didn't seem too hot (we get up to 70s or 80s).
3. S'mores (s'more of what?--Sandlot)
4. Bring a shovel and wipes.  The dude was so proud to announce that he pooped in the forest but that meant that we had to find it, dig a hole, bury it, and go without underwear.  Checking in with him about it would have been good...I could have shoveled in an ideal place instead of the middle of the campsite.  Also, baby wipes helped keep things clean since we wouldn't bathe for a couple days.  The novelty of pooping outside meant that it had to be tried often. I found that it worked best if I squatted behind him and had him lean on me, his elbows on my knees, over the hole.
5. Plan something. We brought dump trucks and climbing gear.  The dump trucks were great fun in a new environment. Fishing rods would have been great too.  Scavenger hunt, storytelling, writing in dirt with sticks, nature nuggets...
6. Don't push it.  We went to climb and it just seemed to be too overwhelming. Rather than pushing him to do it, the day was rearranged and spent pretending we were hunting for pumas.
7. Bring lots of water...more than you think you need. Without enough water (for people and dogs and making mud cakes) we would have been miserable.
8. Set boundaries.  If the dude/dudette wants to travel out of them, go with and check things out. It's been suggested to hang fabric flags around a boundary perimeter that is off-limits.I am paranoid but keep this crew in my mind: Cold Nose Investigators
9. Have a free back for piggy-backing when needed...those little legs struggle to keep up and tire out more quickly than ours when hiking.
10. Bring the snuggly or blankie...it makes sleeping in any new place a little easier.
11. BRING A CAMERA!
12. It would be fun to try out some plant, insect, animal identification books.  Like this...and this.
13. Do what you remember being special as a kiddo... 

Vanism

While biking we have some great conversations...

We had a sweet little guinea pig named Ringo. We loved him because he was cuddly and squeaky.  He was only with us for a short time...

Van: Mom is it going to rain?
Me: Well it looks like it but I don't know for sure.
Van: Well maybe Ringo will come back out of the sky and he can fall in your hand and we can have him back.

 

 Aw, the beautiful simplicity of it all...............

"Holdin' On to Black Metal"

Loving this song!

 Listen here...

What they say...

An ode to the Jimi Hendrix t-shirt...

Began with Brett in college...became one of Colleen's fave pajamas...now a psychedelic cape for Van.

Snip off front, stitch V to back, and sew on a little button around the collar.

Father's Day Dinner

When we were in CA for the summer, we were always on the hunt for the best food we could find!  We love Indian food so researched (via internet and locals) about the best Indian around!  The Amber India Restaurant in Mountain View was the recommendation so we hooked up the Burley and biked there...the anticipation made the ride seem even longer than it actually was and the ride home was much, much slower because we were stuffed with the best food ever!  Their Butter Chicken (aka chicken makhani) was award-winning and so I had to have it.  Truly, the best I've had (even though you had to pay separately for rice...and yogurt...and rice pudding...typically all included in the meal around these parts).  The article and recipe was posted on their wall so we embarrassingly took photos with our phones so we could taste the lovely dish someday in windy Wyoming.  Father's Day was the perfect celebratory occasion.  

Amber Indian Restaurant: Mountain View, CA

Easier to read... 

I had to get naan from the local Indian restaurant to complete the meal...I've made it before but it just isn't the same.

Naan

The verdict was...great flavor but not the same consistency...don't over-do it on the cream.  Definitely best to do the chicken as they say and not the easy way out (chicken breasts).  Will surely try again :)

Happy Father's Day!

A Timeline of Brett and Van...Happy Father's Day Babe!

Our Amazing Dads...We love you! Happy Father's Day to the best dads ever!

We are so thankful for all we have learned from our parents and the love that they have shared and that Van gets to have such a loving Daddy himself!

The other Van...

Vanisms

Van: "Mommy dis is takin tooooo wong!"
Me. What is buddy?
Van: "My gwo-in up!"


Van: "Can I touch dis...does it have wecktwicity?"
Me: "Yep you can touch it...it doesn't have electricity. What do you know about electricity?"
Van: It comes out of the cwouds and makes our yights go off and on."

Senioritis...as an almost 30 year old

Oh boy...not feeling motivated...have homework to do for my last master's course...it's a 3 week, 3 hours per day course on classroom assessment...

And then, I defend the thesis...which is quite a work in progress...still waiting on feedback from the fam ;)

Ugh...the wine doesn't help with any type of motivation whatsoever...

Not a pain in my heart...

...but what an awesome song...love Otis Redding!

Dandelion Jam...update

Well...we actually like it...I was optimistic and rightfully so...anything with that much sugar has to be good. Next time, we might go a little easier on the cinnamon to see if we can actually taste the dandelions...maybe ;)

The paper idea on the other hand...not looking so hot...still quite a pulpy mess but with time, it might get better.

If you're fast enough to catch it...well worth it...

My Morning Jacket @ Bonnaroo Live...now

Vanisms

"Mommy...you my girfwend...you my girfwend cuz you my faborite girl."

"What's dis bwack stuff on my chicken?!?!?!? I don't like the bwack stuff...it's too hard and cwusty..."

"I have to have chocowate miwk...I'm awwergic to dat kind of miwk." (nice try...white milk is best)

"I want you to cuddo me...a miwwion times." To daddy

and my favorite...at his school they opened up a mud-pit! He came out to the playground to play in the mud-pit...COMPLETELY NAKED...

Thankful...

My friend SaraJane (http://micahandsarajaneherrboldt.blogspot.com/) includes space to show gratitude on her blog...an idea I must steal as it is something that we all must take time to do...


Today I am thankful for...preschool bike day, a confident child, an enthusiastic child, teachers who appreciate and nurture his nature, the Burley, enjoying nap-time at school with Van, Brett enjoying his work...we are excited to have him home tomorrow, family who always has just the right advice, and maybe a date night on Saturday with Z&R...

Free time and feeling experimental...

So noticing that dandelions were growing quite healthily in our school garden (http://linfordgardenclub.blogspot.com/), I thought that we should appreciate them (hmmm) and see what we can do with them.  I found a recipe for dandelion jam and here are the first steps...pick (and boy did we have great pickers), boil 4 c water and 4 c dandelion petals (no green stuff as it is bitter) and lemon zest...seep overnight.

Next, we separated the liquid from the petals...I used coffee filters...boiled with 6 c sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and pectin.  At this point they are in jars and setting up...hopefully yummy...

I will let you know more about the taste after the dude, dad, and I try it.  Also, I couldn't just throw away the petals so look for the post entitled "Dandelion Paper" tomorrow to see what Van and I came up with...

Gardening in Laramie...possible?

Linford Garden Club Blog

We have been working away and enjoying the time outdoors...here is a glimpse into Van and my extra time at school...not too shabby ;)

A possible project...

Found this great fabric and here is my plan...but with longer shorts...suggestions?  This will be a first attempt at any type of sewing in a long time and I am excited to have mom's help with it...I will keep you posted on how it progresses...pattern and measurements first right? :)

 

The Inspiration (click here to see)

True...reminder of the beauty of boys

Definition: BOY

Why not!?!?!

 

Moustache Hat

Vanism

As I carried Van through a store he started trying to take my shirt off...strap by strap. I said, "Van, please leave my clothes on."  He continued to pull it down and says, "But Daddy likes it like this...............and so does Uncle Garrett."  Hahahaha....too funny to be embarrassing :)

Why not!?!?!

Bicycle Wine Rack