Big Bear, Baby!

We headed to down to Big Bear, CA last weekend for our annual vacation with my family. It was a fun  activity filled couple of days. We all arrived late Thursday night, so things didn't really get started until Friday morning. We kicked things off with a quad lift ride up to the top of Snow Summit ski resort and a picnic on to of the mountain. It was so beautiful up there and we could not have asked for better weather! The cousins had a great time running around and exploring. 

After lunch, we divided up. The Quarders and the Malans rode the lift back to the bottom, while Grandma and Grandpa, Megan and Kylie and us hiked down. My stupid, arthritic knees lasted about about 200 yards down the hill before they were screaming in protest, not good when the trail is 1 1/2 miles long. So frustrating, and though I'm glad I did it, I have no interest in going through that again! Kylie and Jenna had to much fun, and Jenna was a champ! I was crazy impressed with how well my Dad did with his back injury and all. He even gave up his hiking poles about half way down so that I could use them. We were also joined by two random dogs who Kylie and Jenna fell head over heals for. They were much better at listening to Ky then they were Jenna, who spent the rest of the hike calling to them. It was really quite stunning up there and it was great to get a little time in nature. 

The kids put on a kazoo/noise maker parade with Grandma and Grandpa. (They were in heaven!)

 There was lots of Buzz Lightyear, giant cowboy hats, playing in cupboards, spinning wheels, and mud! All the very best stuff for kids of all ages. 

 There was dancing in the rain and huddling up in the sauna. There were too many kids in the tub and great family meals around the giant dining room table. 

 There was a ton of crafting; alphabet stickers on construction paper, tie dying shirts, bead & pipe cleaner jewelry, and sticker stories.  There was bocce ball, left, right, center, and an attempt at Settlers of Catan (which was a giant fail).

 I took family pictures of my brother, Scoot's family and my sister, Sara's family. I think I'm getting a little better. Still have a lot to learn, but I learn a little something else each time it seems like.  

 We had a fabulous talent show, spurred on by Ms. Kylie Mae and her excellent gymnastics. 

On the last day, Jenna got her second ever hair cut. Thanks again, Aunt Jen! 

 And then we all headed to the Big Bear Reserve/Zoo. Jenna loved seeing the big bad wolf and birds. 

 Then we headed to the park for a picnic, playing, and finally our good-byes. Yet another fun weekend. I am so grateful for the efforts my whole family goes through to get here and allow us all to get time together. So often if feels as though our time together is rushed when I am in town and these trips allow for much calmer time together. I think it is especially wonderful for the cousins to solidify relationships with both each other and with their aunts and uncles. Love you all and can't wait to do it all over again next year! 

We're Movin' On U-Up!

Starting this month Bare Foot moved Jenna up to the mini-squirts gymnastics class. So far as I can tell it's very similar to the mom and tot classes we were taking, just minus the mom. {boo who who} She's doing great and is still very much enjoying it! The coach says she's still  little wiggly and distracts easily, but considering she's a minimum of 4 month younger than every one else, that is to be expected. 

The Madsen Family Day O' Fun

When we in Kaysville visiting my mom this weekend, Jenna spotted a couple of buses driving through town and ever since then has been asking to go on a bus ride. Once Casey got home we planned a little outing where we rode the bus downtown, rode the carousel, and then took the bus home. Jenna was in heaven. She had the best time, mostly because she was free as a bird. No seatbelt, no car seat...pure heaven. P.S. Can someone explain to me how this is okay/legal?!

 The carousel doesn't open until 11 so we stopped and got ice cream at Thomas Judd's Store Co. It was our first time going to this little gem and I'm so very glad we did! What a nostalgic, darling, shop full of old school candy and soda I've never even heard of. So fun! 

 Then we headed across the street to the carousel only to find out it was broken, apparently has been for weeks and they can't figure out how to fix it. Nice. Our tax dollars not hard at work...now to explain to our two year old that she doesn't get to ride the horsies like we've been telling her she was going to. We told her they were broken, they were sick. She understood that after having just been sick this week. 

 She asked to take a picture with the sick horses. There were lots of good-byes, waves, kisses, and telling Daddy to fix them, just so sure that he could. I love the faith she has in him. 

After nap time, we went to the Washington County Fair. We had so much fun. I think was my very first fair as well, at least I don't remember ever going to a fair before. I think it was much more fun because Jenna was so fun, then it would have been without her. She loved petting the animals...

...except the baby chicks. I find it so interesting that she is much more scared of the small animals then she is of the big ones. No fear of the cows or horses, but a baby chick?! 

Jenna was convinced that she wanted to go down the giant slide. As she has never been a fan of slides, but I kept flashing to the water slide at Crowton's pool and Skyler Langeveld telling me not to Jenna what she can and can't do, from the mouth of babes. So we let her try it, and as was far too predictable, she froze once at the top and would not come down until I went up to the top and lowered her as far down as I could and then let her go...and not once, but twice. So we quickly moved on from the slide. 

Com'on Mom, hurry up. 

 On to the carnival rides! She loved them all. Every one. For being such a cautious girl, she's got the inner daredevil that I love! It was also good to see, because we have a trip to Disneyland planned for the first part of September and it's good to know she's going to be good on the rides. Her never ending legs don't hurt in these circumstances!

She got to ride the horses after all! 

 

Let me take a moment on this picture, Jenna has this great grin she does when she's feeling shy or like too much attention is being directed towards her. It's this half smile usually from her looking up through her eyelashes. It's a very difficult expression to catch. We've considered hiring a nature photographer from National Geographic to try and capture it. This is as close as we've come to capturing it. It's one of our favorite looks! I was thrilled that we got this: 

We headed over to roller coaster. Jenna was cuddling with Casey in the line and the ride attendant didn't want to let her on because she was a "baby" so he made her make sure she was over the height limit, which she of course cleared by like an inch and a half. He was still a little concerned, so the woman behind us had her little girl ride with her (not sure how thrilled the girl was about that). We were a little worried, but one look at her face during the first alleviated all of our fears. She was loving it! Pure cheesy grins all the way. It was fantastic. Love that kid.  

We hit the ferris wheel last on our way out. Jenna was super excited and had a very hard time sitting still which made for a rocky ride and nausea on Mom's part. But Jenna was having the time of her life. Hard to resist that enthusiasm!  

What a great day! We so rarely do this kind of thing when we are home, and it was a great day just enjoying the things in our own back yard. 

Salt Lake Visit

One of the members of the Sinful Six, Chris Hatch, and his family were in Ogden from Texas and asked us to come up so we could all get together. Before we left, I put together a little backpack for Jenna that is for use on the airplane only. It has a dry erase board, a coloring book and crayons, 2 sets of Disney flashcards; colors and numbers,  shoelaces and Cherrios to make necklaces, and 3 books. It was a huge hit and she didn't even use the iPad either direction. Ms. Independent is adamant that she carry her own backpack and suitcase. Which beside being the cutest thing ever, is actually incredibly helpful! There are silver linings to her getting so old! 

We had a great time at dinner with the Sinful Six. 5 of the 6 members and their wives (and a few of the kids) were able to make it. And it was so much fun! The kids all got along great as the boys. They have such a funny banter and way of giving each other a hard time. It was funny watching how they almost went around the table and took turns teasing each member in turn. I really have the best time when I am with them. Their intelligent sense of humors make for endless laughter! 

Sinful Six Generation 2

SS: Joe Dallimore, Jason Langeveld, Mike Crowton, Casey, and Chris Hatch

 That night we went down and spent the night at Grandma Lor's and then spent the day Sunday with her. On our way to Grandma's I was able to catch Jenna's maniacal version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star...enjoy! 

She and Jenna are so cute together. Casey left for Baltimore for the week on Sunday afternoon and Jenna and I headed up to my mom's for a couple of days. 

I figured might as well hang with my Motherhead for a couple days then sit around the house missing Casey. Unfortunately, Jenna got really is Monday morning and spent the morning vomiting. It has to be one of the worst feelings not to be able to help your kid with they are in pain. I think is the third time Jenna has ever been sick and she just doesn't understand what's happening. She kept crying that she wanted to take the "wairpwane" to Jenna's house. I would have considered it if I hadn't been so worried about her throwing up all over the plane. Gratefully it didn't last long and after she took a long nap that afternoon, she woke up feeling and acting much better. So we finished out the trip helping my Mom with some of her house projects; painting, glazing, and installing baseboards, hanging curtains, arranging furniture, cleaning, listing, and selling her old dining room table, and getting her a little more settled. I know the transition from San Diego isn't going to be easy for her, especially adjusting to being single again. But all I want is for her to be happy and anything I can do to get her there quicker I'll do. I was a good trip overall and it I am reminded once again how grateful I am for Casey's flight benefits that allow us these opportunity. 

Sick girl just waking up. 

On our way home.

She loved the Cherrios necklace making. We had to work hard on not eating them immediately after stringing them though. 

Twinkle Twinkle on a Sugar High

2012-08-04 - Twinkle Twinkle from Katie Madsen on Vimeo.