Big Sur

Kayla was kind of excited about roasting a marshmallow...camping is one of the few occasions we let her eat anything that doesn't occur naturally on earth--that's because we're so earthy. No really, it's because she's "lergic" (as she says) to artificial colors and ingredients. But that's a whole other blog.
Camping was fun--can you tell that I'm lying? Both kids got sick the day we left and I hate getting up in the middle of the night and needing my flashlight to walk down to the bathrooms only to sit on a chilly metal public receptacle and stare up at prehistoric size bugs living on the open-air ceiling. But at least the showers were scorchingly hot, just how I like them. Oh, and Benson got a tick. Now can you tell that I'm lying? However, Ryan, Kayla and Benson had the times of their lives I think, so it's worth it for me to live a few slightly less comfortable days for the sheer joy of kids getting to be dirty and catching parasites 24-7.
I do honestly have to say though, it was absolutely beautiful--the scenery in this photo was so gorgeous it looks super-imposed:



And Kayla had a super fun time with her cousin.




Here's our "setup". We've got a big tent that hooks onto the van to add additional space--we use it to put all of our stuff in so there is space when we pull out the beds in the van. And believe me, without the Westy I would NOT be doing any camping with the little chitlins! I highly recommend picking one up if you're ever thinking of camping...at all...ever. Sleeping in tents is so last season.



So, generally speaking, I would have to say that this is what I think of camping:



But, this is what I think of seeing my husband and kids happy:

Re-cap

Since I haven't blogged in almost a month I thought I'd just share a few highlights!


We went down to my mom's for a few days in May while Ryan went to San Diego to get his Coast Guard license renewed. One of the days we went down to Santa Barbara to see some old friends--this is Kayla and her friend Eli.


We have an annual Memorial Day pancake breakfast and parade at our church--here is Kayla in the parade. Note that instead of turning the pinwheel and letting the air naturally spin it, she has it faced towards herself so she can blow on it--control freak. I don't know anyone like that.


This is Benson's signature TV watching pose--thumb in mouth, legs crossed, and T-shirt rolling between his fingers. Lately he's been obsessed with Curious George. "George" is quite possibly his very first coherent word--although his version sounds a little more like "Chorch".


This is just so you can see how cute and big Benny's getting:) He's number one. He's starting to look like a real kid now that he's getting hair! He will be 18 months old already on Friday!


Here is Kayla holding a piece of crusted poop--just kidding--tee hee hee! It's really a rock. As the weather is getting warmer here in San Ho, we have re-instituted "family hikes"! Last summer we did about 6 different hikes several times over the summer. Ryan really likes to check them off on his map with his little pencil. I just like the exercise and quality family time--but hate the gnats and horse poop--it's a trade off. Back to Kayla and the rocks--she likes to collect rocks on our hikes. By the time we got back to the car all of the pockets on the stroller had been mysteriously loaded up with good sized rocks. Wonder what she was planning to do with all those rocks? When I asked she said, "that's because they're my treasures mom." Obviously.
So, nothing too exciting this month, but I was sick of looking at the YouTube videos from Kayla's birthday that apparently didn't work. Has anyone been able to use YouTube successfully? I'm starting to feel like my mom: Regarding electronics of the 80s i.e. VCR/Stereo/Microwave/Computer/etc. "I don't know how to work this thing".