Day 2: Pixie Land

Our second day in the Bay Area found us at Pixie Land, a cute little amusement park for young kids.  It was perfect for a morning's adventure--it was just the right size with about seven rides and had a great picnic area for when the kids ran out of tickets.  Franny was definitely in her element.  I wish I had pictures to show of her on the roller coaster (where she kept yelling faster!) and the tea cups ride, but these were the two rides where I needed to ride with her, as she didn't quite meet the height requirement.  While it was fun to go on the rides with her, I must say that her stomach is much stronger than mine!

Pile driver

Franny and Cole both love to be upside down.  And, their daddy is just too happy to oblige.  Their latest game, which begins almost immediately after he comes home from work, is Pile Driver.  Apparently, this is some sort of professional wrestling term, but as far as the kids go, it's just great fun!

 

California dreamin'

Last week, Franny went on her much-anticipated, first plane ride.  Appropriately, the destination was the Bay Area--the very place that her daddy traversed so many times last year.  I was so thrilled that our traveling adventure went smoothly and without incident, making the entire day extremely memorable and fun. Franny loved everything, from shuttling in on buses to riding the moving walkways to watching the planes take off and land. The actual plane ride was completely uneventful; she chattered to her daddy, drank a cup of apple juice, and played with her new View Master for the entire trip. And Cole? Well, he fell asleep about a minute after take-off and woke up about a minute after landing.  It was a great day!

"Old" friends

Last week we enjoyed a BBQ with the families of Franny's playgroup.  I love seeing all the kids together and having such a great time.  They have known each other since they were all about 3 months.  It's hard to believe it's been that long!  Hopefully, they will be friends for many years to come! 

Fair Day

This last week, Franny and Cole enjoyed a fun day at the Fair.  It was everything Franny hoped for--rides, animals, fair food, and especially, special time with Auntie. This was Franny's third year going to fair, and  it's a tradition that she anticipates all year long.  It will probably be quite some time before we stop hearing Are we going to the fair after my nap? (Franny calls night sleep nap time), as well as I want to go to Auntie's house!  Special relationships like this are so precious, and events like these are so much more fun because of them.  I love being able to step back and see the joy that she finds in them.  Great memories!

   

Shopping girl

Franny loves to shop.  It doesn't matter if its for groceries, clothes, or office supplies; if it involves going to a specified location, looking at things, and possibly selecting things to bring home, it is great fun.  This weekend, we started the process of shopping for a new sofa.  Franny enjoyed trying out all the different options.  She got very excited when we browsed through kids bedroom furniture.  She kept asking us is this one Franny size?  I can't wait until we find the perfect one to bring home for her--she will be so excited!

Putting it together

Franny is such an energetic little girl, most of her favorite things to do revolve around some sort of physical activity.  Books, tea parties, and puzzles seem to be the only quiet activities that can command her attention for long periods of time.  She does enjoy other things, like drawing and play-doh, but for much shorter periods of time.  Most recently, Franny has been spending a lot of time putting together puzzles.  I find it almost fascinating to watch her be so quiet and focused!  Sometimes she will want help, but most frequently she is intent on completing them herself.  When she's done, however, she does allow Cole to help her clean up!

Everybody's favorite

Hiking around Trillium Lake and playing in the snow was fun, but the undisputed highlight of the trip for both Franny and Cole was the heavy machinery they saw that was grooming the slopes for the races on Mt. Hood this weekend.  Franny jumped up and down and laughed, and Cole yelled and chattered non-stop until these enormous vehicles were long out of sight.  For everyone, it was an unexpected and exciting finale to our weekend get-away. 

A closer look

View of Mt. Hood from Timberline Lodge

 

Cole checking out the riders on the chair lift

 

Snow!!

 

The spectacular view above Timberline Lodge

Trillium Lake

This past weekend we enjoyed a beautiful weekend on Mt. Hood, or Mountain Hood as Franny likes to call it.  Franny impressed us by completing the full hike around Trillium Lake--2 miles!!  She walked right along, admiring the wild flowers and dragonflies, collecting sticks, and throwing rocks in the lake.  We finished the loop just in time for a picnic lunch.

   

As for Cole, the mountain air contributed to an earlier than usual nap...

Although he did wake up in time for our picnic and a last look at the beautiful scenery.

Ticket to ride

We just bought Franny her first bike, and she is nothing short of thrilled!!!  But her favorite part--her new water bottle.

Lessons learned

Since Franny was born, I have realized that there are so many things that I never even thought about, until they happened.  Which, brings me to my most recent important lesson learned:  since Franny loves coloring with crayons, it is important that when doing the laundry, I always check pockets for crayons before the clothes proceed into the washer and then, into the dryer.  Magenta crayons, especially, leave a very vibrant tint on clothing when this important step is not taken.  And, when this oversight occurs the afternoon before leaving on vacation, it can result in a bit of a frazzled mental state.  But, as with all lessons learned, there are nearly always solutions and resolutions which emerge.  In my scenario, I learned that WD-40 works wonders on crayons melted onto clothes and the inside of dryers--who would have thought?  Regardless, lucky Cole and all his magenta-tinted clothes; lucky me and the inside of my dryer. 

Business as usual

Monday, we returned to our usual routines.  It really wasn't difficult to get back into the swing of things--between activities and naps, the days go by very quickly.  Today, we enjoyed slightly cooler weather for Franny and Cole's playgroup.  We met at the Beaverton City Park and the kids loved playing in the fountain, having a picnic lunch, and climbing on the play structure.  And with water involved, of course Franny had a good time!

Remember when

One Particular Harbour

I don't know if it is the actual beauty of Cultus Lake or the wonderful childhood memories that I experienced here that makes it such a special place for me. It's probably a little of both. There is a very special feeling that comes from being in a place that evokes such nostalgia. For me, it's a place that holds such vivid recollections that when my feet step into it's clear water I can't help but smile as my memory reels backwards in time. It is an indescribable feeling that I experience nowhere else. It gives me great joy to be able to pass on fun times here to Franny and Cole.

Through Franny's eyes

For a kid like Franny, Sunriver was just about the perfect place for a vacation. Everyday was filled with a different kid of fun--hiking, biking, riding ponies at the stables, drinking cocoa and playing in the Village, swimming in the pool, going down the slide in the big pool, fun with a playmate, and lots of special time with Daddy. Not to mention the park, a day trip to Cultus Lake, looking for rabbits and gathering pinecones in the backyard... And since there is nothing better than seeing Franny having a great time, it was great time for me, as well.

Ropin' the Wind