Another Adventure Guide Campout

I don't have many pictures of this campout. My husband had a business trip so I took both Emma and Sofia on the weekend campout. Frankly, keeping track of a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old by myself on the campout led to very few pictures. In spite of my exhaustion after the campout was over, we had a pretty good time. We waded in the creek looking for frogs, paraded in Holloween costumes, carved pumpkins, and roasted marshmallows over the campfire.

This is both girls exploring the creek:


And Sofia, showing of with a pose:

And Emma helping to carve the pumpkin (which won 3rd prize):

The Pumpkinliner...

Well, the Adventure Guides had an activity to ride the “Pumpkinliner” today. http://www.fwry.com/pumpkinliners_2008/pumpkinliners_2008.html The Pumpkinliner is run by the Fillmore & Western Railway. You ride a vintage steam engine train over to a pumpkin patch. At least that is what I thought I had paid to experience. The reality was a little bit less than desired. The train itself may have been overbooked, but they had few real railway cars and many uncovered cars with those park benches nailed on to the floor. There was limited shade and it was hot. The train ride was less fun than I had thought it would be. The girls, of course, seemed to like it.

We arrived at the “pumpkin patch” only to find a glorified pumpkin stand. It was smaller than the pumpkin stand at our local mall! They did not actually have a patch, just loose overpriced pumpkins sitting around to choose. They had some “craft” booths that were really stands to sell cheap toys made in China. A small Merry-Go-Round, and two bouncers were there for the kids to enjoy. They apparently had Hay Rides, but I was the scrooge who refused to pay them an additional $2 per person for the ride.

I was quite disappointed. I will not ride the Pumpkinliner next year. I only took a few pictures but could not find any of the actual fake patch for your enjoyment.

Everyone Loves a Parade

My daughters and I marched the Simi Valley Days Parade for the second time today. Well I had the opportunity to walk the parade route and hand out flyers while my daughters were supposed to ride the YMCA Adventure Guide float. We did the parade last year and it was fun but I also had to walk last year and push a stroller as they would not let my youngest on the float.

This year I was excited for my youngest as she was old enough to ride the float this year. Alas, she was kicked off the float before the parade even started. Now Sofia is only 4 years old and her focusing and patience are still in development. The float nazi kicked her off because she would not stay seated. She ended up walking the entire parade route passing out flyers for the YMCA and charming everyone. I think the YMCA should pay her for marketing!

After the fact, I realized I should have challenged the judgment. We were told to arrive at the parade and float at 7 am. The kids were allowed on the float around 7:15 and were told to sit on the hay bales. Then we waited and waited and waited. The parade did not start until 9 am!!! And we were #64 in the line-up which means our float did not start moving until after 9:30! Who expects any child to sit on hay for over 2 hours on a non-moving float?? Initially, I was just frustrated because Sofia does have spotty attention. However, eventually I realized it was unfair to expect anyone to sit for hours on hay.

In spite of my grumpiness about this one fact, we all had a great time. I wore my running shoes this year and I had no pain or blisters at all.

Yet Another Camping Trip

We just came back from another camp out but this one was less eventful thank goodness. This weekend, my daughter's tribe with the YMCA Adventure Guides had their annual Family Camp. This means instead of just me and my daughter Emma, we were also allowed to bring the entire family if we wanted. We went up Friday late afternoon and stayed through this morning. We went to Casitas Lake. It was clear and beautiful and not too hot. The Lake was amazing. Saturday, our small group of friends left the campsite and went over to the local Casitas Water Adventure Park and played in the tube river and water play areas. The girls had such a great time, hopefully I can find some pictures and add them to this post. I unfortunately forgot to reapply sunscreen on me so I have a bright red nose, shoulders, and tops of my feet!

Our Trip to the Snow...

Well, Emma and I are back from our winter camp experience. It was not exactly camping as we stayed in cabins. The camp location was great (http://www.alpinemeadowsretreats.com/). There was snow everywhere and lots of great places to go sledding. The cabins were nice with heating and indoor bathrooms. The staff was nice and provided all the meals so all we had to focus on was having fun.

The drive was easier than I anticipated, but I was still glad we found a ride there and back. Chains were needed, but really only in the camp which had many small slopes and one lane roads covered in ice and snow. We rode up with another Adventure Guide's husband and their 3-year-old daughter so Emma had a great time talking with her and watching her videos on their IPOD. I must say I learned the true funcitonality of an IPOD this weekend. Wow, their IPOD had plenty of space for many movies and TV shows, the girls were never bored and it was a long ride up and back!

We had so much fun! We sledded and played in the snow. We all made snow angels. Our tribe made a princess out of snow outside of our cabin. The girls talked all night and made up stories in the cabin. We checked out everyone else's snow creations.

Sunday, we caravaned back home with some of our friends. Now, we are so psyched up for our Mammoth trip in February.

The Power of Children to Motivate

Well, I spent the morning goofing off a bit at work trying to research tire chains! My daughter Emma and I are scheduled to go to Big Bear for a camping trip this weekend. We will stay in some cabins as part of this Adventure Guide activity. I have been pretty excited about playing in the snow with Emma. However, I also have been looking forward to carpooling with a friend and her daughter, partly because they are such fun to be with, and partly because she is a frequent visitor to Big Bear and agreed to drive.

I have a fairly big fear of driving in the snow. This stems from living in Northern Mississippi for several years and too many incidents of being in my car as it slid down a big hill into other cars and sliding on the ice patches on the roads with some spectacular near misses. I would be happy never to drive in snow or ice conditions ever again. Alas, my friend has been sick all week and still is not sure whether she will be going. So there is a good chance I will have to drive to Big Bear if I want to go this weekend with my daughter!

Now if this were just me, I am sure I would have cancelled in a heartbeat, even though I am cheap and I had to prepay!! However, as I research tire chains today, i know i just can not disappoint my daughter who is so very excited about camping with her friends and playing the the snow. Never underestimate the power of your love for your children to motivate you to do things you really would rather not do!

A Trip to Faeryland

Well we went on a trip to faeryland today. The girls and i joined my daughter's Adventure Guide tribe and went on A Faery Hunt. It was held in one of our local parks and I have to admit it was a bit corny but it was a lot of fun for us all, from kids to adults. The actors were very engaging and enthusiastic. We spent a few hours in a beautiful park outside. It was definitely a fun reminder of how important it is to believe in magic and do something that has no purpose but to experience joy and a good time!

Frances and Elsie led us on the faery hunt. You might remember the story about Frances Griffith and Elsie Wright -- the girls who took the pictures of the Beck Faeries in Cottingley, England. Our path through the forest led us to meet many faeries and the faery queen, as well as a troll, a gnome, and even a love interest for the faery queen.