i like to camp

we went camping a couple times this summer. we're gonna go a couple more times before rainy season really hits. i really really really like camping... a lot. more specifically, i really really really like hawaiian style camping. basically you take your house to the beach and stay close to a grocery store.

this was our set-up:

 an ez corner that was eventually surrounded by 8 tents...

this was ward camp #2.

ward camp.

think girls' camp, or scout camp, but bigger. the whole ward comes! and their cousins. and aunties. and friends. people bring their couches and TVs, inflatable pools, beds, and kitchen sinks even! (true story.)

this summer we went to 2 ward camps: our current ward and our old ward. all i wanted for my birthday was to go camping... and whadya know our old ward was camping on my birthday weekend!! how perfect is that!!

why i love camping...

no schedule

play at the beach all day, don't have to wash off the sand afterwards

addi gets to run around and do her thang 24/7

the mornings

no chores

loads of friend time

late nights

card games

singing and playing the uke

campfires

tin foil dinners

having a cooler as a fridge

just being outside...

we found gwen's twin at camp... she's 1/2 hawaiian, believe it or not.

(i know you won't.)

the other 1/2 is swedish.

we had loads of beach time... and with daddy!

the girls and i go beach it quite a bit, but we hardly ever get daddy-O too!

and like i said, plenty of friend time and kajillions of kiddos

  

and then the last day there was a carnival for the kids...

i was so proud of little gwenner for actually hitting stuff with the bean bags toss games!

and addi...

well, addi was always gone.

riding her bike.

running around the field with friends.

telling me to leave her alone cause she was a big girl.

eating other people's food.

dancing.

playing soccer.

swimming.

i really never knew where she was.

true story.

and that's camping.

in a nutshell.

i like to camp.

1. 2. 3. 4.

it happened about a month ago... addi turned 4.

on her actual birthday we kept it kind of low key: homemade oreo cookies at her preschool, bubbles at the beach park, lots of soccer-monster playing.

               

then we threw a party a couple weeks later...

me: "add, what kind of birthday party do you want?"

addi: "um, lollipops."

me: "well, do you want like a pirate party? or an adventure party? or... you, know...."

addi: "and popsicles. lollipops and popsicles!"

an idea was born...

lollipops. popsicles. corn pops. popcorn. pop tarts. and just plain ol' pop.

"mommy, i'm a bigger girl now, huh, sososobig that i'm almost bigger enough to play on the computer all by myself huhmom! and take a bapthtized!"

yah, not yet. slow down there, speed racer.

my little bit

hey add...

today you turned 4. this morning actually... really really early. well, ok, not that early. a quarter-'til-seven or so. you've been counting down the days for months now. true story. i tried to do your hair all cute. i pulled the "bangs" back and braided them, then pulled the front back and left the back down. i love your hair. iconic addi = gorgeous long hair. you had school today and i wanted you to look super cute for your first school birthday.

we opened your presents last night because dad left for oregon today. you LOVE your soccer ball and you and gwen ran around yelling, "soccer monster!!" you wore about a gazillion necklaces to school today... the cheap, party favor kind.

gosh i love you add. you are the epitome of fun. you're so fiery... full of energy. fearless. independent. confident. athletic. strong. compassionate. bossy. "spirited". you are such a delicious flavor in our family soup. and you've always been you... from the moment you were born you were so full of personality!! too much for your little body, i think.

did you know you learned to ride a bike without training wheels before you even turned 4! one day you asked for them off, so we figured we'd give it a whirl. you never fell!! not once. right from the get-go you were a pro. and now you're a speed racer going up and down the street. (sometimes you forget how to brake and you actually took a dive over your handlebars earlier this week... and you've run into dad's truck, the mailbox, the house a couple times. but of course you just get back on and keep riding... that's my add!)

i love you like i love those atomic red fireballs. you're always stretching me, testing your limits and mine. you're always up for adventure and excitement. always jumping headstrong into the hugest waves life has to offer... you are my adeline.

i love you birthday girl.
forever.

love,
mom

real quick like...

hop on over to the foto blog for a crazy deal!!

*click*

gwen grew

back in april gwen turned 2.

it all happened so fast.

just seconds ago i was the sleep-deprived nursing mother,

and she was the completely dependent little squeaker.

now she uses a toilet and opens her yogurt cups all by herself.

gwen grew.

needless to say, we threw a party. a BIRDday party, because gwen likes birds, or bir-DEEEz as we affectionately call them in these parts.

we played a couple bird games, like duck duck goose...

and we had a bird-egg hunt

and an over-abundance of bird-themed decor

this amazing cake was made by my friend michelle.

not only is it GORGEOUS and perfect, is was ohsodelicious!

and here is the exact moment gwen turned 2...

i need to get us some tickets to neverland...