She Rides

Olivia used to hate her helmet and when I say hate, I mean screaming bloody murder if we even mentioned putting it on her head, tears if it came close to touching her.  As a result, Olivia has been riding her bike exclusively in the house because we made the rule that she couldn't ride the bike outside without the helmet.  We made the promise that when she was ready to put her helmet, she could not only ride outside, but also ride all the way to her favorite playground.  So, on Tuesday when Niki came home for lunch, Olivia comes strolling down the hallway wearing the helmet shouting, "I'm ready to go to the sand playground.  I want to ride my bike outside now."  Niki and I just stared at each other in total shock and then we helped her get the bike out to the side walk.

Olivia's first ride outside.

Water break.  The ride to the playground is about a mile.  It was a long ride.

Tired Olivia makes it to the playground

Olivia rode about a fourth of the way back home but then decided she was much to tired to continue and chose to walk the rest of the way.

And this is how the bike got home. 

Out Exploring

The girl loves her sticks

We discussed this animal hole for quite awhile.

The Lake

Our campsite was right on the shore of the lake and Olivia saw some guppy fish.  She took these photos herself.

Our first look out when we were out driving the dirt roads.  The view was really breathtaking

Jess and Olivia sitting on a cool stump

Olivia still playing around the stump

The Lake

First ride in the raft.  It turned out that there were several holes in the bottom that we had to stick our toes and fingers in to keep from turning our raft into a bath tub.

Notice how low we are starting to ride

Olivia was so excited about being out in the lake that she started yelling about everything around her.

View of the Lake from Niki's kayak

Olivia getting her first kayaking lesson

Attempt at a family picture #1

Olivia splashing

Attempt at a family picture #2

Olivia splashing and Niki drifting away

(there are at least half a dozen more attempts)

Now we've got it

Big Kid Toys

One of mom's favorite parts of the entire trip was off roading.  Not only did we get to navigate some sketchy roads up to the campground, but we also went out for fun.  Hiking is great and all, but this is so much better.

Too bad Olivia.  You're riding shotgun with mom and Jess.

View from the truck with Brian in the lead.  The men took the ATVs.

Just came over a tricky part in the road.  Right around this point Olivia fell asleep.

On the road

Isn't she a beauty? 

The view from Niki's ATV with the girls in the lead

Niki's video of driving through the forest.

Our Campsite

For Mom's birthday weekend we went camping with the Fosters, two of our favorite people and Korey dog of course.  Destination= Tahoe National Forest at Lake of the Woods

Brian told us that there would be an easy dirt road to follow up to the campsite.  It turned out to be a two mile climb up a mountain on a very rocky dirt road.  Thank goodness for 4 wheel drive. 

Niki and Olivia setting up the tent

Using mom's new camping stove for the first time.  It's been in a box for about two years. 

Marshmallow time

Doing some roasting

The early morning risers

Olivia showing off the sleeping bags.  She slept in the middle with her very own sleeping bag, the whale, and flag blanket.

Hot chocolate with breakfast and dinner, no baths, and dirt everywhere.  Life doesn't get much better than this.

Pony Party and Dress Up

Olivia is not what I would consider a girly girl.  She is wonderfully well rounded with a wide range of interests.  Every once in awhile she surprises me and goes on a little girly streak.  This week she wanted to have a my little pony party.  What should we have at the party?  Olivia's favortie cookies of course.  Snickerdoodles.

Three cheers for Godmom's artistic talents

Tea Party all set up with the honored guests at the top.  Looking at this photo, every pony is there except for Scootaloo.  I wonder what Scootaloo did to Olivia?

Olivia and Ava enjoying their cookies and tea (water)

Bella came over a couple days later and they tried to see if they could out funny each other with costumes.

See what I mean about a range of interests?  It's fabulous.

Science Discovery Center

Lolo came up to visit this weekend and since it was very, very hot outside, we decided to have some fun in air conditioned places.  What better place to be than the Science Discovery Center?

How does mass affect speed?

Something about momentum?

Getting an up close look at different rocks, shells, and butterflies

Mom:  Do you want to pet a hissing cockroach Olivia?

Olivia:  Yeah, that's not happening.  Mom, there's something not right about you.

(paraphrased conversation)

Olivia picked out a little magnifying glass as a souvenir and after spending lots of time using it as a monocle, she took it outside to check out some bugs.

Gymnastics

That's right.  Olivia has started gymnastics.

Olivia's favorite part of gymnastics is by far the ball pit.

There is a giant trampoline that stretches almost the entire length of the gym and Olivia spends lots of time jumping around on it.

Every week a new obstacle course is set up.

Making Jam

Olga, one of Olivia's favorite babysitters, promised to teach me and Olivia how to make jam and so we finally got a weekend together for doing just that.  We spent the morning picking blackberries at a local farm and then spent the afternoon mashing them up and making jam.  I'll never buy jam from the store again.  This is by far the way to go.

Olivia announcing that she found a great spot for us to pick berries.

Olivia helping Olga

It was a little late in the season for blackberries so there weren't a lot on the bushes.  It made picking a little bit more challenging when the person carrying our container was scarfing the berries about as fast as we could pick.

I'm in love with her elbow dimple.  It will be a sad day when she grows out of it.