Things are looking up!

Bubbles, Popsicles and sunshine always makes life seem a little brighter. Sydney continues to heal. She is regaining her energy and getting back to playing as usually. We go back to the doctor today to see how her lungs are progressing. Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts.

Not much energy to write

Just thought I would post some pictures from Sydney being in the hospital. I didn't take very many pictures but this is what I have.

We had a lot of special visitors while we were there. She was lavished with balloons, cards, art work, teddy bears, flowers, books, and cupcakes.

While we were in the hospital, the IV was in her right hand. So she was not able to do very much art. She did some and I was amazed at how well she can use her left hand. She was so happy to have the IV out. The minute we got home she did two things. She ran to her room and jumped on her bed and she ran to her art supplies and started creating and writing.

I love this one. She hung this one right behind her bed.Pretty much sums it up.

And this one shows how happy she is to be with her whole family.

I think this one is my favorite. She is happiness! Love it.

We are still healing. The Dr says we have a long road ahead of us. Her lungs are still pretty sick. Please pray that she continues to get healthy and her lungs clear up.

Wimpy Californians.

Yes, that is what we have become, Wimpy Californians. Sydney had spring break last week and Nate had some time off to use so we had made plans to go camping down south on the beach just west of Santa Barbara. As the time came closer and we were checking the weather forecast rain lurked. Rain and temperatures in the mid 50's. WHAT?! Thoughts of sitting in a tent freezing and wet. Didn;t sound like to much fun. It was a 50 % chance of rain. We cancelled our camping trip and decided to do a staycation. Yes we wussed out. We cannot handle rain,or as Oregonians call it, a mist. We cannot handle temperatures below 60. We freeze. Who is typing this. Seriously, what a year can do to you.
Anyways, we ended up having a great staycation. The weather was a bit windy and a few sprinkles. We were glad we didn't go camping.
One of the first days of spring break was HOT. Like 80 hot. We spent the whole day at the beach. I got sunburned. We played in the waves, with friends, and make sandcastles. It was a great day and made us super excited for summer days.

  We went to Point Lobos just south of Carmel. Of course we had to stop in Carmel at one of my favorite places to get a soft pretzel. They are SOOOO good. I always feel out of place in Carmel. Lots of old rich people. :)

 There was a lot of wild life to see, Seals, otters, birds and whales ( we didn't see any whales).

 We had a great time hiking and exploring. And yes I know that Stella is WAY to big for the backpack. She is a bit heavy, but it beats carrying her every other minute. This is the only way we can really get any sort of hike in. Plus there was poison oak everywhere. So I get a little workout and Stella gets a good view.

The next day we went to Davenport Beach. One of our favorites. It is a little north of Santa Cruz, so it is hardly ever crowded and there is a lot to explore.

 I didn't get any pictures of the beach. I was too busy playing. The next day we went to Castle Rock State Park for a little hiking and climbing. It is such a great place to go with kids. There are boulders everywhere to climb on and little holes to hid in. They loved it.

 A little hobbit hole.

 Can you find the big girl who is almost 3 years old? How did she get so big?

 I even got a little climb in and Sydney was the photographer. Nice picture, huh?

Stella was such a good rope manager. She was right by Nates side making sure there were hands on the rope the whole time. It was pretty cute. She wasn't quite ready to give a shot at climbing on real rock yet.
We had more plans, but Sydney had a high fever the afternoon after rock climbing. This fever turned into a cough, which then turned into pneumonia. So all in all we were really glad we didn't go camping so we could focus on getting Sydney healthy. She is still recovering. She wishes she was playing but for now we are hanging around the house getting healthy.

Discovery Grove

For the past month or so we have been hearing chain saws, seeing wheelbarrows of wood chips passing by our back windows, hearing drills, seeing lot of ladders and caution tape. Why you say?

Discovery Grove

The Discovery Grove Kids Course is now finished and open! The girls are so excited about this new challenge here on camp and right below our back yard. Could a kid ask for anything better than a climbing wall, bouldering wall and a challenge course out their back door?

Sydney was asking for weeks when it would be done and if she would be able to be the first kid on it. Having your Dad be the Director of Adventure and Recreation has it perks (see The key man post) Sydney was a part of the measuring, the height placement and the fun factor of the planning. Well, finally she was able to test it out.



Stella's 'Tough face'.





Loving Life.

 Stella was encouraging Sydney the whole time. Watching and jumping up and down for her. We asked her if she was ready to go on the course. She just replied. " Not yet".

 Syd was feeling so comfortable up there she was hamming it up for the camera. Love that kid.



This was the beginning of the tough part. She had already done the beginning twice. She was pretty tuckered out. She tried and tried to get across this part. She was showing a little fear on her face, but she was determined.




Nate trying to help Sydney out.



She absolutely loved it. She took to it like eating a piece of cake. She couldn't get enough. She was so confident and adventurous.  This is the look of pure joy.  After it was all over, we asked her what her favorite part was.
"Well, that wood cookies part was really really hard and I got stuck. but Dad and Nick helped me. I think that was my favorite part."
She is such an amazing kid that she loves the challenge. Sees how it pushes her, and loves it.