Summer Fun - Julyish

We are attempting to potty train Ary this summer. Maybe this is why it's not working so well... Our sitter, Elizabeth, suggested today using cake as a reward as Ary seems to be obsessed with cake. If she sees it in a book she will pretend to give us a piece. This afternoon we told her that she could have a piece of cake (I found tee-tiny cupcakes with sprinkles, soooo cute) if she went to the potty. She ran for the potty and peed. We'll see how long it lasts!

We drove down to visit some friends from Kansas who were camping at Monument Lake, it's south of La Veta by the Spanish Peaks on our way to visit Rodger's folks in Garden City. The spot was so beautiful. This is Ary and Mia.

Mia, Ary, Vance and Amy. Ary loves boats now and insisted on climbing in. We wanted to take her on a paddle boat but it had just rained and they were water logged. She kept trying to get in them on the dock so we had to make her get off so that she wouldn't take a 'swim.'

Thanks to my boss Cheri who suggested this amazing travel potty that also doubles as a toilet seat we were able to potty train during our trip. I think this is one we will save for her wedding video...

This is a free water park in Colorado Springs. The water is cold but the views are wonderful and Aryanna had a lot of fun with Rodger who kept getting sprayed by some kids.

I always joke about living a double life since I travel for work. Rodger and Ary only see me in jeans and shorts. On this day I actually had to go into the campus so I had to wear business clothes. This is the first time Ary has seen my high heels and she insisted on wearing them. She did a great job walking and had a lot of fun in them."See I told you I could walk in these! I bet I could even run..."

The Meeting

As some of you know our nephew Dillon (Rodger's sister's son) had a heart transplant as a toddler. At the end of June he and the rest of the family met the mother (Jen), of the little girl, (Alex), whose heart Dillon now has. Alex was killed in a tragic car accident. We will forever be grateful to Alex and her family for donating her heart. Because of Alex's decision to donate her organs and Jen's willingness to follow through Dillon is a normal young man who is now only on one medication. God's grace is amazing indeed.

Jen & Ken are riding across country on trikes to raise awareness for organ donation. At the first meeting everyone was able to try out their trikes. (Dillon & Cooper).

I don't have many pics of this day that are not of Ary because I didn't want to intrude too much on the day. Rodger and I were very happy when Brandon and Laura invited us. Everyone was pretty nervous but it worked out great and we all went out to eat afterwards.

This picture is from Jen & Ken's blog. I thought it was so cute! The link to their blog is http://kenandjennc.blogspot.com/. It chronicles their journey across country and Jen writes some touching things about her first meeting with Dillon. If you are looking for a cause to donate money please don't hesitate to help them out.

Ary couldn't ride the trikes herself but eveyone was nice enough to give her a ride. She loved it! (Ary & Dillon)

This is a picture that I think Jen took. At one point Ary fell off the trike but didn't seem to care and got right back on. You can see her chain 'tattoo' in this picture. Way to go tough girl!

(Brandon & Ary in pic) Rodger, Jen, Ken, Ary & I hung out together the next weekend. Rodger and I were so thankful that they were willing to meet with us again to have a chance to chat and learn more about each other. It was a huge blessing and will be a fond memory forever.

Rodger & Ary

Hayley & Dillon. Hayley couldn't ride either but of course found a way. Smart girl!

The news stations did a story about Jen & Dillon meeting for the first time. I lifted this pic from Jen's blog as a place holder as we were not there. It's wonderful footage. Dillon decided to give Jen one of his medals from the transplant games. Here is a link to the news clips. They are short and neat to see. http://media.vmsnews.com/MonitoringReports/070910/324530/Y015899051/

These are bit out of order. My (Amy) brother Russ came to visit us in May and I have not had the chance to post the pictures. We had a great time with him, Ary especially, even though he beat Rodger and I and a group of our friends pretty badly at Balderdash. We love him anyway and demand a rematch!

Russ and Aryanna

Ary likes to help Daddy water plants.

Ary has enjoyed her pool a lot this summer. She is holding Elmo up in this picture as he likes to swim with her too.

Ode to the Fu Manchu

Definition: A Fu Manchu mustache is a full, straight moustache that grows downward past the lips and on either side of the chin and extends down toward the toes.

So, Rodger shaved his beard into a Fu Manchu for vacation...

I'm too sexy for my...

family.

My posture here fully describes my (Amy's) position toward the Fu Manchu...

Want a piece of this?

Thankfully the Fu Manchu has been retired...but whenever we think about it, it will be with longing...NOT.

June 2010 Tahoe Vacation

At the Reno Airport "Let's get this trip started!"

Beach at Tahoe - Amy & Jenni

One of our first relaxing things to do was a pedicure for the girls. Feet left to right - Karla, Ann, Amy, Jenni.

Amy and Aryanna

Aryanna & Granny Ann

Dee & Karla

Dee & Karla (Grandma & Grandpa Scriven)

It's important to teach kids the basics early...manners, ABCs, colors and of course rock climibing.

Downtown Tahoe

View from the top of the hike down to Vikingsholm Castle.

Uncle Brad, Ary and Grandma Scriven.

Granny Ann

Aryanna, Rodger & Amy

Uncle Brad & Ary

Not sure what these are called. Brad said it was a $500 fine if you kicked them over, though we did see a lot of them. "Don't do it Brad, that's worth a new couch!"

We took a drive around the lake and stopped at a few lookouts to take pictures.

In the background is the island with the Tea House which is part of Vikingsholm.

It was about a mile or so down to the castle/home where we all took a tour.

Vikingsholm is located at the head of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, California. This magnificent "castle" is a unique blend of nature's spectacular beauty and man's architectural ingenuity. (Taken from website).

The woodwork was very pretty.

Ary and Uncle Brad.

We all thought this light was really neat. The details were lovely.

Vikingsholm, situated majestically among towering pines and cedars, was built as a summer home by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight in 1929. (Taken from the website).

Island that used to house a tea house where Lora and her guest would row out to once a summer for a party. It was burned down at some point by vandals and now is just an empty shell of stone.

Amy, Ary and Rodger on beach at Vikingsholm.

In the summer of 1928 Mrs. Knight and the Palmes traveled to Scandinavia to gather the ideas they wanted to incorporate in Vikingsholm. Vikingsholm was completed in the fall of 1929 and occupied by Mrs. Knight, her staff of 15 and many guests in June of 1930. Mrs. Knight enjoyed 15 summers at Vikingsholm. She always had a home full of guests to share this magnificent summer home with her. (Taken from website)

"I'll give you some sand Uncle Brad..."

"Now you give me some!"

Vikingsholm had a sod roof. Yes, it was made out of grass, no shingles. It even had it's own irrigation system. We think that people only now care about the environment in our time...no causes are new to our generation.

Hike on the way up.

Courtyard.

Courtyard.

View from the beach.

Uncle Brad & Ary

View from top after the hike up.

On left. Dee, Brad, Amy, Karla. On right Ann.

Ary and Uncle Brad

Walking up. Ann, Amy & Brad. "Nice purse Brad."

Aryanna and her new bear from Uncle Brad and Jenni.

Aryanna and Mama and Ary's new teddy.

Side yard from the front deck of rental house. We wanted to take some of these pinecones home but they were full of sticky sap.

Front of rental house.

Jenni and I (Amy) bought cheese with wax around it so that not only could we enjoy the yummy cheese but also make wax fingernails out of it. If you are thinking "What?" don't worry, it's a thing that 7 year old girls do so of course a perfect activity for Jenni and I as we watched TV. Jenni made a little man out of hers. How cute!

Backyard of house.

Aryanna and Amy in the hot tub. Ary loved the hot tub. it wasn't warm enough until Brad and Jenni figured out how to turn it up, thanks guys!



Jenni & Brad

Living room of rental house - Aryanna.

Living room of rental house.

Kitchen of rental house - Karla

Bedroom at rental house.

We drove to Yosemite National Park one of the days. It was a long drive but well worth it. This will be Rodger and I's third time there and technically Ary's second since I was pregnant with her the last time we were there. We love this place! This is in Mariposa Grove. I'm not going to put up pictures of all of the trees since we've done that before so the following includes pics with family.

Dee & Karla.

Aryanna & Daddy. We put Ary in leggings since it was a bit chilly. She looked like a little German girl in lederhosen. She did a great job hiking around.

Rodger, Ary & Amy

Rodger, Ary, Amy, Karla & Dee.

Ary, Amy and Ann

The waterfalls were magnificent this time. We've never seen this many of them. In Yosemite the waterfalls run for awhile and then dry up for the rest of year so you only get to see some them if you come at the right time. When we came home we learned that record rain fall resulted in lots of snow melt and some of the biggest, longest running waterfalls ever. Aren't we blessed that we got to see them? (Dee, Rodger, Karla, Ary and Amy)

Ann, Amy and Ary

These pictures just don't do God's creation justice.

Getting ready to hike with Uncle Brad.

This is actually one of the cooler pictures of Half Dome (it's the one in the center) that we have. I think maybe Dee took it. Rodger and I hiked it a few years ago. (I did not do the last 100 feet, WAY too scary, Rodger did though, he's brave!).

Half Dome

Ary really likes climbing...

Ary was really upset when I made her get down once she reached the top. I'm not exactly sure where she expected to go, maybe over the top and back down but I didn't have the guts for that...

Ary and Granny Ann. I think they were pretending to go through a fast food drive-thru.

Ary and Granny Ann

Brad, Jenni and Amy making lunch for our boating excursion.

View from the boat. Instead of taking a tour we decided to rent a boat for four hours that Brad was nice enough to drive. When we got started Ary had a melt down because Rodger made her move from the dock up to a safer place while we were getting ready. Then he made her take her life jacket off in order to take off a jacket underneath which was too hot. She thought that meant she wasn't going to be allowed on the boat and she had a very out of character melt down since she was so excited to go on the boat. It was pretty funny and it was good to know that she really wanted to go because we weren't sure if she would like it or not.

Jenni, Brad and Rodger is up front.

Jenni & Brad. Voted the most photogenic of the trip...

Amy, Ary and Rodger. We stopped to dock close to Vikingsholm that had a sandy beach to have lunch. We were a bit worried at first that we were not allowed to dock there but it turned out to be an RV park/campsite but there were barely any people there so it didn't matter at all.

Beach where we ate lunch.

Ary driving the boat.

Ary driving with Uncle Brad. She really liked turning the wheel.

Vikingsholm tea house - view from the boat.

Lake Tahoe tour boat. We thought about doing this but it was fun to drive around on our own.

Granny Ann ready for a monsoon.

Captain Brad.

I think the cloud swirls are pretty cool in this picture.

Ary in the front of the boat. She ended up falling asleep for over an hour in Rodger's arms while we drove around.

I don't think this is pretty enough...

It was very chilly. It was totally different than riding around on the lake in hot Kansas weather which is what we are used to.

Karla.

Houses built on the lake.

Amy, Ary, Jenni & Brad

The water on the lake is some of the clearest lake water found in the U.S. It is in danger of becoming less and less clear each year so conservation steps are continually implemented.

Brad, Jenni, Dee, Ary Rodger, Karla & Ann

Grandpa Scriven keeping Ary warm.

Karla and my mom (Ann) went up on the ski lift/gondola to see the view of the Lake while Brad, Rodger, Dee and I went hiking. Jenni took care of Ary down at the botton. Thanks Jenni!

View of lake from top.

Karla & Ann

Ann

View from top of hike. Our view was similar but a bit harder to get too.

Amy and Brad

Brad, Dee & Amy

Dee

Amy, Dee & Brad

Rodger, Amy & Dee

While everyone else was either on the Gondola or hiking, Jenni took care of Ary. Thanks Jenni! It looks like you two had a good time.

Ary and Granny Ann playing with playdough at the Reno Airport. Great way to end a fun vacation. Thanks everyone for going with us!