That time of Year again...Pie Party

A Pie Party!

A big pie party!

Big pies, little pies,

orange pies, tan pies,

yellow pies, brown pies,

meat pies, and sweet pies

are all at a pie party!

What a pie party!

Whew.  Now that I got that out of my head...

What a pie party!

I don't know how many years our community group through First Christian Church has been doing a pie party, but we all look forward to it every year. 

The guys even get into it.  Then you know its good. 

Ashlyn's First Labor Day Camping

When I was pregnant last year, we thought Labor Day camping at Shaver Lake would be Ashlyn's first camping trip.  Then we had this crazy idea to take her backpacking last month.

So this was actually her second time sleeping in a tent.  AND, thankfully, it went much better!  (Meaning, she could breathe the whole time.  Ha).

Tim's Delta 4 Heavy rocket launched Wednesday, so he got Thursday off, so we drove to Daniel and Maria's not as early as we would like, but didn't get there at like 11pm as we are in a habit of doing.

Friday morning Ashlyn got to play with her cousins!  James and Bekah told us it was time to do Zumba, and so even Ashlyn participated (with the help of Daddy)!

Zumba time!

Friday evening we drove up to Camp Edison and paid our due to get in.  We knew exactly how much it was going to cost, thanks to Dan Helms and The Manual.  

That evening was filled with doggy time at the beach, setting up tents, eating delicious taco soup prepared by Esther; hearing how The Taco Van broke down and now Cary and Kathy with Samuel, Samantha, and Freddy were now coming in two cars; teasing Katie for arriving waaaaay after "dusk", and figuring out that the pac n' play does not fit in our new tent (thank you, Tim, for being so tall).

Adventure Girl: Tahoe 2013

At Tahoe, we started calling Ashlyn our little Adventure Girl! She was such a trooper (slept through the night all week) and did everything we did and didn't cry! It was awesome!

Friday evening when Tim got home we headed north and dropped Cole and Kensi off with Mimi and Pappy. Cole didn't want to let Ashlyn go. So presh.

Then we drove up to Grandma Alice and Pa Jack's arriving just before midnight. Saturday was a hang around the house day (and some Volcom & Quicksilver outlets, Costco, and a WOD). 

Shooting Pa Jack and Ben's pellet guns

Bocci ball across the creek

Sunday morning we drove up to Tahoe. We stopped to kayak on south shore at Baldwin Beach. It was really windy and choppy= not fun kayak experience. BUT, it was definitely a rowing WOD! That evening we met everyone at the cabin at Northstar and had tritip.

Driving down 50 to the lake, following Dad's truck with
two kayaks on top :)

I think this was the first time Tim and I left Ashlyn...Haha.

Monday morning we left to drive out to Gold Lake and Round Lakes Loop to do a "Five Miles, Five Lakes" loop (which was, according to Tom, stroller accessible...false...and according to Bryan had chocolate dipped ice cream cones with sprinkles at the end). 

 Shelby, Ashlyn, Tim, Bridget, Courtney, Lorna, Larry, Patty, Bryan, Randy

After a couple of lakes, we all decided to go the "long way" around Long Lake...and not so sure we were all happy with that decision halfway through... switchbacks+hiking in a bikini= not fun. I think we all survived because ofthe leftover steak we ate, the Kettlechips, and Powerberries. 

Panorama courtesy of Courtney

 It was Ashlyn's first time in her backpack, and she loved it! Okay, she slept through most of it, but she never cried (she would eat or get her diaper changed while we were stopped at a lake), and she was awake, smiley, and talkative to her Gigi and Patty in the last 3/4 mile.

FINALLY back at the trailhead
And calculating how many miles we went:  NINE!!!

Family!

And since Bryan promised, we had to go get ice cream. No chocolate dipped or sprinkles but swirl soft serve. And curly fries. 

Tuesday was bike day. And BridgeTender Day. We drove down to Tahoe City, where we rented a little bike trailer for Ashlyn. We had to get creative to fit her carseat in, but with a couple bungee cords it stayed right in place and she could watch her cow and pink dog toys swing in front of her. We rode south past Sunnyside (and it's big hill), and then rode back to the Bridge Tender for lunch. It's become a tradition. The burgers are sooooo good! I got bacon bleu cheese and I don't know what Tim got, but he ate his and 3 other leftovers (so he sampled 3 flavors I believe).

Ashlyn being towed by her Papa

Then we got back on our bikes and rode along the Truckee River until we found a swimming spot. Dad, Lorna, and Larry rode back so Larry could drive home for work, but Tim and Bryan floated in the river in circles thanks to the current. 

Going "shuttling"...mountain bike riding down
Northstar-At-Tahoe

Oh and by the way, the games of the trip were LCR and The Dice Game (aka 10,000). The first night Mom kicked butt...she won every.single.time. #nojoke #serious (yes this deserves hash tags).  Oh and Dad and Tim won some ladder ball.

Wednesday was beach day.  Since we didn't get there last year, we drove over to Nevada to Sand Harbor because we had heard it was a good beach.  It was AWESOME!!!  We spent the day kayaking, swimming, playing frisbee, reading magazines, snacking, and jumping off rocks.  

Ashlyn's first dip in the water for the day

Tim and Bryan stand-up kayaking

So then that made Thursday ride around the lake day (at least for Dad and Bryan). They got up early and Mom dropped them off in Incline so they could meet us at Sand Harbor again. 

Bryan and Dad at the start of their ride around the lake

Rock jumping

Dad and I hid in the kayak underneath the rock so Tim &
Bryan could jump over us

Kayak date!

Cooling off in the lake with Gigi so she
could fall asleep

"Ugh ok fine we'll smile and pretend we like each other!"

Ashlyn's first ride in the kayak!

Ashlyn the Baby Boxer

Friday morning was cleaning and time to head home. We all came home with SO much food...when will we ever learn. The drive home felt so much longer, and maybe that's because Ashlyn was awake and so we had to stop and feed her. But we made it. And our doggies went ballistic when we got home. 

Ashlyn at 3 months

Wow!  We've done a LOT in the last month!  All our vacations...it seems like July is our whole summer (especially this year because at Tim's work they are going to have the busiest August/September ever)!

Our little girl is growing and changing and learning new things continually!

Here's some of her new tricks: