Well, this last week Evan, Tucker and I spent camping at Sunset State Beach with 26 other families from our church at "family camp." Overall, it went well, was fun and we hope to go again next year, especially since Tucker will be older! (he was the youngest there)
The week started by us setting up our tent that we purchases and last used before we had any kids, which I will add has been used twice, only to discover that there is NO way all 3 of us and our stuff will fit in the tent! So most stuff stayed in the car for the night, as the morning fog drenches everything left out, and the stuff was joined by Evan and his sleeping mat. We promptly went tent shopping in town after the
morning bible study. There was slim pickings this late in summer but we were please with our new roomy bright green tent. (Our first tent would fit in the new one 2 1/2 times!)
Though we visited the ocean in southern California last summer, the shore break was way to intimidating for a 6 month old and yes we did just spend a week at Lake Tahoe, but as we keep trying to explain to our friends here in Sacramento, a beach at a lake is not the same as at the ocean!
Tucker was excited to play in the sand and the water in his buckets, oh and had no problem eating his sand covered cookies or drinking the salt water if he was thirsty. By our 3rd trip to the beach he allowed daddy to hold and dip him in the surf; carried his bucket of water up and down the beach on his own; and even played with the "big" boys some. He has come a long way from our timid little boy of a month ago.
Since Emily puts everything in her mouth, we have been very careful what toys we allow in our home. but now that Tucker is getting older we are starting to designate some toys for his room only. Bright mommy that being in the great outdoors would be entertainment enough but I soon discovered my error, so we bought Tucker his first cars - a BIG hit!
Before heading home we took a trip a little south to the Monterey Bay Aquarium - a favorite place of ours to visit! This was Tucker's first "theme park" and did quite well despite the short attention span and over stimulation. He loved the giant deep sea tank and talk non-stop pointing at everything that swan by and also the fresh water otter displays where he could stand up against the glass with the otters swimming right past him over and over again. (Unfortunately because of the low lighting and extra thick glass in all the displays very few of our pictures turned out well)
Earlier this summer Tucker and I took a "Mommy and Me" swim class and I thought Evan would enjoy the class too so we signed up for another class. These pics were taken on the last day - I'll just say when he took the class with me I couldn't get him off the stairs and now look at him. (= They had a blast together!
