Camp Tatanka

Here are some pictures taken this week at Camp Tatanka. The campers do a variety of activities each week: swimming, stories at library, visits to museum, games, drawing and coloring, puppet shows, snow cones. Susan has a picture she colored with markers. She is playing frisbee with someone and swimming. The older girls really take a lot of time with her. I gave one the camera one day, and she took about 50 pictures.

Sand!

Thursday was Brianna's night to come. Garrett and Carl were not here for dinner, so it was just us girls. We had a great time. We made some necklaces with Susan's foam beads.

I had gotten ready by buying a bag of sand. It was raining, so we put the sand in the toy bucket and took it out on the front porch. The sand was damp and molded well. We packed it into cups and the pink bucket and made sand towers. Brianna loved squashing them. We must have played out there over an hour. Everyone and the porch were covered with sand. When the rain quit, we cleaned up, including our feet in the wet grass.

The girls took a bath and dumped water on each other's heads. That was good because it got the sand out. We read some books and drank milk to settle down. Settling was hard for both girls.

Susan is five

Yesterday was Susan's fifth birthday. There is a little bit of a problem with that because, in Taiwan, she was counted already as 5, and would move to 6. Here she is five, and she understands that there is a difference.

I got a cake from United since they had one with 3 of the princesses. She loved it. Carl was here at the house, but got a call just as we sat down to eat that he had to go to work. We did two other special things, new Legos and the movie Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. We have had fun with the Legos. She thought the movie was scary. She doesn't understand about talking softly in a movie theater.

Sat. we went to the library for more books. We ate at our old favorite Celia's (been going there over 40 years), and Lluvia made a fuss over Susan. She had rice and boiled chicken. She said the guacamole was yucky.

Friday we went to see the prairie dog towns near here. We had read a book about them, so Susan was eager to see them. I was amazed at how many there were off of Hicks/Pondaseta Road. They can really run when they think there is danger.

Clay Warriors

I mentioned the Magic Tree House book. The last one we read was called The Day of the Dragon King. It was about a visit of the two children to the time of the Dragon King in China and to the tomb and clay warrior figures. We talked about how the statues were real. The next day we went on the Internet and looked at pictures. If you want to read more about the warriors, look at http://www.galenfrysinger.com/warriors_xian_china.htm. Here is a picture.

We had to try making clay soldiers with Susan's amazing clay. How did we do?

Rabbits

One of Susan's favorite places has always been Dreamland Cemetery. She loves to watch the critters that live there. No, not ghosts, rabbits! She talked Grandpa into driving out there last night not long before dark. We saw a lot of jack rabbits, sometimes as many as 4 together. One was about as big as a dog. They just peacefully nibbled or rested in the shade. When they were alarmed, they ran fast.

Fair and parade

Canyon always has a big do for July 4th, and this year was no exception. There is a fair on the square, a parade, fireworks and activities in the park near us. We did most of it.

The parade started in a different place, east of town at the sports center and came to the square, so it seemed a long time coming while we waited on the curb. It was VERY long. There were floats, color guards, old cars, horses, fire trucks, and many other things to see. Susan caught some bubble gum. I'll add pictures from the parade.

We walked around the square and got free stuff--note pads, pens, pencils, necklaces, a rain gauge, candy, bookmarks. We bought water because we were hot and thirsty, but we didn't stay to eat; there were too many people. The crowd was estimated at 30,000 for the day.

About 8 Susan and I walked to the park near the house. She jumped on those big bouncy blow-up activities. I don't know was to call them. There was a castle, a surf board, and a big room. She really wanted to climb the rock wall and come down on the rapelling rope, but she was too small, thank goodness. My friend Jane and her 11-year-old grandson Xander joined us for the fireworks. He had a marshmallow gun made of PVC pipe that shot tiny marshmallow. We got home about 10 p.m. It was a very nice day, but Susan thought we had to do too much waiting.

July 5th

The Baptist Church in Canyon did such a nice thing for July 5th. They organized neighborhood parties all over town to help people get acquainted with their neighbors. It was a good idea for ours because there are so many new families. Sadly, most did not come, but we had fun anyway. Of course I forgot my camera.

The street was blocked off down at the corner, so kids were riding bikes, scooters, etc. There was a shallow pool on the drive. We had hotdogs, hamburgers, sides, and desserts. Someone had even brought homemade ice cream.

It was fun.

July 4th

I guess it feels the way it is supposed to on the 4th--hot already at 8:18 am. The flag is up and the windows are open, but soon we will have to turn on the AC. I should get some pictures today. Susan says she wants to have some fun. We are going to the parade and Fair on the Square.

Yesterday we worked on Susan's scrapbook most of the morning. We don't have pictures yet, but we could do the edges. She really loves doing it.

Having Brianna with us Thursday nights (2 years old) will be a challenge. For the first 2 hours, there was one conflict after another. Both are used to having my attention and playing with the toys. When it came to sharing, there were disagreements. Then we went into the back yard. I turned the water on for Susan to water her plants. The both loved getting wet and muddy. I finally turned the sprinkler on to cool off. We had to shed the clothes at the door, wash feet, and jump in the tub. Even that was fun.

Going to sleep was a different proposition all together! I usually read to Susan about 20 minutes leaning against a pile of pillows on the bed. Then we go to sleep. I stay until she is gone, usually less than 5 min. Not Brianna! She cried. She didn't want to sleep! She didn't want her milk. She thrashed around until we all three got up for 30 min. Then I pulled the rocker into the bedroom. That worked. Finally! I was pooped. I need another plan for next week.

Yesterday was a lot more peaceful.

We are having fun!

Susan is not unhappy about camp any more. She goes without crying, carrying her stuffed rabbit from Lucy to keep her company. She still wants to come home about 4, but that is okay. Yesterday when I picked her up, her group was outside drawing with sidewalk chalk.

I even figured out how to wash her hair without tears. I put her in charge of keeping the water out of her own face with a dry towel and gave her the bubble soap afterwards for 10 minutes. Her hair is so pretty--black, straight, shiny, nearly to her shoulders now. Today she is wearing a crown in it.

She helps me make her bed and set the table. She loves to give Blondie a snack and let her in and out. When I was cleaning up after cutting Garrett's hair she wanted to run the vacuum. Yesterday she stayed home with Grandpa while I went to sing for a memorial service. I think they had a good time together.