Camping at Juniper

Camping in days past: Read, relax, enjoy peace, calm, and beauty of nature.
Camping in days present: Keep 1-year-old from fire pit as she attempts to make her way there every. single. second.
Really, manning Audrey made it so our camping trip was far from relaxing, but thankfully we were camping with Monty and Denise (aka the best campers EVER) and didn't have to worry about much more than Audrey.
Lake Juniper...so pretty! Jena and Bryn braved the freezing water.

 Grandparent spoilage:

Oma treating Audrey to her first taste of cheese balls

 Papa treating Audrey to her first taste of licorice
Daddy and Audrey having fun

 Bryn helping Jalene with the cooking

 Ready to head out on the canoe. We have yet to find a comfortable baby life jacket...poor Audrey.

 Hiking, Day 1

We should have shown muscle arms in this picture to show how tough we are. This hike was not easy. Bryn was a trooper, but had to be carried for some of it. There were times when Justin was carrying both girls--one on his shoulders, one in the baby carrier. Thank goodness for Uncle John and Aunt Sheris who also took turns carrying Bryn.

 We made it to the top of Mt. Harkness!

 Hiking with Alvies cousins and Uncle John

 Bryn was a super easy camper. She loved playing with her cousins and spent a lot of time "planting a garden" at the campsite

 The girls were exhausted by the end of each day

 Hiking: Day 2

What?! There's another day of hiking on the itinerary? There was a bit of a misunderstanding on this day. Justin and I thought we were headed to a hot springs swim hole. The perfect consolation to our aching muscles from hiking: day 1. Alas, no swim hole, lots more hiking. Luckily this hike wasn't as difficult as the first, and everyone pitched in to help us with the girls again. And, we saw a bear. Like, up close. It was a bit terrifying in the moment, but really awesome after the moment.

 Bryn and Oma

 Dirt or oreos? Who knows? She ate unbelievable amounts of both.

Thanks for a fun camping trip, Malden fam!

Independence Day

Daddy and Audrey at the parade. Audrey is modeling her homemade patriotic dress.

 Kylie, Bryn, and Mommy with red, white, and blue fingers and toes.

 The Malden Family enjoying one of our favorite holidays of the year.

 With the flag prop (note homemade dress, using a pattern from pinterest)

 Without the flag prop

 Audrey's first fourth of July

 One year ago on this day, at this parade, this little one was in my belly

 Camped out for the fireworks show. It was chilly!

 Snuggling with Daddy, awaiting the fireworks

Kylie Week!

Kylie came to stay with us for a whole week. It was awesome to have her with us. She was super helpful with the girls and asked for so many chores we nearly ran out of things for her to clean. After the first day of her stay, I had decided I never wanted her to go back home!

We love you, Kylie!

 We went to the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens while Kylie was here:

 And we played at the park:

 We also went to the Lawrence Hall of Science:

 And then there was Mission Delores Park and Bi-rite ice cream in S.F.:

Oh, and homemade GAK too. Fun!

Swim Lessons

After a minor drown scare with Bryn early in the summer, my grandma offered to pay for her to have swim lessons at the AMAZING Jan Thomas Swim School in Fresno. Technically, the swim lessons were paid for in exchange for some work I helped her with, but considering the priceless value of the swim lessons, I could never work enough to repay them. Thank you, Grandma!

Bryn took 7 lessons in 4 days. She was a non-swimmer on Monday and by Thursday she could swim completely independently, roll onto her back to take breaths, then roll back to her tummy and keep swimming. She can jump in, swim to the edge, and pull herself out. She LOVES it. And I love it. It is incredible! I can't wait to take Audrey next summer. 

Thanks again, Grandma. We love you! And we love Jan Thomas Swim School!

 Bryn's teacher was Nicki. She was awesome. Bryn loved her! And that is really incredible considering the "torture" she put Bryn through the first lesson. 

 Bryn is in the back of this photo, jumping off the edge of the pool.

 Floating...pretty obvious.

 Bored with jumping from the edge, Bryn requested to jump from the diving board. I'm pretty sure this is her third lesson.

The slide! (She's not being forced down, that girl just helped her climb up since the stairs are narrow and slippery.)

I would love to show off video of her in swim-action, but I don't have time to wait for the upload to blogger right now. Still shots will have to suffice. She really is a little swimming machine. She's so awesome!

D-A-D

 These girls adore their Dad. And for good reason. He is pretty darn spectacular.