Callie Grace Turns 1!

Any book that I have ever read on parenting an infant has stressed the importance of a safe predictable environment. When Jaden was a baby, not a single sound entered our house without being invited. By the time Jolie Hope was born, we had relaxed our quiet environment and allowed for the limited chaos that Jaden had brought to our home.

Callie Grace is now one year old. She has been to 45 states (including Hawaii). Not only can she sleep in a moving RV, she can sleep in an RV moving at 55 mph through downtown New York City (the worst roads anywhere in the country). She has swum in both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean within a 2 week period. She has hiked through the mountains of the northwest and the canyons of New York City. She has seen a snowstorm in June and gone swimming in 112 degrees in Arizona. She has watched BMX races in Indiana, drag races in Tennessee, professional wave boarding in Oregon, and surfing in California. She took her first steps on Broadway in New York City. She walked away from us without looking back at the beach in California.

Callie Grace has lacked a predictable environment. What she has received, however, is more time and attention from both Kim and myself than we ever dreamed possible. I consider myself so blessed to have been able to see her grow up every day. Callie Grace is such a wonderful and beautiful girl.

If I could describe her in one word, it would be "laughter". Not only does she share her beautiful laugh with us at all times of day, we all laugh more because she is with us. She is a blessing to our family.

Happy Birthday , Callie Grace. We love you!

Callie Grace LOVES Her Baby. (Jolie Hope picked it out).

Is she reaching for the fire or the cake?

Full Speed Ahead!

Laughter

Is it just me, or is it hot?

Temperatures by the coast of California were a cool 78 degrees when we left. The next day in Phoenix, however, saw temperatures soaring to 112 degrees. This change of climate corresponded with the final project for Jaden and Jolie Hope in their respective Weather Units of our homeschooling with Moving Beyond the Page. You can view their weather forecasts in the video below.

Enjoying whatever shade can be found

Jaden and Jolie Hope's Weather Report

A Day at the Beach

Any stop in Southern California would not be complete without some time at the beach. We spent a week at an RV park right on the water. The weather was fantastic, there were plenty of beautiful bike rides, running paths, nature walks, and of course . . . there was the beach. We spent a day at Huntington Beach and had a great time. Kim had been to a California beach as a kid and didn't even bother with the swimsuit. That water is COLD. We promised Jaden that we would be in Florida soon and the water would be warmer.

Jaden made me explain many times how the water from
Hawaii went to Alaska before coming to California.

Staying cool . . .

She was so happy till the tide came in . . .

Beautiful sisters

San Diego Wild Animal Park

Southern California was a lot of fun. After Legoland, we spent a great day in the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It is affiliated with the San Diego Zoo, but it is a wide open park in Escondido that lets the animals run free in a natural environment. It was really fun.

Who's Watching Who?

Growl!

Taking part in a rain dance. . .

While Callie Watches On.

Checking out a herd of rhinos

We also got a surprise visit from my brother Cory. He showed up at our park in Escondido while interviewing for a job. You can imagine how the phone conversation went. Cory calls and mentions that he is coming to California for a job interview. I say, where? He says Escondido. I say, I live in Escondido - at least for another week. If he ends up moving there, I will be most jealous. Southern California is wonderful as long as you don't get too far away from the coast and the cool coastal breeze.

The Jacket Monster Arrives

Legoland

Jolie Kong

After Yosemite, we journeyed to San Diego for a really fun week. First, we took the kids to a fun day in Legoland - a fun mix of rides and water park.

We waited in line for a ride with Diane Keaton. She loved Callie Grace's chunky thighs - but who wouldn't.

The Lego cities were amazing. We even found one that had miniature RV's.

Look closely, and you can see our RV

Jolie Hope drives like her mommy

Jolie Hope and Jaden are in this picture

The water starts to fall

And drenches everybody

Callie Grace - Oblivious to the danger around her (a lego dinosaur)

Yosemite Valley

We spent a wonderful day in biking in Yosemite Valley. We biked about 5 miles over the course of the day, and were amazed that there is so much natural beauty in one place.

The views were obscured a bit by the smoke from nearby forest fires. We are definitely coming back here next year for some more intense hiking and hopefully some clearer skies.

The Lower Yosemite Falls

Getting Ready To Roll

Through the smoke, you can see the Upper Yosemite Falls

Jaden with the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls (and smoke)

Half Dome

Mariposa Grove of Big Trees

WOW!

I have always wanted to see the giant sequoias, and they did not disappoint. There is more wood in one giant sequoia than an entire acre of northwest woodland. The oldest in this grove is 2,700 years old. This was about the time that Rome was founded and only a few hundred years after King Solomon ruled Israel.

The kids were troopers. We hiked over 4 miles round trip and climbed over a thousand feet elevation on the way to the high grove.

This was the first day of our short trip to Yosemite National Park. There cannot be a place on Earth with more natural beauty per square mile.

Kinda makes you feel small.

Clothespin Tree

Hanging out

Don't Stand There Too Long . . .

Fun in Portland

I was very relieved to not even have to fill the RV gas tank for a whole week. Gas out west is about 75 cents more expensive than back home. We have been close to $5 / gallon. Ouch.

We had a fun time in Portland. We visited the Portland Zoo, which didn't have too many animals, but did have a really cool dinosaur exhibit. We also spent time at a local park that boasted a free water park and hosted a professional wave boarding competition while we were there.

The weather was surprisingly cool for late June.

The kids loved the dinosaurs

What's in the bucket?

Ohh!

Callie Grace - Oblivious to the danger around her.

Mt. Ranier

While driving from VA to Washington, we made our way through a driving snow storm in the mountains between Montana and Idaho (in mid June). The snow was blowing so hard sideways that I got a bit of vertigo thinking that I was turning the RV when I was driving straight.

We got to see more of the snow later when we went hiking on Mt. Ranier. Unfortunately, I left my Canon at home, so the pictures from my Treo phone will have to document the adventure.

We didn't know till we arrived at the mountain that there was still 3 feet of snow on the ground, but we still had fun.

"More snow than I've ever seen!" - Jaden

Jaden hiking on ahead

Seattle

Starting the Day Right

Seattle is further from Durham, NC than any other major town in the lower 48. We spent a wonderful day in the city visiting Pikes Market, eating seafood on the sound, and taking an amphibious "Duck Tour".

We should have started the day at a Starbucks, but decided instead to start it North Carolina style and visit the local Krispy Kreme.

To Market, To Market . . .

Jolie Hope wouldn't get this close

Lunch with a view of the Sound

And of course the Space Needle