Tea Time!

Cold (cold cold) weather camping

Last weekend we attempted to camp!
It was a success in parts..and a fail in others.

the successes!
- camping! even if we decided we need to wait a few more months to really pull out our camping gear, definitely worth it.
- snow! we found a perfect camping spot atop of Mount Pigeon a few hours north of us. Even though it was late, it was beautiful. And even though it was cold, the air was so crisp.
- fire! Skylee LOVED making a fire with daddy. She helped me unload our tent and sleeping bags excitedly, but she was especially anxious to help Caleb make a fire. Little did she know the-best-steak-ever and smores were to come... :)
- got some awesome cold weather must-haves for winter...a Columbia fleece for Skylee, intense omnishield gloves for me, and royal robbins hiking pants for both caleb and me..things we have been using daily since our trip.
- I have the excitement. Sure, we are going to wait til probably mid March til we start serious camping, but it is in my blood now! Anxiously anticipating another trip.
- watching Skylee "camp." She was pumped. The tent, the scenery, even the cold. Seeing her excitement warmed my heart. (just not literally!)

the fails!
- We originally hoped to make it to Cloudland Canyon to camp, but Mount Pigeon was still an adventure!
- Got lost on the way home..took a few hours longer. Though the car ride bonding experience made this more of a success!
- COLD! camping in 20 degree weather is not something I will try again until I have UA. (also, my circulation gets a fail on this one.)
- backpacking part of the Appalachian for our anniversary is put on hold until the weather gets just a little warmer.

The rest of the weekend we spent bonding, really praising and thanking God for our family.
Skylee sat with us in church Sunday morning, and we had the sweetest time together.
How on earth could I ask for a sweeter daughter, a more loving husband, or a happier life?
I am so blessed; thank you God!

A few other updates..

Two days ago, Skylee had to get two shots. Grammy went with us, and we were very proud of Skylee. After her shots, she got two stickers (one of which she gave grammy!), and a strawberry milkshake. Shots aren't so bad after all...!
Last night, Skylee got to spend a few hours at grammy and papas while Caleb and I had a date night.
When we arrived at their house to pick her up, she was lost in a "secret fort" with grammy bubbling over with giggles and smiles. I know she had a good time.
Nothing makes Skylee happier than getting mail. Not too long ago she got a CD and stickers from Grammy B. A few days ago, we got Florida oranges (or pom poms as Skylee calls them) from Grandpa! She knew it was really for her, and immediately we gobbled several down.

We watched Pocahontas yesterday, and Skylee informed me she wants John Smith to be her "prince."
He is a very good guy, she has reminded me several times since.
Also, whenever we tickle her, she now says (or more usually screams) "tuna' when she wants us to stop. It is adorable and usually makes me want to tickle her more, though I refrain.
Skylee has really been into 'dress up' the past few weeks. Every morning we try on tiaras, fancy jewelery, gloves, princess dresses, bows, and high heels and parade around the house. This is always followed by a tea party (with the tea seat Teresa and Joe got her for Christmas!). Every morning we 'dine' on water tea and eat 'plastic' cake. She is such a good hostess!
Whenever I ask Skylee if she wants to help me with laundry she responds "Of course I do!"  She used to simply help me separate her clothes from mine, then she started folding her clothes, now she even hangs them on hangers! She really is the best little helper.
And so smart. Whenever I get into baby-clothes lust, she'll remind me, "I have clothes, mommy. I don't need any." (She'll usually mention later she "needs" a smoothie.)

What else..Skylee is addicted to using camel baks for drinking since our camp trip. At least she's drinking more water! (our little kool aid junkie) And oh! We made pine cone bird feeders. We are still waiting for the bird to find them...

Sparkles!!

(i will get put up christmas/newyears updates eventually..)

last night we went roller skating!!
it was supposed to be 99 cent skate day, but because of MLK day we sadly missed out. (theres always next monday!)


The day started with more Valentines crafts! (the night before we made Valentine cupcakes..its never too early for cupcakes!) For Christmas, Darcy got Skylee a book about a cupcake. Her favorite page is "After mixing just the right amount of flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and milk and the right amount of toasting in the oven...cupcake was born." So we mixed our ingredients together, and 18 cupcakes were born!

Around 4, Chloe picked us up, and after a brief stop at Starbucks, we headed to Sparkles roller rink. There was not a parking space in the whole lot; I was shocked. After fighting traffic and forever-long lines inside, we finally got our skates! Skylee had no clue what to expect. She simply heard the word "sparkles" and got lost in excitement.
Our friends Tyler, Jen, Trevor, Maddie, Tiki, and her two kids met us there, and we set up camp at a little table.

At first she wasn't so sure about the skates. We practiced skating around the arcade (which had DDR!!) and back and forth from our table to the rink. Chloe and I each took one of Skylee's hand and slowly took her onto the rink! We did a lap around the outside and then ventured to the middle to practice little steps in our skates. (To be honest, I was terrified at first. It took a few laps before I felt comfortable enough in my skates to help Skylee. hee.) Skylee enjoyed it, but she was a little scared. So we decided to take a skate break!
Sparkles also has a HUGE indoors playground. Skylee was pumped. She played in the playground for at least an hour and made a little friend. I never caught the girl's name, but they were adorable. They constantly held hands. :) At one point they were wandering around a little checking everything out, and Skylee ventured to the skating rink ready to venture on barefoot and all, but her little friend pulled her back. What a good friend.
Caleb arrived after work around the time Skylee was exploring the playground.
Tiki kept an eye on Skylee for us (still lost in imagination in the playground) while Caleb and I skated together.
He is a pro-skater! Never ceases to amaze me with his skills for EVERYTHING.
Around 7 we gathered our belongings ready to leave, but Skylee said she wanted to skate with daddy. So the three of us got our skates back on and skated in the dark for another hour. (with lazer lights!)
By 8, Skylee could skate on the rink just holding my hand (still a little wobbly) and around the arcade (with carpet) slowly by herself.
We were so proud, and I think she was very proud of herself, too. She never gave up!
After a short stop at REI on the way home where Skylee and I got to try on shoes and jackets (she LOVES trying on clothes/shoes. Such a little girly girl.), we gorged ourselves on spaghetti and curled up in bed for storytime.
She fell asleep in my arms; what a perfect day.