Summer of her life

While it hasn't been my ideal summer: it went too fast and I didn't get to spend all that time with the girls, they've had a wonderful 10 weeks.

It started with their ballet recital. Samantha and Al starred as Annie and Daddy Warbucks! The next week followed with theatre camp--Alyssa's first time. Then we and a quieter week with swim lessons followed by a week of stay-cation activities. The girls then asked for two weeks at vacation bible school, which they loved! And we've wrapped it up with three weeks of Summer ballet intensive where both girls found out that they've moved up to the next level. Oh the squeals of delight!

In the middle there my brother, Kevin, and his girlfriend, Tara, took Samantha camping in Big Sur. I can recall less than 12 hours after Samantha was born, Kevin was holding her for the first time and he said "I can't wait to take her camping and to teach her how to surf." Now that she's 9 he figured that she was mature enough to spend a few days away from mom and dad and head 2 hours away.

I missed her, but not for one second did I worry--she was in good hands. So they drove down to Andrew Molera to camp, played in a nearby river, hiked, and, best of all, she got to paddle out on Sand Dollar beach on a long board with Kevin and ride the waves. She stood for a few and fell more often than not.

When she came home she was full of stories while Kevin and Tara looked a little beat. Heck, it's hard keeping up with a 9 year old's energy and appetite!

Kevin brought along a GoPro camera to film Samantha's firsts. He wasn't able to catch her standing on a board because he didn't have the camera mounted, but this was enough . . .

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall. I was elated that she got to experience these things.

Here is a short video of Samantha's firsts in Big Sur:

Technology is one of those perplexing dilemmas--on one hand it's changed our lives and on the other I remember life before cell phones and computers. It's the reason I'm in braces from my hands to my elbows and at the same time it's the excitement in my kindergartner's face as she talks about her second computer class.

Alyssa is understanding computers for the first time. She's attempted it a few times but the hand-eye coordination wasn't developed enough to comprehend the intricacies. So she'd retreat to the IPAD. This year it is a regular part of her curriculum, but I have mixed emotions.

Part of the reason we chose to put our girls in private school is because there wasn't funding for so many things in public school: library, PE, technology; not to mention class size, but that is for another post. We were excited when Samantha had computers two days a week--this year third grade is learning to keyboard. Awesome sauce! (as Samantha says).

Coming from an assessment background, the keyboarding thing is a big deal. That will help place my daughter on the right track for the Common Core State Standards technology requirements. On the other hand, when my girls ask for computer time and their swing set becomes a decoration, I worry.

As a child, I spent every minute I could outside. And I try to do the same with my girls. Some days I make them stay outside until I say they can come in. I want them to really play. I want them to use their imaginations and explore.

I understand the importance of technology and I also recognize the pitfalls. I, for one, am so attached to mouse and keyboard for my job that I'm going on a year with severe hand and elbow injuries. I can only write posts when I am feeling good, which isn't often lately.

Technology, for lack of a better word, has taken away my time from my family. I can't go camping. I can't play Legos or color pictures most days. And every night after I put my kids to bed I spend two hours with my arms covered in ice, and then put back on my braces to sleep.


As I listen to Alyssa's excitement about her first experience on the computer, I find myself wishing that  technology wasn't such an important aspect of our lives. I dream of ways to minimize it. And to groans and eye rolling, I keep saying, "No computer today," and wonder how many other parents have the same internal struggle.

Roughin' It

I finally got to take a vacation--I can be a workaholic if I let myself. So after my boss told me I needed a vacation I dug my heels in. I have felt the need lately to be surrounded by redwoods, needing the earthy smell of dirt and wildflowers and the soft sounds of pine needles in the afternoon breeze. So I booked us (everything is ONLINE!) three nights in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Only 3.5 hours from our house, there is really no excuse not to visit more often.

Al and I knew it would be an interesting trip because this was the first time Alyssa would be sleeping in a sleeping bag, not in a playpen. The girls were so excited that first night.  Alyssa was jumping from air mattress to air mattress. And she did cry and it took us 1.5 to 2 hours to get her back to sleep. She was scared of the dark and the forest noises. But I pulled her air mattress next to mine and held her hand until she fell asleep. When she woke up she felt like a big girl for surviving the night.

Al and I haven't been to this park since 2000 and it feels like a lot has changed. I've never stayed in Sequoia, always in Kings Canyon, so this was a new experience for me as well.

General Sherman Tree

We took only two hikes while there, but there is a lot of driving involved since the roads are slow, windy, and most are undergoing some kind of repair. Plus the kids aren't used to hiking so some of the climbing seemed too much for them. We hiked to General Sherman, the world's largest tree, and the Big Trees trail, which is a loop around a meadow surrounded by Giant Sequoia trees. In the five or so times I've been to the park, the Big Trees trail has to be the most amazing trail I've ever taken. It was self-guided and was filled with the ecology of the Sequoia trees. They are truly beautiful and amazing.



Big Trees Trail



We always visit the Visitor's Center in any NP, but this time I asked about the Junior Ranger Program. Kevin and I did that at Zion NP when we were kids. It is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. We spent a week in "classes" with a Park Ranger learning about the environment, animals, plants, etc. at Zion. We were so proud of our earned badges. So when we were at Sequoia I asked about the JR Program. Samantha picked up a booklet and she completed her jobs to earn her badge.



Samantha had to take a hike and tell what she learned. She had to show what is right and wrong about park behavior, i.e., we don't feed bears, dogs are always on a leash, and we don't scratch our initials on trees. She also had to tell what things she'd seen. Her final task was to collect garbage around her campground or on a trail and bring it to the park ranger. She was so excited.

As we were leaving we stopped at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center and she turned in her booklet. She raised her right hand and promised to protect the park, to continue to learn about the park and all other national parks, and to teach others about the park. She got her badge and proudly wore it all the way home.



On the way home she said she wanted to live in Sequoia like the other park rangers when she grows up. Ah, a beautiful dream--I used to share the same one and still do, sometimes. I think it would be an awesome retirement to be a Park Ranger.



The girls were sad to come home, but considering how successful this trip was I am sure we'll be going back really soon.