Camping in Pinnacles

We had a great weekend camping with friends in Pinnacles National Monument, east of Monterey. There were a few minor mishaps along the way (forgetting the bag with our clothes and toiletries!), but we managed, and Josie did awesome. She was certainly a handful at the campsite, wanting to get into everything and run around. During the trip, we saw a hare, a California condor, quail, snake, lizards, and loads of other birds. Josie couldn't get enough. We have to start planning our next adventure!

She loved walking on the railroad ties that lined the edge of the parking spot... perhaps we have a future gymnast on our hands?


Despite the rocky environment, the area was full of color, displayed by the lichens and the wildflowers.


Dan pointed out the different flower species and even collected a few seeds for propagation at home.


Dan carried Josie in the backpack on a 6.5 mile hike through the mountains (very steep and narrow at times).


Here's our group after the hike, looking forward to ice cream treats at the campground store.

Summiting the couch

Josie is finally tall enough and strong enough to pull herself up on the couch, all on her own. Not all the time, but when she's really frustrated and tries as hard as she can, she can do it. She'll be mountaineering with her Dad in no time!

Music show

Josie went to her first music concert this past weekend with her friend Max. It took her a few minutes to warm up, but then she roamed the dance floor, checked out the other kids who were there, showed off her belly to the musicians, and clapped and bopped to the beat. Max eventually warmed up, too, and got down on the dance floor (literally) and showed off some awesome breakdancing moves.

Wearing Dada's Hat

Repairing the Deck

We all worked on the deck today. Josie got out her tools to help pull rusty screws in the morning. She was a big help. Our friend Kirk was also a big help, making the deck safer for Josie with fewer rusty screws and splinters. Lisa primed the end-grain of the new boards we installed to replace the rotten ones. Dan crawled around under the deck to drive new screws from below. Almost ready for the house painter--just need to finish the guardrail and steps now.

Very Busy Gardener

The weather was very nice this weekend, and Josie got outside to do some gardening. She loved filling these pots with soil she dug from the raised bed, then dumping them out and refilling them. She likes to sit on this terra cotta chimney cap while she digs. Josie has a good command of the backyard now. We're still nervous about her on the stairs and near the edges of our deck with no guardrail, tearing up special plants, eating dirt clods, walking quickly with sharp shovels... I could go on. At the rate she's gaining horticultural skills, she'll be in charge of our fall vegetable plantings. She went through three outfits on the day of these photos.

First Haircut!

It was time to cut Josie's hair. Here is a "before" photo showing her long bangs and rat tail in the back. Josie doesn't like people messing with her hair---it's hard to give her a shampoo without her crying. The haircut was similarly hard for her, but we did it. Today Lisa remarked that Josie looks like a fugitive who gave herself a quick haircut in a Burger King bathroom to change her identity. I think she looks like Audrey Hepburn. Here is the "after" picture of Josie gardening with her new short hair.

Bubbles (Buh-Boh)