CAMP!

Phase one of our glorious two week vacation has come to an end, but not without warm, wonderful memories. We had such a great time at camp. For those of you who don't know, Mark's been going to a Berkeley Family Camp in the Sierras since he was a very small boy. This is a tradition he's shared with me and now our daughter. We went when she was one, but really, it was nothing compared to being with her there at three.

Can a father and daughter get happier than this?


Swimming, playing on the wooden play structure, in the dirt, getting hot chocolate and apple cider in the dining hall, playing games, making crafts, sleeping outside, meeting new friends, loving family...Dalia seemed to be right at home as soon as we got there. It must be in her blood.











And speaking of in her blood, part of the fun of going to camp now is we go when her Uncle Jimmy's Blues Band plays on the camp stage under the stars. Well, it didn't take long for Dalia to find her comfort on the stage or as close as possible.


She also slept better than ever almost all night every night, falling asleep each night in under five minutes (no small miracle for our little lady).


And celebrating her birthday with her Daddy and all her friends at Camp Tuolumne.


Anyway, now we're in the Bay Area seeing friends and family for the rest of the week. We'll post more later this week

ahoy there!

For better or for worse, Dalia loves the Wiggles. They are everywhere we go now, too, not just on the television. They are her imaginary friends at bedtime, at the park, at dinner...you get the picture. Captain Feathersword is her fifth Wiggle. He is a pirate, if you haven't figured that out yet.

zoo train

Finally, we rode the zoo train. Dalia has been begging for it for about a year now. We went to the zoo yesterday for what may be our last trip in the warm summer/fall air this year and while at first she said she didn't want to go with me, but would rather wait and go with her daddy all by herself, she decided she did want to go after all with her mom. Don't worry, she spent the whole trip talking about how she wished her daddy was with us and how glad she was to be on the train. It was a little difficult to keep her sitting down. It's a slow and sweet trip to Washington Park and back. If I had been with Daddy, maybe we could have gotten off at the park for a bit and then returned to the zoo, but I didn't have it in me. Anyway, hooray, again, for the Portland Zoo! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful outdoor space to gather on such a beautiful day.

who needs toys?

She calls herself, "Drummer Dalia". A second after I stopped the video, she threw the chopsticks in the air like a true rock star.

Berry Picking

To savor the season, Mark, Dalia and I went berry picking again this week. We headed down to Canby and got to take a little ferry across the Willamette river ("just like in the road trip Caillou"). Thanks to the extra hands (Mark's) we got 8 pounds of berries (mostly blueberries, but a few raspberries and blackberries). We also met a doggie who lived there. I think Dalia liked playing with him more than picking. This farm was so beautiful, we wanted to stay there forever. If only our thumbs were as good at gardening/farming as they are at picking and eating. As usual, Dalia ate so many while we were there and just after we came home that she won't eat any now.

I'm so excited!

Two of our sisters like to give us cards that sing when you open them. They seem to be one of Dalia's favorite toys. This one is from Mark's birthday last year, with a picture of Plastic Man stuck to the front, thanks to our nephew Anders. And while we don't often listen to the Pointer Sisters, I can say this video sums up Dalia on most days.

Big Kid

I think my daughter is turning quickly into a "big kid". First, her new bike! It's a Strider bike. Everyone around here has one and she'd been dying for one. She's getting the hang of it pretty quickly and hasn't fallen much at all. No, it doesn't have pedals, for those of you not familiar with these new creations. Kids quickly learn balance and coasting and can transition easier (we hope) to a two wheeler when they are ready. Also, check out the summer reading t-shirt she's sporting, acquired from the library after finishing her summer reading chart this year.

And second, Dalia had her first dentist appointment yesterday. She did so awesome. She was super calm and opened her mouth no problem. She really liked the cookie flavored toothpaste. Sadly, she has a little decay on her front teeth, but we're just keeping a close eye on it for now.

On the way home from the dentist we picked up my mom and went to the grand opening of one of our fav restaurants (Mio Sushi) in our hood. Dalia decided she loves tempura too. That's one way to get her to eat some vegetables, I guess.



Also, a glimpse at one of our big girl's favorite past times. There must be a girly gene out there, because I am not a magazine/catalog reader (neither is Mark, really, though I think he might be more than I am). Here she is perusing the new J Crew catalog.

Oh, and finally, this is Dalia's latest off the cuff drawing. She exclaimed, "It's a seal!" after she drew it.

Anyway, we're so proud of our little girl, I mean "big kid". More news Wednesday about baby #2.