Our trip to California!

Trip to So. Cal continued...

Taylor and I spent the last week of summer, before she begins kindergarten, in California. Auntie Sherry hosted us for a fun visit. We spent our first evening in Downtown Disney where Taylor stopped in to Build-A-Bear and created Vanessa, her very own bear. That was something to see! The gal helping to stuff Vanessa was wonderful with Tay....adding a heart full of love and a magic sound too. Taylor picked out a white and pink dress with sparkles and pink slippers, a pink satin backpack, and a matching headband. You could go nuts shopping for outfits and all the extras they have in the store. This was a special surprise for Taylor from Auntie Sherry. My niece Mandy joined us for the evening. We also made time for a little shopping and of course mac & cheese pizza with my cousins and their kids. I loved watching Taylor playing with all of her 2nd cousins 3-5 years in age. Everyone was happy and the kiddos were having such a good time. We went swimming and played at the playground too. We spent the next afternoon at the Orange County Fair! Cheap tickets, good eats and lots of rides! Next we went to San Diego to meet my nephew's new wife Laura and her family & friends. My mom flew in to go with us to help represent the Kropp clan. We overstayed our welcome by 4 hours, but we were having such a good time with everyone. I told my sister Kerry that her son married a gal with a little bit of all the women in the family rolled into her. She is fun, smart, and beautiful. Of course, we made it to the beach and Taylor ran from the waves rolling in and collected sea shells and made a sand castle. Tay finally conquered the monkey bars! Another wonderful day in paradise! Flying first class both ways was an added bonus! Thanks to my sister in law Tammy and Bob for the flights. We are truly blessed with a wonderful family. Taylor starts kindergarten tomorrow so we will have to say goodnight!

Tae kwon-do

The Look of Joy!

Taylor took classes this summer with her friend Isabella. Both girls had so much fun. The pictures speak for themselves. They played a game like Flag football and we never laughed so hard watching them chase each other around the mat trying to get each others flags. At first Taylor would chase Isabella, but now they go after each other pretty good. I appreciate all the good things they are learning through Tae kwon-do, like listening, following rules, self-defense, to name a few. Taylor loves it and we hope to continue with classes offered in the after school program at her new school GVA, where she will be starting Kindergarten!

Camping at Cherry Creek

Actually, we didn't go camping, but friends of ours did so we crashed their campsite at Cherry Creek Reservoir. We made s'mores and ate sticky yummy marshmallows! Taylor and her friend Isabella along with the other kids were having a blast. I think I have convinced Kip to go camping there if not this summer, then next year. Of course, camping used to be the Hilton without a hair dryer, but I could do this! The park is about 2 miles from our home and yet it felt like we were miles away. Thank you Natalie and Don for the invite to stop in for a s'more and fun! Natalie took some family photos of us while we were visiting them. She does good work!

A great memory I have of growing up (still thankful I have memories!) is of the family camping trips we used to take. My mom was the camper-extraordinaire! She taught us how to prepare food in foil long before the Reynolds Wrap Gals! We learned how to tie knots and hang our booty up high on dowels. You name it, my mom knew it. Of course, dad was the fisherman and taught us how to fish and we also went water skiing. I think I can still do it, but then reality hits and my shoulders hurt just thinking about being yanked out of the water...maybe it's my boose that is weighing me down. Anyway, I also remember hanging out at the lake and pool in Sandpoint, ID.where my grandma Pearl lived, my mom's mother. She was awesome. Most of our family camping trips took place when we lived in So. Cal. Because we were Camp Fire Girls, we also got to attend Camp Nawakwa for 1-2 weeks every summer. Man those were the days. We had so much fun doing everything you would expect to do and learn at camp. I really hope Taylor gets these opportunities and enjoys them as much as I did. I know Kip grew up taking camping trips with his mom & dad too. We laugh reminiscing about the good old days. Actually we laugh about having good ole days! I have to have an air mattress now!