Willa's First Camping Trip

We went camping at Lake Cachuma a couple of days ago. It seemed like a gamble taking a 2-1/2 year old camping, but we just took the plunge and did it...Lake Cachuma is less than 2 hours away from our house and was the perfect choice for Willa's first camping trip. She loved it! Our friends, Greg and Sara joined us too.

The minivan was jam packed (Eddie had the best seat in the house on top of the bedding)

The view of the lake and mountains. It was really beautiful.

Down by the lake. Willa and Eddie both sunk into some black mud and it looked like they were wearing black, slimy boots...not fun to clean up.

Our campsite was perfect. It was overlooking the lake and felt secluded. The site next to ours was a really nice, quiet family. 

Sara had the genius idea of bringing her fondue set and making fondue.

There was a perfect climbing tree on our campsite.

Yikes!

Jumping on Greg and Sara's air mattress like it was a trampoline.

Reading books.

I think the s'mores were Willa's favorite part of the trip :)

Sara and Willa reading before bedtime

Willa slept really well in the tent. Bryan, Willa, Eddie and I all squeezed onto a queen air mattress in our tent. She was so slap happy before bedtime (probably a sugar high from the s'mores), she kept getting into laughing fits reading books and making up stories...It was really funny. It got down to 53 degrees in the middle of the night, but with our down comforter and warm PJ's, we were okay. 

We all woke up really early and walked down to the lake for the last time. 

She really wanted to stay camping another night...she got really sad when we took down the tent. When we got home, she was crying saying "I want to go camping again!". Next time, we will go for two nights...

Willa and Daddy sleeping and holding hands on the drive home...

Legoland, Etc...

Last weekend we made the road trip down to San Diego to meet friends at Legoland. The trip started off terribly...Willa got carsick and threw up all over herself and the car seat when we were  about 45 minutes into the trip. With a stop at Burger King to clean up in the bathrooms, and a sprite for her tummy, she was as good as new! She kept saying "I'm all better now!" I think she was just excited to get to Legoland.

Willa and her new friend, Lucy. Lucy is the niece of our good friend, Blair (friend from Miami). Willa and Lucy had a pretty awesome dance session. At one point, Willa was even breakdancing on the ground!

At the Legoland Hotel cooling down with a beer and some snacks at the end of a long and fun day.

Exhausted and ready to get home :)

Willa and Noemie in the baby pool

Willa loves to make funny faces to make us laugh.

At the Calabasas Farmer's Market. She ate so many samples that she didn't need lunch. 

Willa loves to strip down naked in our backyard...Hopefully this phase will pass :)

Some Recent Changes

There have been lots of changes in the last week or so...Willa had her first dentist appointment. She did great, however the dentist was adamant that Willa needed to stop her mimi (pacifier) addiction immediately. This came as no surprise to us, but gave us a good excuse to take away her mimi's during the day. She has been doing much better than expected without her mimi's. 

She was brave until the dentist started lowering the chair back...Willa got scared and said "Daddy, hold you!"

Another big change since we've been back...We converted her crib into a big girl bed. We've gotten a side rail since this picture was taken, so she can't fall out of bed. She is doing great with the new set up. I had delayed making the conversion for a while because I've heard that naps may stop once they could freely get out of bed...BUT she also recently stopped taking her nap, so there's another big change!

Aunt Julie was in town briefly, and we got to spend some time with her. Willa loved having her at our house :)

Willa has been loving riding her bike since we've gotten back. She is getting better each day at pedaling and steering. Daddy insists on the helmet, even in the backyard. 

Also, our landlord painted our white house beige/brown while we were gone. It is funny how much Willa has been affected by this change. Every time we pull into the driveway she complains about the new color saying it looks "yucky". 

Cleveland & Michigan

We have a lot to catch up on! Willa, Eddie and I were in Cleveland spending time with Poppy and Kiki while Daddy was back in LA filming 2 movies. Then Daddy flew out to meet us, and we drove to Michigan to spend time with the Koss Family for a week, then we drove back to Cleveland for a couple of days to hang out, then flew back to LA. So we are finally home after a wonderful few weeks with family. Here are a bunch of pictures from our trip:

Willa with Clara & Pete King. We had a play date at the Bay Village Nature Center.

Fun boat ride on the Rzepka's boat. 

Riding a pinata at Target

Taking a ride with Ryan Miller. Willa and Ryan (son of my good friend, Maureen) had lots of fun play dates. 

On the Beach in Vermillion.

Swinging with Poppy in Vermillion.

 Clifton Beach

The Vernors Queen!

Walking Eddie in the woods behind Poppy and Kiki's house.

Lunch with Mommy at the Pearl of the Orient

Passed out on Kiki

Running around the flag pole at CYC. I remember running around the same flag pole when I was her age!

Dinner on the porch at CYC

Willa had so much fun with Lindsay and Chris. We were so lucky to be there when Lindsay had her beautiful baby, Audrey!

Willa holding a potato bug. She went to the same garden every day in search of potato bugs. She would find one, name it (usually "Pinky" or Boingy" or "Puccio"), and then bring it to a new home.

Holding 2 mating frogs. Yuck. 

It isn't a trip to Cleveland without going to Beardens!

Pine Lake, Michigan. Watching her first fireworks show with Grandma, cousin Kate, and cousin Grant. 

Pine Lake

Willa and her cousins :) This is the best pic I could get. Willa, Grant, Kate, Oliver, and Ben

Willa and cousin Gavin

Willa and Kate planting flowers. They both got HUGE bug bites that later turned into matching swollen eyes. After some trips to the doctor's office, it was confirmed that they would be ok :)

On the raft with Kate and Oliver.