Fun Weekend Adventures

It was HOT and sunny all weekend, so we made the most of it and spent some time exploring around the area.  On Saturday (after I decided to do significant damage to the bumper of our new car by cutting it too close backing out of the garage...GRRRRR), we drove up to Mirror Lake north of Eagle River to check out the sights.  It was packed and people were even swimming!

Olive wasn't too sure about the lake, but Ripley loved it.  

She got excited once she discovered throwing pebbles.

This is about how far she made it into the water.

After the lake, we went to the store to buy Olive a helmet that fits her (it's the "universal youth" size which is supposed to fit school aged children, so that's awesome) so she could ride her bike outside. She pushed it around the driveway a bit and then enjoyed making me push her around in the yard. My back hurts.

On Sunday we drove up to Girdwood to go hiking.  We actually didn't decide to stop in Girdwood until we were almost there as we were headed to Portage, but we thought it could be a fun change of pace.

We tried to do this hike in the winter, but it was super icy and I forgot my boot spikes, so we didn't make it far.  The hike starts just behind the lodge at the Alyeska resort where the ski lifts begin.

The hike is mostly flat, really well maintained, and full of scenery you don't get much in Anchorage because the trees are SO much bigger in Girdwood.  The hike actually goes through the northern most rainforest in North America!

Olive really likes the new backpack we got at REI during the sale this year.  Totally worth the money for her (and us!) to be more comfortable.  I didn't really notice the extra weight too much yesterday, but I am really sore in the legs today. Good workout!

Talkin' about fireweed.

Ripley liked the creek at the beginning.

In awe of nature.  I love it!

After a bit in the pack, she wanted to get out and walk around.  Or just twirl a little.

Big trees!

Exploring the forest.

It's fun to stomp on the boardwalks!

While the hike is mostly in dense forest, there were some clearings with really pretty views.  It rains a lot in Girdwood (rainforest) so it was so nice to enjoy a sunny day there.  This reminds me a lot of the Olympic Peninsula in WA (also full of rainforest).

After about 2 miles. we finally reached the creek.  There's a bridge that I'm not sure you're supposed to use.  We opted out and stuck to the trail.

Ripley braved the water for a drink.

We continued along the trail and got to a cute little bridge that passed over a waterfall.

On our hike I said it looked like a Disney-designed waterfall.  The rocks and moss and everything looked almost fake - just too perfect and beautiful - as if someone asked a set designer to make a forested waterfall for a movie.  This is Winner Creek.

At the end (of the hike we did anyway) we came to a big canyon with a hand tram crossing the river. If you feel brave, you can get into a tiny metal cage and ride to the other side.  They had a couple guys there helping pull people back and forth, but Ann has done this hike a lot in the past and said that usually you have to do it yourself.  I think the guys were there because it was pretty busy and it would take some people forever to get themselves across. The pictures do not do it justice...it's pretty scary in person.  I definitely would not do it with Olivia on my back.  A bunch of people at the tram thought we'd also try to take Ripley across, which is just mean considering it's literally a metal cage with a mesh floor.  Below is Glacier Creek.

After you cross the gorge, you can walk another mile or so and connect to the place where we went gold panning with Nick and Miranda a few years back at Crow Creek.  Lots of fun things to do in Girdwood!

On the way back, I got pretty tired of carrying the backpack, mostly because I was sweaty, but I did get invigorated after seeing this vaguely obscene tree burl.  Olivia was not impressed.

After the hike and the 30 minute drive home, Olivia took an awesome nap and when she woke up she helped me bake banana bread!  Check out the adorable outfit/gear my parents got her for her birthday. Anytime I ask her to help me do anything in the kitchen now she has to get her stuff on.

Setting up ingredients...

Helping mom measure.

She was really patient, which is not the norm for her.  I was so proud! She even mixed everything.

The bread is delicious.  I forgot to get pictures before we hacked into it, but Olivia has been excited to have a new treat around the house and I'm happy I got rid of my many frozen black bananas.

TWO!

I know I haven't posted in forever, but we just had a momentous occasion in this house, so I decided to get back on the horse.  We have a TWO YEAR OLD! 

On Friday Olive turned two.  How did this happen?  I feel like I was just pregnant yesterday! 

We celebrated with a party last weekend.  We couldn't celebrate it on the day because nobody was going to be in town for the holiday weekend, and here we thought we spared her the holiday conflict by having her in the middle of the summer.  Sorry kid...I still win in the crappy birthday department.  

We celebrated Olive's birthday by spending all day cleaning our house, then inviting everyone we knew to our house to destroy it.  The day was so hectic we forgot to put out half the food.  It was perfect. 

Gabrielle was my right hand woman and helped take care of the little kids.  She exclaimed on no fewer than 10 occasions that Olivia was "adorable but exhausting."  She should write a parenting book.

Andy invited his coworkers over who have an almost one year old.  It's hard to believe Olive was this size last year!

Jaxson and his parents came over.  Jaxson turned two a few weeks ahead of Olive so he has been showing her how to live life as a big kid.  They did a great job of destroying the house together.

Renee and Allen.  Childless.  They had the best time at the party by far because they only had to worry about themselves and they also got a serious dose of free birth control out of it.  Renee was impressed with my picture of Marni and George on my fridge and was impressed I know more than one black person.

Cupcakes! I decorated them myself and then overdid it with the candles.

Olive was dying for the cupcakes.  Paula, easily Olive's favorite non-relative adult, did a great job of psyching her up for the candle blowing.

She got a couple herself!

And then she ran around like a maniac eating frosting.

Party hats and blurry kids climbing on my furniture.

Then it was time for the pinata! Olive had a total meltdown when we bought it at the store because she was instantly obsessed with it.  I was worried that she wouldn't want to break it, but as soon as we handed her the stick she was so happy to smack it.

Jaxson is a calm child.  He basically tapped it and walked away.  I love that kid.

AJ went for it...

Gabrielle eventually knocked it down and we busted it open.

Olivia was so surprised there was candy!

AND THEN SHE DID THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER...she kept one candy bar for herself and gave the rest to Julia.  I cried a little.  Mostly because I was proud and also because she is never that nice to me.

 

Butterfly down!

The party was awesome but I understand why most of the people we know throw their kids' parties somewhere other than their houses.  Next year we're totally going to Chuck E Cheese. 

Oh, and this happened in the middle of the party.  I told you Allen had the best time.  

For Olive's actual birthday on Friday, we FINALLY let her open the presents from Andy's parents that have been teasing her for weeks now.

She got a ferry just like the one we ride to Bainbridge!

And these awesome "paper" dolls made from fabric that she can dress herself.  This will be ideal for our planned road trips and plane rides this summer!

Andy and I got her a balance bike which she immediately demanded to be pushed on all over the house.

Andy's parents also got her a tutu which she wore on her bike.  Nice look! Oh, and I got her a bike helmet, but her head is too big for it, so we have to send it back and get her a new one.  Until then, the bike stays inside. 

and we also got her a Brio train set.  If anyone is looking for any more presents for any event for the next several years, please send track.  She LOVES her train and gets annoyed that I don't make the track big enough.

On Saturday, we went to Seward for the day.  We turned her car seat around and she was loving the view.  We enjoyed seeing how she chose to sit for most of the trip. I think she's used to sitting like this because the car seat was too cramped for her long legs facing backwards.  Poor kid!

Just like last year when we went for her birthday, the weather was awesome!

Olivia was very engaged at the SeaLife Center this year!

...but a little freaked out by the birds being so close.

She loved watching the seals though.

Especially in the underground tank.  I love this one of the sea lion coming to visit her!

After the SeaLife Center, we hit a local cafe where we could eat outside and she decided to eat nothing but chips and what she decided was "dip" but was really just mayonnaise.  Enjoy that metabolism while it lasts, kid! 

We kept the celebration going all weekend by attending the parade downtown.  She was more adorable than anything else there.  Check out the outfit Andy's mom bought her.  I have been waiting all summer to put her in this! 

She spent a lot of time on our shoulders/in our arms.  Parades are a little overwhelming.

Andy was loving those flags in his face/ears all day.

When the people walked by with the dogs, she demanded Ripley's leash and she tried to join in.  Not so fast!

And then in the afternoon we kept the public cuteness going with a quick trip to check out the botanical gardens.  Are you dying of cuteness yet??

The peonies were awesome!

Olive found a bunny that was better than any flower.  We need to get some yard critters.  

So, we officially have a two year old.  She's busy...all the time.  I always say this when I haven't blogged for awhile, but I'm not blogging frequently because she sucks all of the energy out of me, though I mean that in a really (mostly) good way.  

She's such an amazing little person with (a ton of) opinions, a silly sense of humor, an intense love for books, and incredible curiosity about the world.  She is constantly talking - pointing out the world around her and she's even started with questions (she can be often heard asking "WHERE ARE YOU?!" or "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" and I can only imagine that the always-beloved "WHY?" is right around the corner).  She still has no patience, and I totally blame Andy for that one.  

I took about six million pictures of her playing on Monday. I couldn't get enough of her outfit and she was also way into playing and was ignoring me and the camera, which was rare. 

 She is counting into the teens and can mostly say her ABCs, but it's more the tune than the actual letters (lellemmennoo PEEEEEEEE) and she recognizes some letters by sight, especially O, for "OWIVVIA." She has also recently taken a great interest in potty training and is probably about 70% on the mark with remembering to let us know when she has to go.  If it wasn't for all the flushing and hand washing though, I don't think she would care as much.

We are still going to gymnastics and she is suddenly in an awesome phase where she refuses to do a single thing unless the teacher is watching her, which she ensures by yelling "TEACHER!" as loud as she can across the room until the poor teacher acknowledges her.  

The bunny sits HERE! And he eats corn!

She is really into dinosaurs, rainbows, and butterflies right now, and Jaxson is her best friend - look at this picture of the two of them from the end of the birthday party. It's so perfect. This is the crash that comes after two cupcakes and a fun sized candy bar.

She is shy around most new people, but she loves her daycare teachers, which is really awesome, and for some reason today she was SUPER into the doctor...something new for her.

At our two year appointment today, she measured in at 36.25" (96th percentile!), 28 lbs (78th percentile) and her head is still way off the charts (not surprising that helmet, which I sized up and got the "3-4 year old" size) was still way too small.  The doctor said she's perfectly healthy and commented on her awesome verbal skills, which made us very proud.

Happy Birthday, little pickle! We can't wait to see what the future brings for you!