Vuksinick Family Campout 2011

Two days after Sawyer and I flew home, we headed off for the annual Vuksinick family campout for the weekend in Huntington canyon. I look forward to this camping trip every year. We just hang out and catch up with all our extended family. We also have a horseshoe tournament each time.


This year since Abby was very pregnant and Shane was still in Tahoe we did the 'sort of' camping stay. We slept in the Huntington hotel at nights, but spent the rest of the time at the campground. I LIKE this kind of camping. All the fun, but none of the cold/wet tents! Abby and I think it would be convenient if one of us were pregnant each year so we could 'sort of' camp every time! 


We spent lots of time talking to everyone and finding out what they've been up to. We always assign out the meals, so we ate super well while we were there! Then on Saturday afternoon we played the annual horseshoe tournament. So fun! This year I was partners with my grandpa (Pops). He is such a fun and loving grandpa. We beat out the team in the first round. Then we had to play Anton and Max, who had already won two games. We actually beat them too by quite a bit, I was amazed! But they weren't out because of an odd number of teams. So to finish up, the last three teams all had to play each other. To take the gold, you had to win twice. Anton and Max beat the other team, so Pops and I had to play them again. This time we weren't so lucky. But we did come close, losing 18 to 21. In the end Anton and Max won first place. Pops and I took home second! That's the best I've ever done. I also got to bring home a trophy!! Impressive, I know.


Sawyer had so much fun camping. He could have played in the dirt all day long. He also loved walking around on his newly working legs. But because the ground was so uneven, he mostly walked with someone's hand. He also loved eating s'mores for the first time! We camp at a place called the Big Rock because it really does have a HUGE rock sitting there. So of course Sawyer needed his picture on top of the rock. Uncle Anton was nice enough to climb up and take Sawyer for his first Big Rock picture. It was a really fun trip and I can't wait for next year!

 Look at that growing belly!

 Pops taking Sawyer for a walk.

 Pops and Gram

 Abby being score keeper because she couldn't play.

Anton and Sawyer (and Sophie) on the Big Rock.

My horseshoe prize. It says 1st place, but really I won 2nd.

Last time to play in the dirt while we loaded up.

Cali Continued

Next we hit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park with mom and Anton. We decided to try it out instead of the regular zoo. It was pretty cool and full of lots of roaming animals. We took a little tram ride through the main areas, then we explored the exhibits. We went into a bird area with Lorikeets just flying around. You could feed them nectar and they would just land on your wrist to drink it. But we just watched other people do that. It was really fun though because the birds weren't afraid of us. Sawyer really liked seeing them up close.

Sawyer's favorite part of the Safari Park was the petting area. They have several deer-type animals in there that are very docile. He just wandered from one animal to the next petting them and saying Kiddy-Kiddy (which is what he calls my parent's cat.) We'll have to work on that with him! He was very sad/angry to leave that part. Lastly, we finished up with Sawyer's first taste of cotton candy. Yum! Then we had to drop Grammie and Anton off at the airport so they could head home.

As we continued on our trip we went to Shane's friend's wedding. Did a little dancing with Sawyer. Congrats Rob and Kelly!

After that we made the crazy windy (as in the road, not the air blowing) drive up to Yosemite National Park. I had never been there and it was sort of on our way, so we decided it would be fun to stop by for a day. It is definitely beautiful! We lugged Sawyer around in a baby hiking backpack and he actually did pretty well. We ate some lunch, then hiked up to see the nature center and Mirror Lake, which isn't so reflective. We stopped for a yummy snack. Then we finished with a hike to the lower waterfalls. It is an amazing site! But poor Sawyer was so tired by then that he was falling asleep sitting up in the baby backpack. As I got my camera out to take a few pictures, his head lolled right to the side, so I had to catch it!

 Half Dome right behind them

Lastly, we drove to Lake Tahoe to enjoy our last day out. I forgot our camera when we went to the lake, so Shane took a few pictures on his phone. But Sawyer did much better at the lake than the beach. He warmed up to the water pretty quickly, then sat down where the water came up and threw handfuls of sand for about 20 minutes! Oh the joys of a one year old. Sawyer and I then flew home from Reno for a family camping trip while Shane stayed to enjoy Tahoe with his cousins. Sawyer did really well on his first airplane ride! Overall we had a very fun and happy trip!

14 Months & Some Cali

Sawyer turned 14 months right as we headed off to California. Shane had a friend getting married down there, so we decided to make it into a vacation! I took just a few quick pictures of Sawyer on his 14 month day.

We have been having lots of fun in Cali so far. Sawyer has taken his first trip to the beach and gone to the Happiest Place on Earth! The beach was not such a happy place for him. He hated the way the sand stuck to him, he didn't like the water racing up the shore, or the fact that it was so cold. Eventually, after some snacks and many calming words, he did warm up a bit.

 This face says it all!

 Mom and Anton

 Little feet trying to get off the sand

After snacks and talking...

The next two days we spent in Disneyland. For those of you who don't know me very well, that is my VERY FAVORITE place to be. Just ask Shane (he claims this is our 5th trip there in 7 years of marriage!) But I'm not counting! Since we had Sawyer this time, I knew it would be a different experience. But surprisingly, he could go on many of the rides. He went on some kiddie rides like Pinocchio, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Winnie the Pooh. But he also went on the Teacups, It's a Small World, Buzz's Astro Blasters, Haunted Mansion, Toy Story Mania, the Carousel twice, and Pirate's of the Caribbean twice! The drops on that were a little scary for him though. He loved the Carousel the best and grinned his little head off. We were also able to use the Baby Switch program with the help of my mom and Anton. It is great for riding the bigger rides. Overall, we had a FANTASTIC trip to Disneyland. I will be posting more about our trip later when we get home. Adios!