Jawbone Canyon

This past weekend we had the opportunity to meet some friends of ours (the Cubre's) in Jawbone Canyon for a weekend camping trip. David and Ryan Booth and their families were also there as well as some of their friends. It was a lot of fun. (I know, big surprise that the Blaufuss's had fun on a camping trip! Lol.) The weather was beautiful even though it was pretty windy at times - but what else would you expect in a dessert canyon. The boys loved all of the quads and dirt bikes that were around and the fact that Daddy was able to take them for rides on borrowed quads! Cammie actually loved that stuff as much as the boys did. Anytime one of the guys would rev up one of their loud engines Cammie would light up. She wanted to crawl around and check them all out, but Mommy wouldn't let her. Soon enough she'll be going on rides with Daddy just like her brothers.

Here is a picture I took of the canyon. So pretty!

Everything was so beautiful! This was the view from our trailer. It was amazing to wake up to this every morning.

Quad Rides!!!

Here is Gregg coming down a Giant hill climb just outside of our camp sight.It really was huge, only three of the guys were brave enough to try it.

A bunch of riders were getting ready to take off on a ride together. It was windy so Cameron and I were hiding out in the trailer. She was glued in front of the screen door watching everyone and listing to the bikes. She kept pointing out the door and telling me "More, more!" It cracks me up that my sweet little girl is so enthralled with that kind of thing!

We put a large piece of carpet in the back of Gregg's pick up. It made a perfect "red neck" playpen for Cammie so that she didn't have to be down in the dirt or in the trailer all weekend. She loved it - and so did everyone else. Gregg and the boys and I spent just as much time laying around back there.

We took the kids for a little hike up one side of the canyon where there were some big rocks to sit on and a little waterfall see.

There was patches of purple and yellow flowers everywhere.

After the hike Kyle was a little tuckered out.

I can't emphasize enough how beautiful I thought everything was. I can't wait to go back someday soon!

Fire Staion No. 5

Our very good friend Matt (or Uncle Matt as he's commonly referred to by the boys) is a Firefighter here in Bakersfield. On Sunday we decided to go over to his station for a visit. We've taken the boys before, but that was almost 2 years ago.
On the way over the kids all fell asleep in the car so they were a little reserved when we got there, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. ;-)
Kyle loves anything "fireman" related and tells me all the time that he wants to drive the firetruck like Uncle Matt when he grows up, so we knew he'd get a kick out of seeing all the real equipment.
Matt was awesome! He showed us the whole station, let the boys climb up into the truck, and even took us all for a ride. Then he got the big hose out and let the kids hold it (with Daddy's help) while he turned on the water. The boys even got to climb into the driver seat and blow the air horn before we left.
Very cool!

Carter and Kyle in the truck going for a ride around the block.

Kyle kept falling out of the seat when Matt would turn or hit the breaks.

This was right after he woke up, he was a little groggy, but loved every minute of it.

Here is Uncle Matt showing the boys how to work the hose.

Kyle decided to take control and hose down the whole parking lot.

Carter was much more interested in how it worked.

Cammie's turn.

She got so dirty crawling around that we literally had to hose her off with the fire hose.

Pulling the air horn!

Kyle did the air horn and then decided he wanted to do the regular one too.

The boys each sat on the front of one of the trucks, Carter on the Engine and Kyle on the Rig (the smaller truck.)

So much fun for the boys! A big thank you to Uncle Matt for showing us around.

It's Spring in the Valley

I love all the beautiful flowers and blossoms that come in the spring. I have a tendency to just drive around and look at them all. The other day the kids and I drove out to some orchards 10 minutes or so from our house . There were blossoms as far as the eye could see. I couldn't resist pulling over and taking a few pictures.

~SO Beautiful!~

No More Kisses for You!

Ah...the games we play to get affection from our growing boys. Kyle is our snuggler, but as he gets older it's getting harder and harder to pin him down so I can kiss and squeeze him. I have had to resort to reverse psychology and say things like, "I'm too busy for loves right now so do Not come over here and give me a kiss." Or "You're stinky stay over there because I do NOT want hugs!" Always with a smile and it usually works. Gregg's Mom Kathy visited this past month and she came up with a great game to get some kisses from the little guy, (well I don't actually know how the game evolved, but I love it.) He would stand in front of her and scold, "No more kisses for YOU" pointing his finger. She in turn would pout, and he'd give in with a big smooch! Then he'd run off and start the little scenario all over again. She must have gotten 500 kisses while she was here!

No More Kisses for You

Okay you can have one!

I can get him to play it with me every now and then, but I guess it's just not the same if it's not with Grandma B.

Birthday Cake!

Here are the "Cake Eating" pictures from Cammie's birthday party.

The Before picture

"Is this for me?"

Blowing out the candle with a little help from Mom.

First taste!

Enough of this tasting business, I want a bite!

Yum!

Carter and Jackson couldn't take the torture of not having any

for one more moment and had to grab a taste themselves.

Sugar High!

The damage she caused.

I think she liked it!

Aw, sweet little face!

Cammie's Polka Dot Princess Party

For Cammie's 1st birthday we did a "Polka Dot Princess" themed party. It was very small. Family and a couple close friends. She seemed to enjoy the attention and playing with her cousins. She had to nap in the middle of things, between cake and opening gifts, because all of the excitement wore her out. She was a ball of energy after her 30 minute power nap. It was fun to hang out with family from Fresno and celebrate our little princess's first birthday.

Cammie in her Birthday outfit!

I'll admit the bow was a little over the top.

It only lasted a little while.

Cammie's cake, (obviously.)

Everyone else got cupcakes, (they're much easier to make.)

The decor.

Except for the streamers, 1, and 2 princess balloons

everything was left over from Valentine's Day. Perfect!

Cammie and Grandma B watching the big kids in the bounce house.

Cammie played in it for a while, but as the storm moved in she needed to be held to keep warm.

Cammie wasn't very interested in opening gifts as she had just been yanked out of bed.

Here she is escaping while Mommy and her brothers finished opening them for her.

She opted to play with her cousin Tanner instead.

Uncle Chris was here so of course the night couldn't end without Pony Rides for the boys...

...and a dog pile!

It was a nice day, and our last birthday party for a long long time, like until she turns 16! ;-)

(Cake pictures to come in our next post)