Camp Sherman 2017

No sooner had Audrey and Kate unpacked their suitcases from their Alaskan adventure then it was time to repack them for a trip to Camp Sherman for the annual Gutzler family gathering. After soaking up plenty of screen time on the car ride down, they got settled into their Lake Creek Lodge cabin (#13 again this year), met up with the full complement of Gutzler/Taylor/Williamson cousins, then headed over to the "food house" for a delicious dinner prepared by Mark and Sharon (one of their last, as Mark and Sharon later announced they would be hanging up their Camp Sherman chef hats).

This year's camp theme was "Harry Potter." Sharon secured some Harry Potter robes, wands, necklaces, and glasses for the kids, and mixed up some butterbeer and provided a pinata in the form of a Golden Snitch. Audrey worked with Dad to prepare a series of Harry Potter-themed activities the kids participated in over several days: a Sorting Hat ceremony; a game of Quidditch utilizing pool-noodle "brooms;" a "torchlight" march to "Lake Hogwarts" (the fishing pond); a taste-testing of gillywater (mint water), butterbear, and pumkin juice; and a potions class in which they made Felix Felicis (glitter slime) and Tiger's Eye (a customized potion created with random ingredients harvested by the kids). Audrey served as "Head Girl," explaining Harry Potter to those who hadn't read the books. Aunt Marcia added to the fun with rock-coloring, shirt-making, and rootbeer-tasting activities.

Aquatics featured prominently this trip. The kids spent a good portion of each day in the swimming pool. They also hiked along the Metolius River to check out the old family cabin and the nearby swimming hole, stopping for ice cream at the Camp Sherman store on the way back. They made good use of Lake Creek, catching fish, crawdads, and insect nymphs; taking a short creek walk; and floating down the creek on pool floaties. Audrey and Mom went to Suttle Lake one morning so that Audrey could try stand-up paddle-boarding (she enjoyed it, despite the windy conditions).

On the last night, the kids enjoyed s'mores and sprinting. On Friday Audrey and Kate said their goodbyes and headed home, dropping Kate off at a friend's bounce-house birthday party in Beaverton on the way.

Kate gets a library card

After watching Audrey's piano recital, Audrey and Kate had some time to kill before a play they were going to see ("The Little Mermaid" at the Northwest Children's Theater), so they stopped by the Northwest Portland branch of the library, where Kate applied for and received her own library card.

Ice cream treat

Audrey and Kate and their cousin Lily went for a bike ride to the library this afternoon. Afterwards, they took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a warm-weather treat in February by getting ice cream at Baskin Robbins.

Reading buddy

Audrey practices her reading by reading a Barbie story to Kate. As often happens with the girls and books, they spend a good chunk of time negotiating which of the characters in the book they wish they could be.

Borrowing privileges

Audrey signed up for and received her own Multnomah County library card this afternoon.

LEGO Outing

Audrey went to a LEGO exposition at the Oregon Convention Center with Dada and Honey Grandpa today. It was a showcase of original designs by LEGO fans of various ages. Some of Audrey's favorites included a spider, a model of a Lady Gaga concert, a city pool, and a mechanical contraption that raised balls to the top of a tower and then dropped them into a box. She bought a space-girl minifig with her own money, and Dada got her a LEGO Friends book.

Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Audrey's school celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday today. They read Dr. Seuss books, got a visit from the Cat in the Hat, and made Dr. Seuss hats.

Audrey's Birthday/Valentine's Day

There was much excitement and many sugar-laden treats for both Audrey and Kate today. Audrey, as the birthday girl, was feted at both home and school, and she and Kate both enjoyed Valentine's Day festivities.

In the morning, Audrey opened a few birthday presents, and both girls opened Valentine's Day gifts containing matching dresses, which they both later wore to school. For breakfast they had a sin dawg and scrambled eggs.

Both girls handed out Valentines at school and received Valentines from their school friends in return. Audrey got to wear a birthday crown all day, and the principal paid a special visit to her classroom to give her a birthday card. Mama volunteered in Audrey's classroom in the morning, then stayed for lunch (Audrey "bought" lunch -- pizza -- for Mama with her meal card) and recess before heading to work. Then Dada came to school at the end of the day to hang out with Audrey for the class Valentine's Day party. Audrey decorated and ate a cookie, and looked through the Valentines she had received. On the way home from school, she picked up a birthday gift from her friends Charlie and Finley.

Dada and Audrey then went to pick up Kate, after which the girls opened some Valentine's cards from Honey and Honey Grandpa and a Cinnabon gift box from Grandpa Dave, which had arrived on their doorstep during the day. Then the girls went to pick up Mama from work and go out for Audrey's birthday dinner. She picked a Vietnamese restaurant that's a family favorite, and which the girls call "the chicken noodle soup place." After the family arrived back home, Audrey opened a few more presents and (with Kate) enjoyed one more treat, a chocolate "love bug" from Moonstruck Chocolate (in lieu of a birthday cake).

Urban adventurers

Cousins Lily and Cora joined Audrey and Kate for a "staycation" this past weekend at a hotel in the Riverplace/South Waterfront part of Portland. Audrey and Kate got to the hotel and back and everywhere in between using only public transit (although with a big assist from the Taylors, who kindly transported bags to and from the hotel in GG's car). Unusually nice February weather, a free room upgrade from a one-bedroom to a two-bedroom suite, the convenience of the Portland Streetcar, and lots of play time with Lily contributed to a pleasant and fun trip. The girls particularly liked having a TV in their bedroom, the swimming pool, and eating Fruit Loops and chocolate muffins for breakfast.

On Saturday morning, everyone ventured out to explore the Riverplace shops and marina briefly, then rode the streetcar to the Central Library for story time. Then it was back to the hotel for a swim while Lily napped. The water in the pool was on the cold side, which didn't seem to bother Audrey and Kate as much as it did Mama and Dada, who tried to stay in the hot tub as much as they could. 

After an ordered-in lunch and rest time, the girls met up with Lily and her sister and parents again and headed out on the streetcar for a ride on the Portland Aerial Tram. They were joined by Grandpa Dave. The Tram was almost shutting down for the day, so the girls had only a short time to admire the view and the reflection garden at OHSU before riding back down. Then it was back on the streetcar for a short trip to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner.

On Sunday morning, after breakfast, it was back to the pool and hot tub. Afterwards, Audrey and Kate and Lily took a bath together, then had some lunch while their parents packed up. Audrey and Kate said goodbye to their cousins, and headed back towards home. On the way, they stopped at Pioneer Place to get a birthday dress for Audrey, and Kate picked out a cute hat to wear.