Finally, Tahoe!

Grandma would be pleased.  The hotels we stayed at all had a hot continental breakfast, so Charley got meat every morning!  This was a typical breakfast...  at least the first couple of days:

The first day she ate THREE pieces of ham and half of her eggs!!!  I was so impressed.  Every day she was less and less interested, however, until by the end I was lucky if she'd eat a few bites of meat OR eggs (never both).  She was downing the fruit though.


While eating breakfast, we'd watch the birds out the window.  She was always excited to point them out.

Since we've lived here, I've really wanted to visit Lake Tahoe.  As we were only about 40 minutes away, I made sure to do it one day.  So, after having breakfast and dropping Rod off at work, we headed out.  We stopped along the way at Galena Rec Area to get the dogs out and take a short hike.

We had to go pretty high to find snow, and apparently, like everywhere else, they're really hurting this year.


The hike was just what everyone needed - the dogs passed out and so did C, which is what MOM needed to get the rest of the way there!


We arrived at Zephyr Cove about lunchtime, bought our boat tickets, and had a leisurely brunch/lunch.  The Zephyr Cove restaurant was a cool little place where I got a FANTASTIC huevos rancheros and sipped some coffee, looking over the lake, while waiting for our tour.  Then it was time!!!

The boat was relatively empty, 3 floors, indoor or outdoor.  We chose a little table on the 2nd floor in the back where we could spread out and relax.  

A nice couple nearby chatted with us and took our pic.

Charley managed to spill water on herself, so we had to do an outfit change!  Aw, mom, you don't have a spare pair of socks???  We'll make do, with babylegs...  glad you had those!

Checking out the paddle wheel

Just readin', relaxin', passin' the day away!

Practicing her walking!

After our 2 hour ride, she slept all the way back to Reno, and we arrived just in time to pick up Rod!  After supper, we decided to check out Scheel's.  Fun times!  (For those at home, it's kind of like a Dick's/Lewis and Clark, Cabela's, Sportsmen's Warehouse - all in one).

Fish!

Prairie Dogs!

And...

Teddy!!!

"Bah!"

"Bah!"

Okay Charley, you asked for it!!!

Sheesh Dad, okay okay!

We became THOSE people - you know, who don't follow directions?

Yep, after Rod took Charley in the playland, we found out adults aren't supposed to go in - oops.

Well, there's only one way out now!

Carson City

While Rod attended conferences, Charley and I entertained ourselves.  Our first day of our vacation, we drove to Carson City, capital of NV. We first went to a library storytime.  


All the other kids sit quietly by their parents and listen.  Not my child!  She wants to play and investigate and crawl around with all the "BAbies!"  To my horror, she worked her way to the front of the crowd, and right up to the storyboard where the librarian was affixing felt letters...  RELIEF!  Just as Charley arrived to begin ripping them down, she finished.  Ah.  Then I got to clean them all up and reorganize them for her once C was done with her destruction!

This little fella was NOT impressed at being referred to as a baby...

Next we went to a Children's Museum - what fun!

She had to put each train on the floor

Uncle Michael, this is the closest I get to flying!

I am NOT a baby!

Tuckered out and ready for a nap

We ate at Chili's - at Rod's request of course.  I packed some food to have for C, for lunches and in case she wouldn't eat what was available, but for the first time we ordered meals for her off the kids' menu.  Tonight's fare?  Chicken fingers and black beans - yum.  

Reno and Sacramento - Off We Go!

Rod had a 3 day meeting in Reno, followed by a weekend then a 2 day meeting in Sacramento.  Usually Charley and I stay behind, because someone has to watch the dogs, but we decided, heck, we should take advantage of some of Rod's job perks, right?  Why couldn't the dogs go along?  So, we loaded ourselves, a baby, and 2 dogs into the Santa Fe and hit the road for 10 days!


We left on a Tuesday - Rod had firefighter training at the north end of Ruby Valley, so I headed out around 3 pm to pick him up at 4.  Here's what the valley looked like on my drive:

It just so happened that Rod had a b-ball game in Elko that night, so we drove the 1 hour more from north RV to Elko - just as C was getting restless - and had supper at Winger's, then on to the game.  Charley had kids to play with and halls to crawl around - a perfect break from the car.

Rod, tearing up the floor

As I was talking to Ben after the game, Charley crawled over and tugged his pant leg.  He looked at me and said, "Do you think she likes me?"  I said of course!  So he scooped her up!


We headed out of town pretty late - good for C, as she slept the whole way - and headed on to Reno, arriving around 2 pm.  Ugh for us!  Stay tuned - more to come!

Grandma/Grandpa Contributions and Crazy Hair

Grandpa got me these pj's - I love to count the footballs on them!

Grandma bought me this "paint"brush

This is pretty much what my hair looks like these days.  No idea why - woke up one morning with a bird's nest and it's a constant companion now...