Where's Walla: June 2015

As I look at these pics it blows my mind that up until a month prior to these pics, little Eden didn't even wear skateboard pads. Really there was no need to. And tonight as I packed the car for our early am skate sesh I almost thought I was gonna have to cancel when I could not find her pads. Now she absolutely could not skate without them. What a difference this month has made. I know that life is all about the ebb and flow. There are periods of growth and stagnation in anything, but this past month has been a crazy period of growth for Eden in terms of skateboarding. And I can't help but wonder if this newer passion of hers will stick. Selfishly I want it to cause watching her skate is one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed, and I'm sure it is just because I am her mom, but really everything about it is so captivating to me. Even the process with which she learns - which requires meticulous repetition, I have not seen anything quite like it. Some days it infuriates me (because she will refuse to try things even when she is more than able), but more and more it just leaves me awestruck. She has a system. She is not fearless, she is calculated. And she progresses into her abilities not with bravery but with talent. Not talent that is raw but talent that has been practiced again and again and again until the move is just right.

When we have time before practice, I take Eden to a parking lot nearby to warm up.

I love the movement and passion these photos capture.

Zion does some pretty radical jumps with his scooter these days. I've nerver really been able to capture it, but trust me, it happens.

Learning to drop in

Practicing kick turns

Eden's dear friend and our neighbor Bodhi

I'm kind of obsessed with this picture of Eden's friend Nick for some reason..this guy has been one of Eden's very favorite people this summer. It's been fun to get to know him and his family...

I really like this one too.

One day Eden said she wanted to go down this ramp. It was out of nowhere. Nobody suggested it - I'm not really sure where she came up with it except that maybe she wanted to do it cause Zi had been doing it.

Here she is going down it. She was super brave and ate it pretty badly and was subsequently scared of it for a couple lessons after. But her teacher featured this picture on his instagram account which got a lot of likes and even got a comment from Eden's skateboarding hero Sabre Norris, and that made Eden feel pretty happy.

Here goes Nick's first attempt. Eden and Nick really push each other...

After a few lessons of being scared of it, the big wave became her favorite thing in the world. Lately we can not get her to concentrate on class, she just wants to go down this thing 100 times, over and over.

And up the other side - only to go back down again...

And then back up..

Getting up this ramp isn't easy. It's slippery and steep and in the early days of this move it often required lots of teamwork.

Nick

I love this of Eden going down and Zion going up - it really captures the system they get into.

By the end of the month she was dropping in all on her own.

This was our hardest trip with the kids to date. I won't get into all the gory details - except to say that it was hard and we worked through it. And as with anything, there were of course shining moments to each and every day - despite the difficulties. The rest of the story will be told through the pictures.

On an explore at the shore of Lake Mary while Jon and Eden set up camp.

It was extremely windy the day we arrived. Here Zi is holding onto this bush so as not to blow away in a wind gust.

First night at the campfire. All is well.

Day 2

Skate Park

We discovered the Mammoth Skatepark for the first time this trip. It was an absolute game changer and became the place that we spent nearly every morning at.

Swing!

Rock Creek

Such an incredible spot and we had such a fun afternoon here - despite everyone being tired and in a bit of a funk.

Zi getting his face as close to the water as he can in order to see the fish.

We came back from rock jumping and Eden started reeling in her fishing pole before Jon and I had a chance to catch up. She was screaming: 'I have a fish! I have a fish!!!'. We didn't really believe her and then there it was - her fish, that she caught completely on her own. She was so proud and we were all so proud of her. It ended up being the only fish of the trip, and it was delicious!

This friendly little butterfly was eating it's lunch while we were at the creek behind the lake. As long as we had wet hands it would happily climb aboard our awaiting palm. Such incredible joy she brought!

Sharing the butterfly...

The weather was so nice this trip - with such little wind, that we got to go on a lot of family paddles. Here we are paddling across rock creek lake.

First day the kids were wiped! Both napping in the car on the way home. An unprecedented start to a trip - no wonder we were having behavioral problems! They were tired from the start!

Evening Bike Rides at Camp

Before we left on this trip Zi was unsteady on his peddle bike at best. By the end of the trip he was doing over 5 mile (downhill) rides - starting and stopping all on his own! With all the attention surrounding Eden these days, from moving on to Kindergarten, going on a solo trip with mom, and getting fancy skateboarding lessons this was just the boost he needed right when he needed it. It made my heart sore to see him master this craft. Now he is fond of telling us that he wants to sell his scooter because he can ride his big boy bike now.

The kids loved playing chicken with Zi on his bike and somehow they even suckered Jon into this game of theirs.

Jon and Eden reversed the game and started charging Zi when he least expected it.

Day 3

Skate Park Morning

Tuolumne Meadows

Marmot beside the rock on the left - highlight to our day!

This is one of our favorite little swimming holes anywhere. Jon and I used to come here after long days of climbing. It was really fun to share it with the kids and see them enjoy it as we do.

Day 4

Fishing Lake Mary & George

June Lake

Bike Ride to the Village

Zion's first time down the hill on his peddle bike!

When Zi got down to the Village his was in full fledge celebration mode over his accomplishment!

Day 5

Lake Mary Paddle

The kids found a dead fish on the shore of the lake. These are all the pieces they extracted from it.

Horseshoe Flats/Robin Hood Forest

With Anna's wedding fresh in her mind, Eden was very into flower picking and arranging on this trip. Here she asked Jon to stop lowering her so she could access some flowers on the way down this climb.

Robin Hood's Fort

Hanging out before our 'fancy' dinner in town at Gomez'.

Day 6

Tuolumne Meadows

Eden was more into taking pictures than climbing - which did not bum me out at all. It's maybe my very favorite thing in the world to see her with a camera in her hands. Next five pics were taken by Eden.

Photographer's perch.

On the way into Tuolumne, Eden had said that she wanted to see a frog that day. When we got to this climbing area and found this frog it was like her wish was granted!

While Eden was picking and tending to flowers Zion was obsessed with catching bugs on the river. He put in some serious time and ended up with a dragonfly and some other bug which he called a 'hopper'. And I would like to happily report that no insects were injured or killed in his escapades.

Dragonfly kisses

I got away for a paddle while Jon and the kids played in the river and the lake. Such a trip to be on that water looking out at all those rocks that Jon and I had climbed all those years ago. Such a different season of life which in some ways seems so much more luxurious than that life past. I miss the dirt, the sweat and occasional tears. But I absolutely can not complain. This life is wonderful too. And I can already see that one day I will miss these days oh so very much.

Wildflowers on the other side of the lake - I took this pic for Eden.

Drink it in Zi!

And just like that playtime is over (:

Someone free soloing a hard route on the dome. A route Jon and I have actually always had our eye on. Would have been nice to watch this up close.

Lundy Lake

We were looking for Virginia lakes - took a wrong turn and came across this little gem. We didm;t catch any fish but we had plenty of fun!

Where else have I seen this face....?

Zi took an interest in paddling for the first time this trip. I remember Eden was right about his age when she really got the hang of it. Seems like he still has a long way to go but it's fun to see him show some interest.

Day 7

Pre skateboarding donuts

Skatepark - Last Morning

If you've talked to me recently surely you have heard me bring up Eden's 'skateboarding attitude' which we have been working through with her lately. It's kind of hard to describe. But it looks a bit like this.

And this...

Zi started getting a little crazy at the skatepark. Going high on the wall with his scooter.

First time dropping in all on her own!

The skatepark also features this. Zi could have stayed and watched this all day!

June Lake

We were super lucky to have an incredible last morning at June lake. It was super glassy and Eden paddled all the way from one long end of the lake to the other. As we headed back the wind began to pick up - luckily in our favor and pushed us all the way back to our beach.