Treetops photo page

Jay loves his Captain Jack Sparrow pirate hat. I had the pleasure of a sailboat voyage with him in command while wearing it.

See more photos at:
http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/Treetops.2006.1.html

Our first week at camp together

We miss Jack!

Sierra at Camp Treetops

Sierra loves the garden. She first focused on raspberries, an old favorite. It's early in berry season, so you have to learn where to look. Sierra knows that the bushes with red gold are near the cows.



She also likes the peas. She eats them raw, in the pod.




It's great to let her run wild at camp, free from the usual worries of parenthood like strangers and cars. Strangers and cars are two things that don't fit camp.

Now she wants to ride the horses.

Fire in the Forge!

Jay's latest thing at camp is making iron things with an old fashioned forge. Alex the counselor helped him master the ancient arts. Soon he'll be making swords and rings of power.

Dad's new CD

JIM SMART: Seven Fathoms His string tinged rock music lets your brain wander the fine line balance between the pain of old timey musicals and the foolish pleasures of acoustic punk rock, with power pop nods to artists like the Kinks, the Decemberists, Wilco, and Nick Drake.

Arrival at Treetops

Shari, Sierra, and I are now at camp. We are staying in the same rooms in Cascade House. Instead of George and David Turner, we live with 4 gigantic dogs. 2 belong to Julia, and 2 to Bill L.

George is doing well, and Senior Camp has a nice tone. The kids are a biit more innocent than last year in general.

Jay seems to be thriving as a Super. He is more interested in socializing with them than us, though he likes a hug a couple of times a day. He has a guitar which has mostly stayed in his tent so far.

We heard that the Supers did a funny but very long skit at the bonfire based on Bob and George. It had something to do with George having to fill big shoes. Ergo, Jay played the part of George, and he wore very very big shoes, or slippers, or something. Anyway, you'd best ask someone who was there if you want to know about it.

Yesterday was the Ironman, with the usual fun scene out at the street. I thought of Lindsay's year. Shari and Sierra were too tired to get up for breakfast, so there's no way she would have made it to the start like that year.

photos of Mammoth Summer

Click Here:

http://web.mac.com/jimsmart1/iWeb/Site/Mammoth%20Summer.html

July 2006 - Sierra and Jim came to Mammoth for a week of fun. Kayaks at Lake Mary, mountain biking and hiking, fabulous flowers, and a gig with friends and their kids. Perfecto!

Dad's new CD

Check it out:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/smart2

Mammoth!

Sierra is in Mammoth, noticing that her name is on a lot of the buildings and signs around here.



We hiked around Lake George. These 4 year old girls were troupers; the adults were challenged, but the girls loved it!



Jay and Jim fight back against the only child syndrome.



Grampa Jim and Sierra have lots of fun sneaking up on people with snowballs and reading stories.



A chatty dinner for three girls who are almost exactly the same age: Ruby, Sierra, Devon, at the Cole's house.

Sierra at Disneyland

Sierra and Dad went to Disneyland with Gramma Jackie. Since we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for 2 nights, we were able to hit the park at 8:00 and do all the rides for 4 year olds in the morning with no waiting, no lines. It was a blast. Then it was hot and crowded, so we napped in the AC of our hotel room before charging the other park, California Disney Adventure:



That park had no lines, so we did all the shows and rides with no waiting again. Sierra loved the Electric Light Parade, resurrected from the 70s, and the Soaring ride where you fly all over California. That park closes at 10:00, so we went back to Disneyland until midnight, then back to the hotel.

Some strange changes were made to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Johnny Depp has been added in three places, peeking out behind barrels or gloating on a pile of treasure: