Josh, 9 years and 4 months

Today Facebook reminded me of this post, a snap shot in time of Josh at 16 months, so I thought it would be fun to check in with Josh 8 years later... using the similar questions.

• Weights over 70lbs
• Eats just about anything, but doesn't like peanut butter, brussel sprouts or brocollini
• Prefers to scooter to school, but loves riding his bike and only walks slowly when asked to clean something
• Obsessed with video games and watching youtube, sleeps with a donut pillow
• Interested in skiing, Kuk Sool and reading
• Has figured out to 180 mute grab on skis
• Very vocal, opinionated and happy to share his thoughts, has learned a wicked sense of humor from watching The Simpsons
• Tolerant of his brother, shares his room with him reluctantly
• Loves playing outside
• Loves reading, just finished The Unwanted, Book 7, Island of Dragons, about to start the new Percy Jackson Trials of Apollo, the Dark Prophecy
• Still loves climbing, was always game for a hike during ski season, happy to climb up trees.
• Still likes legos
• Favorite songs Ring of Fire, Take Back the Night and doesn't really listen to much music.
• Has all his teeth, recently got 4 cavities.
• Recently participated in a Soduko Challenge, continued testing for his Kuk Sool Black belt (4 more to go out of 12), currently about a Bear in Cub Scouts.
• Doesn't like showering and would prefer to wear the same clothes day after day.
• Favorite ice cream flavor is cookie dough or milky way. 

Erin, April 2017

I have to let go how "behind" I am on the family blog, the trips, the every day moments, the Campground... it all exists, but it's not documented here.  I was thinking of the posts that I've written about the boys' birthdays over the years, a brief snapshot of where they are at that time in their life.  So with this recent photo of me by my friend Lenka I thought I should share where I am, at this moment in time.

• After 6 plus years of working at the desk at the Outside Inn 1/2 the week, I gave up my office hours and no longer have scheduled hours at the motel.  
• While my work load hasn't decreased, I'm looking at 2017 as a year to help grow both businesses and really want to be able to step back from some of the day to day operation and focus my energy on big picture projects.
• I started a small side business of social media business coaching and am teaching another class about Instagram at the end of the month.
• I still teach a monthly card class to a fabulous group of ladies who inspire and encourage me (and I love that the group ranges in age from 7-70) and I make greeting cards in the wee hours of the morning when most of the world is sleeping.
• I am loyal to my workout buddies at 6am Monday-Friday.
• My word of the year is breathe.
• My current goal is to stop working 7 days a week.
• I'm in awe of the milestones this year will bring, 15 years of marriage, 1st birthday for the Inn Town Campground, Ben's 12th birthday and Dan and I both turning 40.
• I'm off on a solo campout this week, last year I slept in a tent by myself for the first time in my adult life (and once I did it once, I ended up sleeping in the tent by myself on several occasions), but this week I'm going on a solo overnight in the van.
• I still can't hear and accept that my hearing issues influence many aspects of my world.
• I still find joy in taking photos and while I tend to take mostly photos for work, on occasion I capture the family, but it is nice to have had someone take a photo of me. 

Happy 9th Birthday

Happy 9th Birthday Mr. Josh.  I'm not sure I could sum up this child in a blog post.  The child has a sense of boundless energy, a contagious enthusiasm, a love of reading (The Cursed Child, The Lighting Thief and Garfield), an obsession with the Simpsons, an unhealthy addiction to his ipod (Minecraft, Clash of Clan, Geometry Dash) and has recently mastered a mute 180 grab (where you grab your bindings and do a 180 jump) on skis.  His favorite ski run is Estelle Bowl, and while he didn't get to go skiing today on his birthday (and instead saw the movie Sing, played video games, played with Nerf guns and ate pepperoni pizza), he'd happily ski in a blizzard any day.  His favorite food is curry and bacon (not necessarily together, but I wouldn't put it past him).  So excited to be a part of his world.

Happy Holidays

Oh the Thiem Family blog....  well I promise we've been up to fun things in the last 6 months...  (like running a campground).  In the mean time here are a few photos to help celebrate Christmas.

August Moments

I'm sure we will look back on this summer with awe.  The campground is definitely consuming a lot of our time and energy.  It's fabulous to meet the campers and see the campground come to life.  But, I thought I would take a moment and share a few other non-work related photos, for fear they'll get lost in the "to be done later" pile and never surface.  Underwater photos were inspired by my friend Lenka's underwater photography.  Having fun at the bottom of the pool on Dan's birthday.

The birthday boy!

Cousins...  this was the first time the boys had a chance to meet Baby Otis.  Ben wanted to know when do babies do something.  Nora just wanted to see "BenJosh" and asked Megan over and over and over and over again when they would be arriving.  Note to self, don't tell Nora unless we're 5 minutes away.

A visit from the tooth fairy inspired this photo.

The County Fair...  Why Josh wanted a poop emoji stuffed animal is lost on me, but he thought it was hilarious.

And really... the most important August moment in 2016...  Meet Otis.  He arrived on August 4th.  It was an honor to be able to witness Nora coming to the hospital and meeting her little brother for the first time.

Campground opening

I wish had words to describe the feelings behind finally opening the Inn Town Campground... I'm sure we'll look back in awe of that sheer amount of work we had to do to make our dream a reality.  I wrote a blog post attempting to thank folks... but I think the feedback I've gotten in the last couple of weekends speaks volumes.

"I met your son Josh and he was a perfect gentleman.  We loved that he was friendly and professional and offered us a free ice cream sandwich and said you guys have been working on this for 3 years and no he doesn't get paid for his job."

"I've been following you along on Instagram and feel like I've watched the campground being built and feel like we're invested in the story."

"I can't believe how forested it feels."

"You guys have thought of everything, the attention to detail is amazing."

"We can't believe you just opened."

"Did you guys just buy this place?"  To which we responded, "No we built it" and got a mouth open stare.

"You guys have thought of everything, the camp store with ice cream, the outdoor sinks, the amazing bathrooms, the movie nights..."  

"I spent the weekend there and I'd drive back from the Bay Area just for the outdoor shower."

"We can't wait to come back."

"We love the kitchen, it's so great to have the space available."

"We're so excited to be so close to town."

"Your staff were amazing, everyone has been so friendly, we feel like we're a part of the family."

"I found you in Sunset, congrats."

And I'm totally blown away by the amount of support people have provided, both in offerings of help, to folks expressing how proud they are of us, to entertaining our children.  It takes a village and we couldn't have done this on our own.  Surreal.  Our new reality.

Happy 11th Birthday Ben

Ben, 11 years old.  We celebrated his birthday a couple of days early to help accommodate the Inn Town Campground grand opening.  Many thanks to Nana for organizing a pool party with pizza, cake and a 10 foot tall inflatable minion.  The party consisted of water gun fights, nerf wars, zip lines, presents and birthday cake.  Thanks for being patient with us as we worked every possible moment leading up and during your birthday.  The party was a great chance to stop and celebrate the very special 11 year old person in our world.