Fall

Hammie wanted to add her own captions for today's post.  Not sure what language this is but apparently Hammie is at least tri-lingual.


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Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the cutest pumpkin ever

A Few More Pictures from Dad-Camp

Hammie displays the pie she made

Hammie and her new friend Brooke.  Notice the many ribbons Hammie won in the kids games.  That's my girl! 

Hanging with Farmor and Dut-Dut

Check Out These Horns

During dad-camp we went to the New Mexico State fair to see some animals and eat some fried food.  While there Hammie saw a long-horned steer and got inspired.

 The horned animal seemed uncomfortable

 So Hammie decided to make the cow feel better by growing a quick pair of horns

 Dut-dut didn't want to be left out

Some Hammie cows

Life in the Dirt

 Hammie is a pro at roughing it.  Sleeping in the back of a pickup is no big deal

Our crash pads are all purpose tools.  Bed, chair, kitchen, you name it.  Just part of life in the dirt

 Hammie takes on a strange huge after playing with some blue chalk.  No worries, we'll take a bath in a few days

Good Eatin'

In general I try to ensure that my daughter eats real food.  Most meals are prepared from scratch and when I stray from the meat, dairy and produce sections I avoid products with high-fructose corn syrup and the like.  Of course there are the occasional lapses as Dad-camp provides Hammie with multiple opportunities to consume some crap.  For example, she doesn't see her Fart-fart (my dad) very often and you can bet he's packing donuts.  I figure the occasional sugar binge is ok....it is after all Dad-camp.

 Hammie's favorite lunch of the trip

 Dad-camp is about eating meat with our bare hands.  This time it's hamburger 

 Hammie just received a bag from Fart-fart (aka Grandpa).  What could it be?

Hammie devours one of many donuts from Fart-fart

Dad-camp ends.....for now

Hammie and I are back in Sweden after 3 weeks in the States.  It was another successful dad-camp as we visited lots of folks and got plenty dirty.  And since I brought Hammie back in mint condition (bathed and brushed) we can count on more dad-camps in the future.  We both missed Lina and are glad to be home, even if it means we have to break our bad habits and maintain personal hygiene.  We'll spend the next week readjusting to life with "mama" and I'll be posting some of the highlights from dad-camp

Yeah Dad-Camp!!

Bacon

This is how we roll at Dad-Camp

Three is the Magic Number

My annual birthday post is a bit late this year but better late than never.  Here is an update on our growing girl..........

July 25th has rolled around once again and Hammie is officially 3 years old.  The three year mark feels significant in many ways.  Our little girl has become just that, a little girl.  She has almost completely made the transition from baby to kid and I'm reminded of it every time she counts flowers, (or fingers, or people, or noses, or bugs, or pretty much anything you can count) climbs to potentially dangerous heights, and inquirers about the world around her ("what", "why" and "how" have become common words in an impressive vocabulary).  Hammie is gracefully accepting her new status as a "kid" by cutting the last remaining ties with her "fluff-fluff" (aka pacifier, binky, napp) and having fewer and fewer "accidents".  I know some Aunties that will be very excited about Hammie's ability to use a toilet.

Hammie can be quite insightful and when she's not asking questions it's because she already knows what's going on.  From the mechanics of cutting vegetables ("hold the handle, not the sharp part and push down") to the working of human emotions ("she's sad 'cause she misses mommy/daddy") she is an astute observer of the world around her and takes it upon herself to educate her poor Papa, just in-case I didn't know.

Hammie is also incredibly imaginative.  She can often entertain herself for long periods of time by playing with common things around the house (blanket, chair, pillow, plates, cups, etc.) and her imaginary mouse and cat friends (their names are Ella and Maria and despite conventional wisdom they get along marvelously).  I often stand in the doorway listening and watching as Hammie weaves a magical little world for herself.  I usually try to avoid being seen so as not to disrupt her adventures but sometimes I'm lucky and Hammie invites me to join, updating me on the current happens and telling me what role I'll play.  I usually serve as the voice for one or two friends (usually the cuddly stuffed kind, sometimes the imaginary ones)  but I'm often corrected when I'm "not doing it right" and am occasionally banished back to the doorway.  Hammie rules her imaginary kingdom with an iron-fist (small though it may be).  

When not bossing us around or frolicking in her own little world Hammie is learning new things and helping out her mom and dad.  Cooking is one of Hammie favorite things to help with and while the meals prepared together with her are messier and take longer they end up tasting a bit better.  I've come to the conclusion that spices added with a tiny hand add more flavor than those added with a normal sized hand.  I'll have to do a proper scientific experiment to substantiate this claim but until then I'll go the route of politicians and pundits and just make the statement with enough certainty that people will believe me.

On top of cooking Hammie also helps with cleaning (vacuuming, dishes, laundry) and is a valuable helper when her dad takes her out climbing.  I do generally have to chose areas that aren't too far of an approach but Hammie is now capable of carrying her own weight most if not all the way.  I've even recruited her to brushing up new boulders and it won't be too long before she can carry an extra crash-pad and give me a much need spot on some sketchy high-ball.  Or more likely I'll be spotting her while she cruises my project.

I still can't believe how fortunate I am to have such an amazing daughter (and wife for that matter).  I can go on and on about the many things Hammie does that makes her special or melts my heart but I'll spare you.  It's impossible to state how much I love Hammie and how happy she makes me but I reckon many parents out there know exactly how I feel.  I believe Hammie is the greatest thing in the world and I'm ecstatic that I get to be her dad. 

Here are a couple picture of my little girl on her 3rd birthday

 A birthday waffle in the morning

And an amazing ice-cream cake made by Lina

Big 3

Hammie is excited about something

 Our birthday girl

Yeah!!!

P.S.

Hammie and I are looking forward to our upcoming trip to the States (Aug 27th to Sept 17) where we'll visit family and friends in CO, NM and AZ and eat lots of pie (Pie Festival Sept 8th!).  Unfortunately Lina won't be joining this trip but our whole family with make the annual exodus from icy Scandinavian this winter.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone State-side.  Good times will be had.  

Fresh as a Daisy

Hammie is a big fan of picking flowers.  No daisy is safe when she's around

Tiny Toes

Hammie airing out her feet

Midsommar Photos

These pictures are a couple weeks late but......Here are a few pictures from Midsommar 2012

 Hammie driving the flower wagon.

 Hammie is impressed by Lina's crown making skills

 My little princess tries on her crown

My girls all dressed up for Midsommar

Glad Midsommar

 The summer solstice is a big deal in Sweden.  Celebrating the longest day of the year is what one would expect from a country that spends the winter months engulfed in darkness and misery.  So Swedes take full advantage of the summer months by soaking up as much sun as possible in anticipation of the long winters.

Midsommar is the highlight of the summer festivities and holds all sorts of merriment and pagan rituals.  In general it involves lots of drinking, eating, dancing and assorted activities.  The most common and absolutely required activity is to dance around a "midsommarståg", preferably with a freshly made crown of flowers.  Needless to say, midsommar is awesome.  Better enjoy as from here on out the days are only getting shorter.

Here is a little video that gives a small taste of midsommar.  The footage for this video comes from 2011 and shows the process of making our "midsommar krans".

Glad Midsommar.

Hammie helps build a Midsommar Krans from Walker Kearney on Vimeo.

Hammie and Judith

This last winter I spent a bit of time hanging with my friends Tim and Judith.  They are wonderful and I'm pretty sure they tolerate me just to hang with Hammie.  This is good because Hammie really likes them and tolerates dad-camp just to hang out with my wonderful friends.  Anyways, during a crisp day at the Buttermilks Judith and Hammie made this little video.  Many thanks to Judith for being a great friend to Hammie and for sharing her video with all of us.


Hammie and Judith from Walker and Lina on Vimeo.

A Little Poser

Apparently Hammie's blog has been silent a bit too long.  Remember that giving me a hard time will expedite a new post.  This one is for Little Chris.

Hammie and few friends hanging out at the boulders.  Hammie is in to smiling for the camera now as long as she can see the photo immediately afterwards. 

Great Articles

Aunt Heather had some interesting reading material laying around her place when we passed through.  Hammie claims she not interested in the pictures but that the articles are great.  

Hammie bushing up on her reading

 

"Wow!  She's got great articles"

Redneck Girl

Hammie was introduced to lots of great things during dad-camp.  One of the biggest hits was Miller High Life as Hammie's redneck roots came bubbling to the surface.  At this point I think she's a lost cause, from here on out it's the High Life.

Hammie was a skeptic at first 

Looks good...

Just a taste

Hmmmmm....

"I think i like it!"

It doesn't take much for Hammie to get happy drunk

Take your pants off and enjoy yourself.  That's my girl

Heading Home

Dad Camp is on it's last leg as Hammie and I are waiting for the 2nd of our three flights.  Tomorrow we will be back in Sweden where things will return to a more normal pace.  

Dad Camp has been great but we are missing Lina and ready to go home.  Hopefully the bad habits we picked up in the last couple weeks won't stick and that the pictures that surface don't put me in the dog house.  Lets just say hygiene was down and doughnut consumption was up.  Good times.

 Hammie half way through a doughnut 

Dad Camp: Exhibit 1

Hammie looking out for her Papa

Energy to Burn

Hammie washes down a tortilla with some energy drink

No Pants Party

Hammie has begun to wear big-girl-panties and is very proud of the fact.  She decided to show the world last weekend as she strutted between stalls at the Las Cruces farmer's market, declaring "I have big girl panties!"

Unfortunately potty training is still going pretty slow and more than a few panties have been soiled.

 No Pants Party

Style and comfort, what more could you ask for