Cute Kids

Here are a few of Mom's favorite pictures from this week.

 Nathan really likes to wash the sink for Mommy.  He usually does it while standing on a stool, but on Wednesday he got in the sink to scrub.  When he was done with the sink, he started washing the tomato and carrot we had picked from the garden.

 Mom had a yard sale yesterday.  Since Daddy was working and couldn't take us to do something more fun, she suggested we sell lemonade and brownies.  We were very successful, and even got paid just for being cute a couple of times.  Mom wishes she had taken a picture of our stand, but at least she fished our sign out of the recycling bin and photographed it.

Who could resist these boys?

We Love Labor Day!

Labor Day means the end of crab season and our Dad's annual Clam Boil (which Aunt Katy dubbed our annual Yum Fest).

I caught my first fish!  And my second, third, and fourth fish, too!

We helped Grandpa dig for potatoes for the clam boil. 

Several hours were spent collecting rock crabs, mussels, and barnacles and creating a habitat for them. 

Earlier this week, Mom attempted to cut my hair and stopped after the bangs.  Aunt Katy fixed it. 

Aunt Katy and Mom took each other to their favorite trail run.  (Hint: It's the same place.)  Of course, they didn't take a camera on the run, which is entirely along a bluff overlooking the Sound and Olympic Mountains, but there's a nice view from the parking lot, too.

Watching over the day's catch.  Well, actually just part of the catch!

Grandma helped us make driftwood boats.  It didn't take long for the entire family to get involved. 

Floating our boats in the lagoon.  Evan's boat even had a large crab as a passenger!

We spent the morning at the Army museum and then walked along a marsh at the nature trail across the street.

Camping Weekend

Hamming it up on the trail.

Throwing rocks in the river.

Can't resist this cute face.

The expert hiker.

Even in the path of the fires, this land is beautiful.

A well-deserved rest after a long, hot day of hiking followed by cooling off in the city pool.  Next up...s'mores!

Cooling off in the river.  We spent a whole afternoon watching tubers and swimming right across the river from a private beach that many of our followers know well. 

 Cooling off with ice cream.

Who can resist a trip to the Wood Shop?  This is a kid who knows what he wants!

Can't wait to wake up to this view every day!

Ready to Ride to Daycare Today

When Dad's Away...

... we will play!

 Kayaking with Mom and Grandma.  Both of us got our chances to paddle.

 Playing in the lagoon.

 Feet washing time.

 What a great night for hot chocolate on the beach.

 I got to drive the boat while we were crabbing.

On our way to the next crabpot. 

Silliness after playing hide and seek in Grandma and Grandpa's garden.

Visiting Great Grandma

Adoring Karen

We got to meet Baby Karen today! Mom and Aunt Katy haven't seen her mom, Rachel, since Nathan and Karen's older brother, Holden, weren't much older than she is now. Karen is a beauty and we were amazed at how mild-mannered she is.  Thanks for taking the time out of your busy weekend to see us, Rach!

Whistler

It all started with a birthday party for Grandma.

 Then we headed north with a stop at the mining museum.  We've been planning this for two years.

 Panning for gold.

Then there was a hike after a morning of swimming.

With a visit from the moss-people.

Next we took a long bike ride with a stop for the playground, tennis, picnic, and water play.

Beautiful setting for a water park, eh?

 

We stopped to see the seaplanes on the way home.

Another day, another bike ride!

This time with a stop at our favorite swimming hole.

Is he a fish or a duck?

Swimming out to the dock with Dad.

We spent a day at the top of the mountains.  (Yes, that is purposefully plural.)  We rode the gondola up Whistler Mountain.

Snow in July!

These kids are troopers!  They literally hiked up the mountain until the adults were tired.  Elsa didn't get carried at all, and still had a smile on her face at the turn-around point.

Heading back down the trail with Grandma while Mom and Dad attempted to catch up with Grandpa.  (Which they didn't do; he passed them on his way down from the top.)

Lunch stop with a view.

Chairlift up to 7th Heaven on Blackcomb Mountain.

Chairlift down.  Nathan literally fell asleep on the lift.  Now that's a sign of a great day.



What a fun week with fun people!  Can't wait to see what we do next!  Cabo, anyone? :)