A camping adventure!

Camping is one of the best ways I know to relax, get out of town, and enjoy family and friends! There's something about the mountain air, water, campfires! We had a great weekend with our friend Carla. We played, caught bugs, played in the river, ate smore's and took a monster hike! Well, any hike is a monstrous one when you haven't done it in awhile! :) We went to Beverly campground in the Teanaway and hiked on the Iron peak trail. Leah and Leif did so well - 3 miles up (and I do mean UP!), and 3 miles back with something like a 2800 elevation gain. Brian was a trooper, wearing the Kelty pack with 25 pound Leif in it the whole way... while Leah kept a bright and energetic attitude despite the challenge. I was very pround of my little ones, and will remember the day always. When we got to the top, the view was breath-taking. One of those moments where I don't understand how people can't see God in all of it. It was beautiful. Mt. Raineer to one side, and Mt. Stuart to the other. I know that there are many more hikes in our near future. Great idea, Carla! :) (and my sore legs only lasted a few days!) Here are some pics from our camping adventure!

This is pretty much a picture of Leif's favorite things- trucks, diggers, and dirt... lots and lots of dirt!




I'm pretty sure that the peak in the background is where we ended up! :)







I love this picture... it's Leah hiking the last few steps of the trail. She really didn't know what to expect. When she got to the top, her face lit up and she shouted "WOW!!!"

The geologist teaching the entomologist :)

The wildflowers were spectacular!

By the end, he was just tuckered out! ...Leif, too! :)

Summer Fun

Ahhh... summer days! Here are some more pics of our fun at work and play! The fence is coming along, and the help is so appreciated! Thanks, y'all! Hopefully it will be done before the snow hits! :)

Blanket surfing! :)

Annual Girls Weekend!

This weekend was our annual "girls weekend!" It was a fun get-away with my closest friends from college! (The girls I got to live with in the dorm that I posted being torn down last month!) We took the train from Seattle to Portland and enjoyed two days of gorgeous weather! As always, it was a FUN weekend filled with giggles, shopping, getting dolled up, eating, drinking, walking, sight-seeing, sleeping in, and catching up with each other! We visited the Saturday market, Powells books (WOW!), the waterfront, the Deschutes Brewery, and many other neat spots along the way! Here are some pictures of our fun! Good friends are such a blessing!!! Love you, girls!

My first train ride... can you believe it? :)

A "Crabby" Weekend!

I love the Puget Sound... the whole Pacific Northwest for that matter! It has to be one of the most beautiful places that our God created! :) We had a wonderful weekend on the water with my parents! We visited them on their vacation, and joined them on the boat for a day of salt water fun! Then, we visited our friend's property and fished, rode a quad, caught crawdads, and lots more "messy" fun! The kids had the time of their lives and didn't stop for a minute for two full days! Needless to say, they slept a lot when we got home! We also saw my grandma... who we love very much!



Here are the highlights!

*God's beautiful creation... the smell of the salt water and the clean, fresh air!

*Watching Leah haul the crab pots up and handle those crabs like a pro!

*Seeing Leif fish with Brian for the first time... and help catch a fish!

*Seeing my grandma, and giving her hugs!

*Spending time with my folks and seeing how much Leah and Leif love their Nana and Papa!

*Eating lots of yummy, fresh, dungeoness crab!

*Seeing Leah's enthusiasm for living things as she spent hours looking for crawdads, tadpoles, dragonflies, fish, frogs, etc...!

*The squeals of delight and HUGE smile as Leif rode a quad for the first time! (both Leif and Daddy's squeals and smiles!)

*Time away to enjoy my family!

Leah with one of 18 crab!

Leif LOVES tractors... or any other big machine that makes lots of noise!

Here's Leah pulling up the crawdad pots!

I think this moment was the best part of the weekend for Leif!

Leah created an "ocean in a bucket" to take to school! :)

I love that smile!

"FISH ON!"

We caught rainbow trout... but then released them!

Papa shared wild blackberries with the kids! YUMMY!

Look at my boys... ALL smiles!

Can you see the dragonfly?

Leah even helped cook and clean the crabs!

Way to go, little man! :)

ZZZZZZ....

They had to be just right! Leah became the expert!

Dinner! :)