Summer in Sequim

The kids and I took our annual summer trip to Sequim this past week. I had hoped to spend a lot of our time hanging out at various beaches, but the weather didn't really cooperate with that plan. Summer left us two days into our trip.

We did get some sunny play time outside before the sun disappeared. Shane had a fun with the stomp rocket. Plenty of room to set it off with out worrying that it will get lost over a fence or up on a roof top. Yes, he is missing his pants. That kid would live in just his underwear if he could. 

We also spent an afternoon at the Clallam County Fair. The kids loved seeing and touching all the animals. Well, Adalyn was happy until we got to the goats that were to loud for her. Then she decided she was over the animals. But Shane and I had a blast saying hi to the dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, goats, rabbits, sheep and chickens.

Shane even went on his first carnival rides!! He would only ride with me, so he couldn't go on the little kid rides because adults can't go on those. We started out on the carousel, then went on the roller coaster and finished it off with a ride on the "Whirly Twirly". We giggled the whole time on the roller coaster and laughed hysterically on the Whirly Twirly ride. I couldn't believe how fast the last one went. Shane said half way though it that his neck was going to break because he couldn't hold it up. He begged all weekend to go back and ride more rides. This is huge for a kid who not all that long ago didn't want to even play on a playground. Though he still didn't want to ride by himself, I'll take the steps we've made in a positive direction with him.

Thanks Mema and Papa for putting up with the circus. Shane said this morning he can't wait to go back and see you guys. He may have drove me crazy on our visit, but he only has fond memories.

Wordless Wednesday -- Comfortable?

Another Kid Free Weekend

Kenny and I were blessed with another kid free weekend! We had the opportunity to use a friends cabin near Leavenworth, WA and my Mom was up for watching the kiddos. Friday afternoon we headed out and arrived at Fish Lake around 3pm. We unpacked and got right into exploring the area, relaxing, reading and even started putting a puzzle together.

Fish Lake

(We dipped our toys in it, 

but didn't partake in any swimming, 

though we could of because 

it was in the 90's the whole weekend there.)

We ate a great burger for dinner at the 59er Diner just a few miles from the cabin we were staying at. Saturday morning we got to sleep in!! Okay, sleeping in these days means we got up around 8am. That is late folks....sadly that is late in our current lives. We had made reservations the day before to go horseback riding in Wenatchee State Park which was just a few miles away from Fish Lake also. We enjoyed a 2 mile ride on Bo and Tory, then headed back to the cabin to get ready for our afternoon shopping in Leavenworth.

On the trails.

Tory and I. She was a good horse.

I really loved being back up on a horse. 

It had been years and years since I had been on one.

Kenny and handsome Bo. Bo wanted to go fast the whole time. 

Even passing the horse in front of him at one point 

because that horse was not going fast enough for Bo. 

Kenny said he "rode the brakes the whole time."

Taking a rest in Leavenworth.

Shop we did! Then we had delicious dinner at Fresh Burger Cafe. I had the BEST asian chicken salad ever. It was SO, SO good. I would love one right now. After shopping and dinner we headed back to the cabin for an evening of more relaxing and meteorite watching. We saw about 15+ meteorites while we sat on the deck for about 45minutes. Our favorite was this huge "fireball" one, and the couple we saw that left a trail behind them.

Sunday morning we got up relaxed some more, then packed up for our drive back home. We truly had a perfect weekend. A combination of hanging out, exploring, sleeping, shopping and eating. 

A big thanks to our "sponsors" who made this weekend possible. You know who you are. :)

Juanita Beach

How do my kids want to spend a summer day? At the beach!!! Well, I doubt they are any different then most kids, but I'm happy when they are happy and playing for 3 hours at the beach on a sunny summer days makes them happy, dirty and tired kiddos.

Shane told me he was NOT going to swim today....

hmmm...guess he didn't really mean that. 

Easton checking out Shane and his swimming skills. 

Corbin watching all the action on the beach.

Adalyn taking one of her many snack breaks

and "smiling" for the camera.

Shane and Easton hanging out in the water.

Corbin checking out the turtle.

You gotta get in the beach action even if 

you are only 6 months old.

Adalyn deciding if the water was okay to get into.

Shane swam back and forth with the turtle for a long time

 and Easton would swim next to him.
They were really cute to watch together.

Sand is fun to swim in, too.

Adalyn, watermelon, the turtle and "cheese".

Easton didn't want to give me any camera love. 

This is the best I could do. There was just to much fun to be had.

We finished the afternoon off with some time on the playground. 

I just had to get a picture off all the kids swinging, 

but it didn't quite turn out how I had hoped.

(Corbin, Shane, Easton and Adalyn)

Corbin checking out the swing.

When we got home I gave the kids otter pops and water.

Adalyn went outside and sat in this chair. 

I found her still sitting here 20 minutes later, 

to tired to move, eat her otter pop or drink any water. 

This was the longest I've seen this girl sit still her whole life!

Who knew summer time and playing could be so rough?!

Camping Trip 2012 -- Lake Easton

A camping we will go! Shane has been asking for weeks "when are we going camping?!?" Finally the camping weekend arrived for our annual camping trip with three other families. We weren't able to join them last year, so we were super excited to get out there and camp with the gang.

The trip this year landed us up I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass at Lake Easton State Park.

As we got ourselves settled in the kiddos got acquainted with their surroundings. This little girl was filthy the whole weekend. Even after taking a bath at home, she still has dirt that refuses to leave her head.

Our new tent, the "green monster". 

Oh, how I love our new tent. 

More then I could even imagine possible. 

The space was awesome!!!

Playing in the dirt.

Eric and Lynette in their matching camping sweatshirts. 

More of the gang preparing breakfast. Eight adults and eight kiddos equals non stop fun. Our two children are the youngest which makes camping just a little bit more interesting. We long for the days of what seems like "childless" camping because they are off biking, running around and entertaining themselves.

Checking out the water at Lake Easton. It was COLD.
But that didn't keep the kids from having fun.

Making friends. Adalyn thinks that anyone playing near her means that they want to play with her too. She joined in and "helped" them with their sand project. The two girls soon got up and vacated the area. I guess they didn't like Adalyn's help.

Good thing there are always brothers willing to play with you.

It was pretty darn hot on Saturday...85+ degrees is hot when you are camping in the northwest. Baby girl taking a nap in the smouldering tent.

Kenny needed a nap as well.

Saturday afternoon we took a walk up to see the lake from above.

Fun times camping. This will be our only camping trip this summer. But I hope to get out at least twice next year. The kids really love it and even though it takes a lot of prep work and we all come home filthy and sleep deprived, the smiles and memories are all worth it.

Keepin' Cool

We got back this afternoon from our weekend camping trip to 90+ degree weather. Though it was hot were we were camping it was nothing like being in a roasting house or sitting out in the backyard in the sizzling sun (just to be clear, I am NOT complaining about the heat!). After getting ourselves unpacked, we headed outside to fill up the swimming pool. The pool was nice, but nothing like the "water slide".

Giggle, giggle, giggle...

Mo, mo, mo = more, more, more!

She held onto a cherry tomato from the garden the whole time she played on the slide. Then as we were going in to take a bath she ate it.

Wordless Wednesday -- Shaving Cream Fun