Last Week of Summer Vacation

We spent another couple nights at the cabin last weekend. We got a ton of projects wrapped up: new door on kids' room, new paint in hallway, flooring finished in kids' room, etc. But of course, it was the afternoon at the beach that makes for the best pictures.

 Eben is considering doing a triathlon with Meg and Chris in a few weeks, so he practiced his open water swim here.

 We returned home Sunday so that Eben could take the kids fishing while I got to sit on the beach at Jetty Island. Thanks to Matt and Lisa for letting us use the orange Whaler.

 I spent the last week of summer wrapping up my to do list and taking the kids to their favorite spots one last time. Here we are at the spray park at Willis Tucker Park. The kids enjoyed playing water squirters with each other.

 One last time to the Children's Museum - they loved hamming it up on the stage.

And Edison and Charlotte were finally helpful enough that we were able to build them each an airplane for the first time. They got all the parts and helped assemble it at each step.

A Week with Family

We are wrapping up summer by sticking closer to home. We had our first get together of the summer with Johanna's family in mid-August. We were able to celebrate Jason's birthday and share tales of our travels. Jason's girlfriend Tabby and her daughter Janie were also at the party. The kids got along really well!

 Kirstie and Peter's garden is tremendously lush.

 Edison got one last birthday present from Floyd and Kathie - two wonderful nature books and a Hungry Hippos game. Thanks a million - you totally made his day!

 Charlotte continues to practice her Irish Step Dancing posture.

 We got to spend Thursday and Friday with cousin Alton while his mom, Jennie, was working. We had a blast at the Everett Children's Museum Thursday.

 Followed by the Bellevue Children's Museum on Friday - is it obvious I was a little scared of three kids at home!

 We had a picnic lunch at Kelsey Creek Farm / Park in Bellevue and were especially impressed by the sunflowers. Alton's welcome anytime!

Granddaddy David Comes for a Visit

All summer we have been looking forward to Eben's father, David, visiting. We enjoyed a fabulous week with him -kicking it off with a one-day tour of the San Juan Islands which started at Anacortes and traveling to Friday Harbor for lunch.

 Granddaddy showed Edison and Charlotte some important boating knots.

 Edison got to drive the boat.

 Why I LOVE the San Juans!

 We visited Rosario Resort in the afternoon to tour the Moran mansion and listen to the impressive organ.

 And we managed to bump into Meg, Chris, Dillon and Liam - plus this deer. How cool is that?!

 After taking David on a tour of his work Thursday morning, we drove up the cabin. Friday we walked around Leavenworth and through their cool riverside park.

 Fake Bavaria at its best.

There are a ton of wineries and tasting rooms in the area. I dropped off the guys at Silvara, overlooking the Wenatchee Valley, while I took the kids down the hill to the petting zoo.

 The kids had fun with the animals and especially with the trikes but I was wishing I could have done the wine tasting!

 Following lunch at Sleeping Lady Resort, we drove a little further up Icicle Canyon and took in the view.

 After a nap, we finished the day at Lake Wenatchee.

 Saturday we drove up to Stevens Pass - look at my little champions!

 We were planning on taking a "scenic chair ride," but the rolling clouds thwarted our plans - plus it was only the Hogsback lift that was open, which doesn't even get you to the top of the ridge. So, we toured on foot. The kids thought their "Daisy" lift looked a lot different without the snow.

 But the wildflowers and views were pretty good at any rate and we are all looking forward to hitting the slopes this winter.

 Then Eben's Aunt Beth and Uncle Paul drove up the cabin from Olympia. We had a nice family dinner and Leavenworth tour before they took David down to their place for a couple days before he flew back to Boston.

 Biggest brother and littlest sister.

 After a good-bye lunch, we headed to a windy Lake Wenatchee. I was ready to leave when I saw the white caps, but it was a hot day and the kids really wanted to swim. Guess what - they LOVED playing in the waves and had a blast - that is for the hour we had there before the thunderstorm rolled in. The impending storm did give us pretty dramatic lighting, though.