Camping in Wenatchee National Forest

 Last weekend we took the opportunity to go camping.  We headed East toward Naches to camp for free in the Wenatchee National Forest.  The Chinook pass was finally open to drive through but as you can see the snow is still really deep in some spots.  It was crazy to see how deep the snow can get in the passes up in the mountains.

 Avery did a great job proving he learned how to be a fire tender this year in Wilderness program.  He spent time tending to our fire and having fun burning piles of pine needles.

 It was nice to relax and spend time playing games with the kids.  

We even brought the slack line with.

Making chocolate, cream cheese raspberry pies over the fire, they were really tasty!  We even made a hot ham and cheese for lunch.

 We decided to explore the area a little and found a place called Boulder Cave Recreation area.  We were able to walk through the cave on a trail.  It was quite dark and we had forgotten a flashlight, but the kids wanted to go through it again even though at one point I thought we were forever lost in the cave.

Avery's First Over-night

This weekend Avery did his first over-night alone.  The Wilderness Program, which is the outdoor school he goes to on Fridays, had a camp out.  Kids built shelters together and either stayed in those or in their tents.  Since it was a little rainy this weekend, Avery decided to stay in his tent.  He was very excited to do the camp-out and had no reservations, I had a much harder time!  It was eerie to walk by his room at night without him there. 

 The parents and siblings stayed for a hobo meal dinner and fun games.  Here we are playing Nutty squirrel.  It's a completely silent game where one person, the mama, leads the baby through the field to find acorns (socks) to throw at other mama and squirrel teams.  The baby is blindfolded and the only communication that can happen is by touch.  Before the game starts, you have to come up with a touch language.  It was a lot of fun and Avery and I made a great team.

He made it through the night and can't wait for next year!

Spring Break- Traverse City Michigan

This spring break we decided to take advantage of open seats on a Detroit flight and head to Traverse City.  The Jacobson family recently moved there and it had been way too long since we had seen Laura and Tony and finally meet Lilly.  It was an amazing trip and one for the books.  We had a great time hiking, playing games, going to the park and going out for ice cream. 

 The kids were excited when they saw the snow and they made sure to nail us with snow balls.  

 Tony, Laura and Lilly

 We visited Sleeping Bear Dunes on the first day.  Lake Michigan looks so turquoise here.  According to NOAA, the blue and green color is sediment brought to the surface when strong winds churn the lake.  The sediment most often colors the lake in the spring and fall when transitioning weather patterns bring strong storms.

 The kids had so much fun playing on the dunes.  I will admit, the adults did too!

 Channeling his inner force.....

 We hiked down a very long hill and ended up on the beach.  

 Alia and Avery loved playing with Lilly.  They took turns walking her around the house.

 Crazy kids!

 This was their pose....

 Park time!

 After a long walk from the park, we enjoyed ice cream.

Alia wanted to get Lilly a matching Beanie Boo stuffed animal.  She quickly fell in love with her kitty and had many snuggles and animated conversations with it.

 In other news, Alia lost both front teeth a week apart!  I love her smile.

Help them buy a cow

Feed to Read

Avery and Alia need your help.  They are teaming up with Heifer International and their classrooms to raise money for families in need.  They will be reading every day throughout the month of April and would love if you helped to sponsor them.  The money will be used to purchase animals and training for families in need to provide a source of food and income.  Donations can be made online here.  

Colonial Days

One of the units of study this year for multi-age was the colonial period.  It was a several month, integrated unit and Alia loved it! 

Here is Alia's ship which she named The Heart Bears and her doll she made after drying an apple head.

Happy 7th Birthday Alia!

For her birthday this year, Alia wanted to play in the snow.  It's about a 3 hour drive from home to Mt Rainer so we decided to spend the weekend there.  One of Scott's co-workers has a cabin in Packwood and she let us stay there for the weekend.  

 This cabin is on the south side of Mt Rainer.  It was at 1,000 feet so most of the early season snow was melted.  We drove 30 minutes to White Pass which was at 5,000 feet and we found lots and lots of snow. 

There was a really fun swing on a platform at the cabin.  

Snow angels!  They both jumped out of the car and into the snow.

 The snow was pretty deep in many places and we were all exhausted tromping through it.  It was up to Alia's waist in many spots and she was continually stuck.

 Our snowman!  He's wearing a banana for hair since we happened to find one buried deep in the snow.

 She was obsessed with the icicles.

 Snow ball fight!

 To make it easy, we went to Safeway and let her pick out her cake.  She decided on a cherry cheesecake.  I topped it with two my little ponies.

 That's my crazy, fun girl!

 Alia and Banana 7 years old!

Her Yearly Questions:
1.  Favorite color:  orange
2.  Favorite toy:  stuffed animals- ollie the owl
3.  Favorite food:  raspberries
4.  Favorite animal:  bunnies
5.  Favorite book:  books about rocks and gems
6.  Favorite thing to do outside:  play tag
7.  Favorite holiday:  Easter
8.  When I grow up I want to be a teacher because I like teaching kids.
9.  Favorite subject in school:  Colonial Times  Least Favorite:  Math
10.  What do you like most about yourself:  I am fast
11.  Biggest accomplishment:  Finishing my colonial journal
12.  What do you want to do next year?  Be better at bush-whacking.  (We do live in the woods and she has to bush whack at the Wilderness Program on Fridays!)
13.  Favorite thing to collect:  rocks
14.  Favorite family tradition:  camping
15.  Favorite memory this year:  play-dates with friends
16.  If you could buy anything, what would you buy:  make-up (not sure about this one, when she said it she then followed it with, "when I read that next year I'm really going to laugh.")

Happy New Year!

 

We brought in the New Year playing Monopoly, eating fondue, watching Alexander's Horrible No Good Very Bad Day, and toasting to a year behind and a year ahead!