Happy Halloween!!

 My sweet sloth and Larry the crash test dummy

Orcas Island Birthday Weekend

This weekend we celebrated my birthday by going to Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands which are a part of the state of Washington.   

 While we waited for our ferry, we decided to stop at an Italian restaurant in Anacortes called Ciao Bella.  The food was great here and the dessert was even better.  Alia ordered a lemon sorbet and it came in a frozen lemon.  Tiramisu, which is one of my favorites was also really good at this restaurant.  It's an hour ferry ride to Orcas from Anacortes.


Fun on the ferry


It was a beautiful ride winding through all of the islands.  We had amazing fall weather the whole weekend.

 We visited Moran State park on Orcas which is where Mount Constitution is. We had a spectacular view of Mt Baker, Mt Rainer and Canada.

 The tower you can climb to get an even better view.

 Evening sunshine on the deck while we make supper.  

 The sunset on West Beach was so pretty.


We spent the night around the campfire telling stories and watching the stars.

School Pictures 2018

 Alia age 9, 4th Grade

 Avery age 12, 6th Grade

Goats Rocks Wilderness Area

Last weekend we headed to Goats rocks to explore the area and camp.  We decided to take the Snowgrass flat trail 5 miles in and set up a base camp.  It was a continual climb and we gained 2,000 feet in elevation.  Once we were set up at base camp we were able to do a few day hikes to explore Goat Lake and Old Snowy mountain. 

 Heading out to Goat Lake

We hiked all the way to the top up to the tree line and we were rewarded with an awesome view.

 Goat Lake was beautiful and refreshing.  We had amazing weather on Friday and the temperatures were warm enough to jump in the alpine lake and be able to warm up after.  It's very refreshing to jump in a lake with ice chunks floating next to you!  I could hardly take a breath when I came up for air.  Alia was the bravest, jumping in 3 times!

She had a blast sledding at Goat lake

 Maia and Avery enjoying a moment in the sun.

 The wildflowers were amazing on the mountain!

 

 There were so many little streams from the snow melt

 

 Alia found the perfect snack spot

 We spent a few hours here playing in the creek.

 

We brought 2 tents and I got to share with Alia and Maia

 Maia all tucked into her sleeping bag.

 

After hiking almost 30 miles in 3 days, it's safe to say we wore him out!

We had an amazing view of Mt Adams at base camp.

On our way to Old Snowy

A storm blew in and we tried to wait out the rain under this small tree.

 On the second day we decided to try and summit Old Snowy.  We made it almost to the top when a rain storm hit and we had to turn around because the wind and rain made it too dangerous to try and climb to the very top.  We were able to cross Packwood glacier and then had to turn around.

 

 It was raining really hard on the way back to camp.  Scott was a camp angel and made dinner for everyone while we hid out in our tents.  The rain stayed all day and we spent the day reading and playing games.

 

The rain let up long enough to warm up and dry out

 Heading back home with our memories of another fun adventure!

Happy 12th Birthday Avery

 Avery is so thrilled to be with Banana even after 12 years!

 Launching stomp rockets

 We headed over to Tacoma to watch The Incredibles 2 at the theater.

 

 Thanks for the gifts!

 Homemade ice cream cake is the perfect July birthday cake

Always messing with Grandpa!  They set the table and gave Grandpa very small dishes.

Avery's Birthday Questions

1.  Favorite color: All of them because I like to draw

2.  Favorite toy:  Mom's hairbrush because it's a dragon

3.  Favorite game:  Robot game on my Ipad

4.  Favorite food:  Hunger Games

5.  Favorite animal:  Maia

6.  Favorite book:  Hunger Games 

7.  Favorite thing to do outside:  Wilderness Program

8.  Favorite holiday:  My birthday

9.  When I grow up I want to be an engineer because I like to invent and build things.

10.  If you could buy anything what would you buy?  A giant house with secret passageways with themes and it would clean itself.  

11.  What do you like about yourself?  That I am creative and observant

12.  What do you like to do with Mom? Play games  With Dad?  Be annoying and wrestle

13.  What's the funniest thing that happened this year?  Going to Waskowitz and staying in my cabin

14.  Favorite family tradition?  Going on trips