Busy Summer Days

I am COMPLETELY sold on Washington summers.  We have had a fabulous week of activities and hiking and yard work.  Yes, that's right, even yard work is better here.  (This message is paid for by the campaign to get our friends and family to move here society.)

Last Saturday Ben played in his soccer game while still recovering from bronchitis AND scored his first soccer game goal ever.  Woot, woot!  It was a tragically wonderful game where the final score was 27 to 2, Ben's team won.  By the end both sides were cheering when the other team scored a goal.  But I was cheering most for Ben!  He was a pretty happy kid.

Sunday was mellow.

On Monday, we visited the children's museum with the friends from VA who actually have moved here.  The boys are always up for a visit to the museum, just as long as the visits aren't too close together.  It is a bit young for Josh and a bit old for Isaac, but they have a great time for several hours and having extra friends to go with made it more exciting.  To keep it new, the current travelling exhibit is about China and we had fun trying to figure out how many kids could fit on this scooter.

This kid only drives solo.

We also had a great time in the outdoor section we weren't able to visit earlier during the colder, rainier time of year.

On Tuesday or Wednesday, (I can't remember which) we did some harvesting at the garden.  The peas are growing like mad and have become my newest snack food.  We weren't sure about the carrots, so Michael pulled one up to check on them.  He was disturbed by what he saw.  His exact quote was, "Mom! This carrot looks like a chicken butt!".

Thursday we revisited a favorite spot: Tumwater Falls.  It is a lovely hike that is not too long.  The boys love hanging out by the water/rocks at the bottom of the hike; however, that is also the only place in Washington state where there are mosquitoes, so we can't stay for very long.  On the way back, Isaac took a minute to pose and show off his adorable baby belly.

Friday morning Aunt Rachel came by and picked up the victims survivors of yet another earthquake.  That would be 3 in the time that we've been here.  This time around, it was Rachel's unit that was getting trained and doing a simulation.  The kids enjoy getting covered in fake wounds and the instructor loves having them come. I can't remember what specific injuries Michael and Ben had, but they were a bit beat up. Josh had a pencil "shoved" through his hand, but sadly he took all the putty and make-up before Rachel or I got to it with a camera.

Isaac and I picked them up afterwards and headed over to Millersylvania Park for lunch and a hike.  We have to go back.  Water, kayaks, fishing, camping, hiking, etc.  We did a 2 mile-ish hike.  We found several blackberry bushes (good) and lots of stinging nettle (bad).

 And, we found an ENORMOUS tree.

We're trying to pack it in while the weather is so great.  And we are very excited to have our Virginia friends here to share in our adventures.