Even More Camping

This was our summer of camping, which is good because it seems like that was the only summer activity we've done. With only 2 days above 80 degrees, there has been very little beach, sprinkler park and swimming at the lake.

Nate and I took all our boys to Larrabee, which is a state park so we get to camp for FREE (foster care perk). That's just my style of course. We had the 2nd to last available campsite (right next to the railroad tracks), but it was actually a great spot with all kinds of trails and woods for the boys to play in. The train thundering by at night left a little something to be desired, but the Littles loved seeing all those trains.

Hey look, proof I was there for once!

Christian and Justin took a break from sticks and dirt to pursue their latest passion, Stratego. Christian got his butt kicked, but he loves this game. He plays it every day at summer camp. Look at that intense concentration!

The Zoo (no, the actual zoo)

I really do have such a good excuse for the lame-o blogging these days. You see, back when this thing got updated weekly I spent my evenings relaxing in front of two loads of laundry, watching DVR, keeping 2 children in their beds and being a good Blogger Mom. Now I spend them dodging at least 5 loads of laundry (because once everybody in this house is naked there's another load to do!), keeping up to 4 children in their beds, and being Jogger Mom. All of which I love, it's just putting a bit of a crimp in the blog time. But I'm getting a good 3 runs in on my lunch breaks now- courtesy of working steps away from the most beautiful trail system in the country IMHO, so I'm going to try to keep up again, try... we'll see.


While we don't have to leave home to visit the zoo these days, sometimes it is fun to go see some OTHER animals. Especially by bicycle.That is, unless you are 3 and decide you just do not WANT to ride your bike today. AT ALL.
Because you want to hold Nate's hand. And slyly get yourself all hooked up with a MUCH better ride through the park.

Little Stinker!The best part was about 5 minutes before we got home, in the car Ashi calls up from the backseat, "Mom, when we get home, can I ride my bike?" Seriously dude? I hauled your bike all the way to Canada, drug it through the entire zoo, and NOW you want to ride it? Yep, that's about right!

Looky Looky

How many 3-year-olds can do that? In July Ashi decided he did not need training wheels anymore. It took another month to convince Carrot Top, but we're all fully converted now. And of course Ashi is quite the dare devil, "Look mom, no feet! Look mom, I can stand! Look Mom, I can jump the curb!" I kid you not, thank God for health insurance!

July- There was Camping

We took our annual Lopez Island camping trip in early July, the weather was perfect and we had our favorite campsite on the beach. Grammy and Papa joined us for the first time and it was so much fun to have them along. Here's a snapshot of everyone...
Look, it's Grammy and Papa and Carrot Top and Ashi and Christian and Lucky. See Lucky came, there is even a photo of the dog for pete's sake. Anybody missing? Oh yeah, I swear I was there too. Promise. I was.









Here we have a fine specimen of a good solid camping trip, the ubiquitous filthy child. No that is not a blurry image at right below, that would be a dust cloud coming off the adorable little urchin. That amount of dust combined with a half cup of rinsed out conditioner leaves an impressive tub ring, let me tell you!

July- There was a Birthday

Not sure who this is, but some kid turned 6 in July and I have all these pictures of it :)