Memorial Day

We, like many people, had a long weekend for the holiday so naturally we,
like many people, hit the road!

To Anacortes!
We didn't get to see Logan's Grammum because she's down south enjoying lovely central Oregon but she said we could stay in her house.

"Thanks Grammum!"

The next day we headed out again . . .

. . . to Deception Pass

It was a first time visit for the kids and I. We loved it.

After some rock throwing and picking . . .

. . . we managed to wrangle the crew for a photo

(Katie and Max haven't quite figured out the timer photos yet)

(He wasn't laughing but I think it looks like he might be laughing maniacally)


After a snack the boys found some rocks to scale.

Katie and Max really really wanted to join them for the climb but alas for the short folk
















Luckily for them we did spy a path leading up and around the cliff. So in spite of my slight fear of heights we ventured up for a look around and some pictures.
































On the way back to the car Katie Kates got a little distracted. I was just about to get her when Rowan came running back and said, "I'll get her Mom!"

Rowan to the rescue!!

I thought he was going to have to be rescued from this (gigantic!) distracting slug but right after I took this picture he jumped up, shouted, "Aaah! It's gonna get me!" and ran to the car.

We hopped in the car, again! Off to our next adventure . . .

. . . Fort Casey!
Logan's Grandad brought him here when he was 8. We've been meaning to get up there and finally did.

Rowan loved the big guns.

Logan was an excellent tour guide explaining how different things worked
and leading us down . . .

. . . and back up.

Rowan also tried his hand at explanations, he said,

"Some pigs used to be here . . ."

We explored around some more.

I believe this is the gun that Uncle Ty sat on when he visited in '94

This shot reminded me of the bunkers that the allies went up against 67 years ago today. It evokes some strong emotions to see here silent guns, daisies growing, and my little girl loving her Dad in peace. We live in debt of the brave men and women who have fought across the world for freedom.

This one makes me thinks of a toddler riding a T-rex

This is the Admiralty Head lighthouse. I was brave and ventured up with Rowan.

I was not as brave after seeing this sign at the bottom and by the time we got all the way up the steps I chickened out of going up the little ladder to the very top. Rowan and I came back down and I sent him up with Logan.

Another great sign for a mother with small children.
It reads "DANGEROUS DROP OFF" and had a picture
of a person slipping.

Rowan told us it said "Don't fall off the cliff"

We really enjoyed the park, we'll be back Fort Casey!

After all our fun at the park it was just a short drive to yet another adventure! Here is Rowan waiting for his very first ferry ride

Poor Katie fell asleep just before we drove aboard.

Rowan on the other hand was bright-eyed and eager to explore.

Before we knew it it was time to get back in the car and head back home.

It was a lovely drive.
(the kids slept just about the whole way)

Katie girl woke up when we were just about home. After a couple pieces of Red Vines she was all smiles but definitely ready to be out of the car.

Thus our adventures ended . . . for now. It was a good weekend.

Zoo fun and Mother's Day

While Logan was off on one of a few business trips in the last month we went down to Portland to hang out with the cuzzies. One cloudy morning we headed up to the zoo. I thought there would be at least a bit of rain so we were ready!

Luckily it was only slightly damp and mostly cloudy :)

First stop
Sea Lions!

Wyatt is the master at making faces.
Here's his Sea Lion face
(special hair styling courtesy of a recently removed beanie)

His sisters are naturals as well :)
Quite the family gift! Here they are imitating the Orangutan in the picture
(if you can, definitely "click" this one bigger! They're so cute!)

Rowan and the little ones weren't so much into the monkey faces but they obliged me with a good group shot.

Rowan liked the sun bear.

Here's the pig face... or maybe a warthog... I can't really remember

Just after Wyatt was done I noticed Danika poised and ready so of course I had to take her picture!
She's so funny :)

Genevieve showin' off her mad Amazonian fish face skills

I really like that the zoo has little play areas around the place, it breaks up the walking nicely and this one is well contained :)

Rowan thought Wyatt's elephant face was pretty hillarious!

So of course he had to try too :)

The newest exhibit at the Oregon Zoo is the Predators of the Serengeti, it's pretty cool.
Wyatt was pretty fierce looking but brave Garrett didn't even flinch ;)

Rowan liked the lioness

Here's the gang, minus the babies (and myself of course)
chillin in a jeep headed into one of the exhibits.
so brave ;)

These phones are all around. You can pick up the receiver and listen to the various animal noises.

In the barn near the NW exhibit Wyatt showed us his goat face,

as well as another pig face.

Outside the barn the girls posed on the tractor. Well, they tried anyway.
Katie was too excited and busy "driving" to even look up and when I asked the other girls to "squish in" .... well I think I confused Danika.
Oh well, they're cute anyway ;)

speaking of cute!

The other kids ran ahead with Joylynn and Garrett while Courtney and I showed Katie around the Great NW.
(Charlie was there too he just didn't get into these pics)

She was a bit wary of the cougars...

The ducks were more approachable.

She also liked the salmon until she realized she was leaning too far and couldn't get back up.

After traveling all the way across the NW she was getting pretty tired.
I don't think she even knew there was a bear there.

I actually had a little bit of a hard time finding it myself
so I gave you a little help on the right there ;)

We actually went backwards up the trail,
so here we are at the "end", at the beginning.
Can you find Courtney and Charlie?

(special note here, I'm not that good, this picture of just about everyone looking and smiling is too good to be true. This is actually a composite of about 6 pictures. Unfortunately even having all those shots poor Garrett was quite ready to go and not be squished between his sisters and cousin anymore. I didn't have any with him smiling. I think it's pretty good overall :))

One more for the road...

here is his, quite remarkable, mountain goat face :)

Happy mother's day!

I hope all the mamas out there had a wonderful Mother's Day last week! I sure did. We got back from Portland to find Logan home earlier than expected. Not only home but having had cleaned the house and left beautiful flowers on the bedside table! :D

Sunday was fun, the kids and Logan got me a cute card, a new shirt, a couple pairs of socks, and a new Wii game: Cookin Mama! :) We just hung out at home and had fun.

We ended the day with baths, Katie got out first and while we were getting her in pjs Rowan did this

I asked him why he did, if the toys were doing something special up there or anything. He told me he'd just done it "for fun" :)

The next day while waiting for our special visit from Gremmy and Ben, Logan made Rowan a "race track" on the driveway.

After quite a bit of racing fun Rowan decided to check out a puddle and Katie found herself a cool new spot for snacking.

She's quite enamored with Rowie's bike. I would not be surprised if she is riding one of her own by this time next year. As soon as the length of her legs catches up with her enthusiasm ;)

I saw Rowan doing this and thought, "He probably shouldn't be doing that but it's super cute" so I took a picture before telling him it wasn't so good.

I love this one, he's such a "cool guy" ;)