This One’s For You, Daddy
in Uncategorized
as Birthday, David, Family, Outdoors
Today we headed to the beach for a birthday celebration for David and cousin Kayleen. It was perfect weather, and it was really good to see everybody. Unfortunately Daddy had to be far away in Seattle – working hard to take care of us, so these pics are for him. 
We missed you, Daddy!
The birthday boy finding cool rocks.
Getting ready to sing “Happy Birthday”. (Yeah, we especially missed you when it came time to sing! )
Enoch snoozing under an umbrella.
Giggling Girls
Grandma and Grandpa S
Violet learning about ice-cream trucks.
Tommy…likewise….
Pretty excited about a new lego set!
Investigating a new, REAL toolbox with REAL tools to help him build his tree fort. Maybe now Mommy can get her hammer and nails back….and Mommy really needs to borrow that level….hmmm…..maybe we need to have a trading agreement…
Cuteness (and I can’t believe I forgot to get a picture of baby Dylan!)
More Cuteness!
Likeminded Little Boys!
Deception Pass Camping
in Uncategorized
as David, Enoch, Esther, Holiday, Luke, Outdoors
This past weekend we were able to get away for a mini camping trip at Deception Pass. We had a wonderful time playing with fire, eating some pretty amazing food, and enjoying the beach and sunshine! This post is obscenely long…Sorry.
How do you go camping with 4 children and 2 dogs? Essential: 1 husband who takes chaos and noise in perfect stride!(Yes, the dogs are tied to his legs!)
Also helpful: a husband with Dutch oven cooking skills. Here he is making David a birthday cake Sunday evening.
Here’s the finished product.
Esther and Luke enjoyed looking straight up into the very tall trees surrounding our campsite.
Everything’s more fun when you’re camping…even holding Enoch!
The birthday boy, eating his hot dog and planning how many pieces of birthday cake he’s going to eat.
Monday morning we headed down the beach towards the famous Deception Pass bridge.
This little monkey was always lagging behind getting wet.
Exploring a “cave.”
Rock climbing.
The “caboose” again.
We spent A LOT of time at Cranberry Lake, swimming….
and splashing…
and hanging out….
and playing in the sand.
David needs a bit more blubber on his bones…he enjoyed the warm sand more than the water a lot of the time.
Enoch playing back at the campsite.
Dinner Monday night -- before it started cooking. This is a pork roast, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots and mushrooms with onion soup mix thrown over the top and a bit of water.
Daddy once again manned the Dutch oven. Most of the heat went on top, but there are a few hot coals underneath the grate as well.
Here it is about 1 hour later.
A highly scientific finishing process involving lots of fun flames.
The finished product! Words cannot describe how amazing this tasted!
Monday evening we headed to the ocean-beach for a bit before bed. Here, they are climbing on a really cool fort someone constructed.
Tuesday morning, we woke up early, packed up quickly and headed back in time for work and school.
What a great time! We can’t wait to return…either for Labor Day at the end of summer or Memorial Day next year!
“Say Fuzzy Pickles”
(Alternately titled: “Why I Haven’t Replaced My Blog Header Picture Yet)
“Okay guys, how about you all hug each other?”…”no, no Luke, not like that…”
“No, no Luke…Here, Luke – let me help you…like this”
(Luke gives up and gets distracted)
“Luke, come back…we’re not done yet”
“Dar-i-us…hel-looo….”
“Okay…now everyone smile”
“…Everybody smile…..say ‘fuzzy pickles’…Esther if you don’t smile, you’ll be grumpy forever in the pictures”
“There we go – that’s better…kind of “
Daddy: “I’m going to give you tickles!”
