Still Fits

I don't need to give much dialogue for this post. We got out our Halloween gear/décor for the month ahead. My daughter was just convinced that she could be Strawberry Shortcake again (costume from two years ago) because it totally still fits.

Not to pleased when she saw me chuckling after she matter-of-factly stated, "It still fits"

Lookin' Down on Creation

You know Karen Carpenter's song, "Top of the World"? Well get that one in your head because I'll show you some pictures that felt like we must have been up there quite a ways :-).

Over Labor Day Weekend (note I said over the weekend, we didn't actually go ON Labor Day which was kind of an issue for my children - who insisted they needed something to write about the next day for the first day of school. You know, the "What did you do over summer break question?" Never mind all of the travel and fun we'd had all summer, what really counts is the day before school starts.), my children and I traveled westward to the Washington coast.

I didn't tell the kids where we were going, I didn't tell them how long we'd be gone. I wanted to be flexible and kind of "fly by the seat of my pants" on that last weekend before school was to start.

We headed to the ferry,

Guess you can't tell, but this really is a ferry. Our car is underneath

waited along with hundreds of other residents yearning to "get out of dodge". It seemed like getting over to our destination took quite a long time, even though on the map it didn't look so far. We went through many windy roads interspersed with simply breathtaking views. Lake Crescent took my breath away, such a beautiful huge lake right in the middle of the heavily forested mountains. I hope to return to Lake Crescent for camping or canoeing another time.

We went clear over to Forks Washington, a small town the size of the nearby "city" where I grew up. We swam until 9 or 10 pm, that night.  The next morning, after having a nice conversation with a cashier at the only grocery store in town, we headed over to the coast - La Push. I loved this part of the drive because there were signs all over (big, homemade kind of signs - none of that neon, flashy stuff in the city) talking about werewolves and references to the hit story series set in Forks, "Twilight".

Love the Beautiful Ocean

La Push was perfect. The beach was sandy (much to my surprise, I thought WA only had rocky beaches) and the atmosphere so calming. We spent all morning on the beach.



You can just feel the sand in your toes right?

Heading back toward home, we stopped for ice cream at Lake Crescent and again determined we must go back there. Since I had already paid the National Park Fee (Sol Duc Hot Springs - had to pay to enter forest, but found out the resort was full, so I didn't even stay there), I headed on up to Hurricane Ridge - the top of the Olympic Mountains. What a windy road to get there, but wow was it worth it.

Catching the Wildlife on our Sunrise Point Hike

You can see the road way down there can't you? Seriously high up

I've given you a travel log, which isn't funny but these pictures make me smile because we all had a great time. Just looking at these Hurricane Ridge pictures makes my stomach turn knots. We were SOOO high up there.


Hurricane Ridge -- Visitors Center View



I may be smiling, but I was scared to death

Where's Brody?

While in Idaho over the summer, one of the truly funny stunts pulled by my youngest and two of her cousins ended with this picture:

You can imagine the story that precedes the picture :-). I must have been downstairs. Tawna had gone somewhere and let me know she had gone. What I am trying to say is that I KNEW the kids were in my charge. I just kind of let that responsibility slide for just a minute.

When I realized the house was pretty quiet, I went upstairs looking specifically for her youngest son. I called out, no one answered. I checked around a few of the rooms and checked outside. I heard nothing in response. I realized I had somehow lost my nephews, who were under MY care.

Oh no!

That panic feeling comes back pretty easily, just thinking about this.

However, I went into the computer room one more time and saw what you see now. Those little rascals think they are soooo smart. . . .

Charmin -- We all go, why not enjoy the go?

I took my girls to Costco tonight just to grab a "few things". My older daughter made multiple requests of food as we bustled around the store as quickly as possible (always - right?). I said no to the pumpkin Halloween cookies that kids can decorate, I said no to the produce room that is always fun to explore. I can't really remember the other things I denied my children :-).

When she started to lose control and really turned on the whining, I still said no. She said, "Mom never buys us anything good." My youngest daughter then chimed in helpfully to her sister, "but, look, Mom bought us all this toilet paper."

 I did break down and buy the girls a $.25 gum ball out of the machine. See, I'm not so bad.

Pack-Jammed

I've been looking over summer pictures and just wishing I could roll back time. We had another great summer. You know, I am very grateful for a husband who works so hard to give our children and I such great summers. He really misses out on all the fun.

I could do a million pictures, but I will have to try and single out all the fun and stretch it on until next summer. You'll just get a few at a time :-).

Each picture has a story. 

Fourth of July with the Mattsons (my sister); we went on a little walk. Captain Eli was in charge and let Peter Pan (my daughter) come along.

My Little Thief -- we always visit cemeteries in Idaho and I'm not sure where she found these pretty flowers but, I am certain they didn't get put back where they belong. I didn't take this picture so I really have no part in this thievery.

My child was missing his WA friends and thought he would take a "selfie" to let them get just a glimpse of how much fun he was having in Idaho.

After driving for 10 or so hours, we rounded the corner on I-90 and transferred over to I-405. The sweet Bellevue city skyline comes into view. I am always awed by the beauty of that panorama. It really is very pretty (especially at night). My daughter's observation: "This place is pack-jammed."

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