all about us.

Mt. Rainier

 Even though we moved to Washington 6 years ago, we have never gone to Mt. Rainier National Park. I love this mountain. I get excited every time "the mountain is out" on a clear day.  So, yesterday, we went to go see it.  Now, technically, we never made it into the national park.  We stayed just outside of it since the area we originally planned to visit is still covered in snow.  Usually the melt happens May-June, but here we are mid-August, and it's still largely covered.  So, we stayed lower in elevation and were directed by a nice woman at the visitor center to a road (gorgeous and forest-y, but bumpy, rocky & non-paved ;) ) that lead to a view of the Mtn with trails you could hike.  We never made it to the trails because we were on a time schedule, but it was such an exciting moment when we drove over a bend and BOOM. Mt. Rainier.  The top was covered in clouds, but it was still pretty darn majestic. 

 
 
  
 

this is the view below us: 
 
 
 

oops...didn't expose for the mountain  
 
 
 

me and my mountain...uh, kinda. 

some scenary on the ride back down

 
 

we came across a field of wild daisies...i love daisies :)
 

 
  

 

  

we crossed a small bridge and got out to watch the river. So pretty! i wish the camera could accurately portray it. 
 
 

lol.  This was the road marker.  it was mostly hidden from the main road. We were lucky we found it!

 
 

We had a quick lunch...

 
 
 

..and then a scenic train ride.

 

 
 

benjamin was reaching for the biggest one. lol

 
 
 

this kid spent the whole 2 hour train ride just like this. i don't think he had his head inside for more than a couple minutes :)

 
 
 
 
 

adam doesn't EVER pass up the chance for popcorn :) 
 

We passed a beaver dam...SO cool.  So amazing how they do it. 
 

here is a side view.  You can see the higher water, the dam, and then the lower ground base below.
 
 
they stopped the train at Mineral Lake halfway and let everyone out for 15 min.

 
 
  

adam and ben "racing" lol 
 

 

and more snacks.. we can't help it. we like snacks.  And amazingly enough, they were really cheap on the train!

the sweetest love ever.

 
 
 
 
 

my handsome man :) 
 
 
 
 
This was such a fun family day.  At&t has no service up there, so we were completely unplugged from the rest of the world, and were able to be completely present in the moment. Sad that it takes no cell service to do that these days. But we were so relaxed and we all had a blast.  The kids loved the trip as much as we did. We definitely want to go back and spend some real time exploring everything!!!

sigh. great day :)

 

outside and inside

 I stuck a card table out on the front porch this saturday in effort to bring the kids outside to do crafts, eat, play games, etc.  It's working so far. 

 
 

Angel Rock 
 

homemade iced coffee.  So good!
 

The boy who won't let me take his photo. i have to sneak them these days.
 
 

making a dream catcher from a thin aspen branch, yarn, twine, and feathers. 
 
 

Outside of the kids' bedrooms, i put a framed photo of them and mini cork boards so they could hang art, signs, etc (in hopes to get them to not ruin the doors). i thought it was cute that he made a frame out of foam sheets and put a family photo up :) 
 
 
 

these next ones made me laugh...i was just snapping away at her, and didn't realize til i uploaded them that the whole time, she was making a strange face in like, 8 of them. haha. It looks like she's...what? feeling some weird bump in her mouth? a new tooth? making a strange face for fun? not sure.

lol. how did i not notice this?  

now looking at herself in the mirror doing it..

 

wild daisies 
 

Ruby, our landlord's dog. She likes to come over to be pet.

Ben decided to wash my car for me 

and then didn't want to put the hose down.   
 

"Sorry" this morning 
 
 
 
"Life" this afternoon.

 
 

Snuggling in my lap was pretty popular with the boys around here this weekend. 

  
 
and i put this up on facebook earlier this week.  i needed a growth chart for the kids and didn't want to mark up the wall again. Plus, i wanted one i can take with me when we move again (not that we are planning to anytime soon!!) .  I went onto Pinterest and search for growth charts, and one i really liked came up.  With more searching, i found the blog tutorial, and realized it was cheap, simple, and unisex to boot. Perfect.

 
 

 We went to the YMCA pool yesterday, and adam spent time with the kids trying to teach them swimming basics.  There is something quite attractive in watching your husband patiently teach your kids, smile, laugh, and have fun with them.  Sigh.  Anyway, Benjamin finally got the courage to put his head under (and then wouldn't stop), he is starting to learn to dog paddle, and even swam a few feet underwater. It's a start! Ashlyn is still quite nervous, and so frustrated that she can't do it.  Once the fear subsides, and she gets more comfortable, i think she'll get it.  Adam is going to take her for "date night" and maybe the one on one will be successful. It's harder the older you get, for sure.  Not to mention, if you can't swim, they only allow you in the shallow area.  Not all that great for learning if you can just put your feet down :-/

that's all for now!