uh oh

Will just started saying "uh-oh".  With his limited one sound vocabulary, it's music to mom's ears.  He's finding lots of occasions to use it lately too.

Lot's of "uh-oh's" when yogurt went in the hair.

Yep, I'm trouble ;).

soccer

Soccer in the Fall - I LOVE it.  Andrew started the MSI program this year, which offers a clinic and scrimmage for Kindergartners on Saturday mornings.  He hasn't played much in over a year, so I wasn't sure what he'd think.  But he jumped right in there, and had a HUGE smile on his face the entire time.

Tired, happy, sweaty.

I need to figure out how to get better action pictures!  I guess it would help if I wasn't chasing a 21 month and 4 year old (Dave was on the YCF retreat this day).

Caden is doing a little soccer program with kids from his preschool on Tuesday afternoons.  He's been kicking a ball since he started walking, so he's eatin it up. 

Goal!  Both boys scored 2 goals this week.

Another random story:  Andrew was looking at these pictures, and wanted to know where Caden's soccer was.  I didn't completely understand what he was asking at first, so explained it was at a park on a field, etc.  He tried to clarify - "no, no no - so if were at like Starbucks, how would we get there?".  I found it extremely funny that his directional frame of reference is Starbucks.  Not school, not church....Starbucks.

and so another year begins!

Andrew started Kindergarten just four days after we got back (one day later than scheduled due to hurricane irene power outages).  He's LOVING it so far.

With his teacher, Ms. Duffy.  Precious.

At morning assembly, watching the flag go up.  Seeing this pic still kind of makes my heart hurt - total first day of school confession.  I was completely jet lagged, and forgot to make sure he went to the bathroom before we left.  He had a wee incident in the bathroom because he couldn't figure out how to get his belt off!  Luckily I was still there and was able to help, and those uniform shorts are super at wicking away moisture ;).  He was very resilient (I told him he was super lucky because he was getting to go commando, which made him excited) ....internally I was a wreck.  Not the way I wanted him to start his first day. 

Later that night I went with these amazing ladies to see Lyle Lovett and his large band at Wolftrap.  SUCH a fun night - my stomach actually hurt from laughing.

 Labor Day weekend, we stopped by the Wintrol's house after church to join up with the "usual suspects".

 My three sons + ice creme = bliss...followed by chaos.

 Caden's first day of preschool came a week later.  He was SO excited, and daddy got to co-op that day.  He going five mornings a week this year.

Getting settled into his classroom. 

With his wonderful teacher (we love her already), and dear buddy Nathan, who he gets to be in class with this year!

We're off to a good start.  And so thankful for the wonderful schools and communites we get to be a part of.

Seattle, week two

Week two....such a blessing.  It started out with one of our favorite days.  Dave and I were able to get away without the kids for a day trip to the San Juan Islands.  We ALMOST didn't make the ferry.  The early early boat had broken down, which meant a whole load of cars in line ahead of us.  They (the ferry attendants) actually told us we wouldn't make it.  So we began thinking about other plans for the day (none of which seemed as good), we prayed, and we were the second to last car to get on ;). 

 After grabbing a quick lunch to go in Friday Harbor, we made the quick 10 minute drive over to Roche Harbor to have a picnic.  So perfect.

 Hundreds of boats, rocky ledges, evergreen trees, clear water, mountain lined horizons...insanely gorgeous.  There's a reason why the New York Times named this the #2 place to visit in the world for 2011 (and National Geographic Traveler ranked it the #3 best place for a Summer 2011 visit).

 Next we ventured over to Lime Kiln State Park, where we were told 3 pods of orca whales would be coming through within the hour.  We enjoyed taking in the rocky cliffs, and then we began to hear the sprays in the distance.

 Most passed by a hundred feet or so offshore, but a few turned and swam right up next to us. 

 Everyone was a bit giddy to see them so close.

 Next stop on the island was False Bay.  We caught it at high tide, but the water is so shallow that the entire bay empties at low tide.

 Friday Harbor

 And then look who we found!  Sweet friends from DC who were visiting family.  It was so fun to have a few hours with them while we waited for our ferry.

 A few shots of Friday Harbor as we floated away.

A light steamy fog came over the waters as the sun set and we sailed home.

 We woke in the middle of that night to a very sick Caden.  He caught the high fever stomach crud that his cousins had been fighting.  It allowed us to slow down a bit ;), and Andrew, Grandma and I were able to hit the outlets that afternoon.

 And then mommy and Andrew had a run on Grandpa's boat. 

 Saturday afternoon it was off to the cousin's house to play on their super cool water slide.



Caden looking and feeling a bit better.

 Just playin.



 Sweet family time.

Big brother P loving on his baby brother S. 

I love this picture for several reasons. Will's screaming face, and Caden's look of concern.

 boys, boys, boys!

They had so much fun together.

Sunday late afternoon we went for a hike in the foothills of the Cascades (close to my parents house). 

Moss covered trees, crystal clear water, a picnic Taco Time dinner ;). 

 Serious hikers in training.



Climbing. 

We made it -  the lookout for Twin Falls.

Heading back down. 

 He's off.

Monday morning Dave and I got to enjoy some early morning salmon fishing on the Skagit River with my dad and one of his oldest buddies.  Mine was the only catch of the day.  It is supposed to be a huge run this year, but apparently the fish are about a month late (likely because the weather has been so cool there all summer).

Oh, and then later that night I got to sneak away with one of my oldest, dearest friends for girl time.  We talked, enjoyed wonderful dessert and wine, and couldn't believe how quickly the hours passed as we savoured every moment of uninterupted conversation.  We were apparently too busy talking to take pictures ;).

Tuesday we enjoyed a trip to the Air and Flight museum with the cousins.

 They got to see what it was like to fly an old plane and ride in a hot air balloon basket.

 Getting ready for take-off?



Astronaut Dave 

Fighter Pilot Caden

 That night we enjoyed dinner at Bario on Capital Hill with these fun friends - college students at Wash U who were in our Bible Studies in seminary.

Wednesday morning we took Andrew on his first salmon fishing adventure.

The fishing was slow, but it was a beautiful, misty morning.  Andrew even got to see some sea lions (not so great for fishing - they like salmon too).

And then we finally got one in the boat.

 Grandpa's first catch of the season.

Caden came up with Grandma and Will a few hours later, and got to try some fishing too.

Playing on the beach - we couldn't seem to get Will happy.  Little did we know that he was coming down with the crud.

Later that afternoon I started packing (our flights were leaving the next morning), got us checked in, boarding passes printed, etc.  At 5pm we woke Will up from his nap and discovered he had a 103.3 degree fever.  Dave encouraged me to think about staying a few extra days with Will, so we could make sure he'd be safe to fly.  We were feeling especially cautious because our nephew had suffered a high temp seizure with this bug just a few days earlier.  The airline was happy to change my flight at no charge (they didn't want a contagious child on their flight), so I sent Dave and our big boys home the next morning, and got to have a few extra days in Seattle with Will.

His fever came down a bit, so I decided he could rest just as well (if not better, the boy doesn't like to sit still) in his carseat - we lived it up.  We drove down to the Theo Chocolate factory in Freemont - a spot I was sad we hadn't gotten to.  After loading up on chocolate, we grabbed lunch at one of my favorite college places, and headed over to Kerry Park for a picnic. 

 He was happy to be out of his carseat, and I loved taking in this view.

 After a long good nap, we met up with these fun cousins for a picnic dinner at Snoqualmie Falls.

Such a perfect way to end an extra day.

And then Friday (I'm sad I have no pictures!) I was able to steal away for one last fishing excursion with my dad, his buddy pastor Don, and my brother Chris.  One the way home I called the airline - with Hurricane Irene making it's way toward DC, I was concerned about my flight home the next morning.  It had in fact been canceled, so I made a quick decision to get on a red-eye that night, in hopes that we could beat the storm.  It was a long tiring flight, but we got back JUST in time.  The rain literally starting falling right as I walked in our front door.

What an amazing gift - sweet time with family and friends, rest, rejuvination, and so many precious memories.  Our Father is so good to us.