Thursday, October 22, 2015

Tuesday Surprise - September

Week 1: Ferry ride to Seattle Aquarium
Week 2: Tacoma Mall Panera
Week 3: Nature walk at Clark's Creek Park
Week 4: Titlow Beach

Due to Levi's school schedule, our new free day is Tuesday.  So what was once "Wacky Wednesday" and then "Mystery Monday" has now become "Tuesday Surprise."  To celebrate our final Mystery Monday, we decided to go all out and indulge with an expensive field trip.  My mother came with us this day.  We drove to Bremerton, rode the ferry to Seattle, walked along the waterfront, visited the Seattle Aquarium, ate a picnic lunch in Waterfront Park near the ferris wheel, rode the ferry back, and strolled through Bremerton's Blackberry Festival before heading home.  It was a great trip!  Of course, the boys' favorite part was riding the ferry!
I don't know how to rotate these images.  Sorry!!!








 
 
For our first Tuesday Surprise, we tried to go to a park in Tacoma; however, it started raining just as we arrived.  Instead we ended up going to the Tacoma Mall and playing on the kids' rides (without actually paying for the rides).  Then we shared a cookie at Panera.




Although we've been to Clark's Creek Park before, we hiked a different trail this time.


Throwing rocks at Titlow Beach!

Friday, September 18, 2015

August Mystery Mondays

Week 1: Mud Mountain Dam hike, playground, and picnic
Week 2: Main City Park, Orting
Week 3: Ballard Locks
Week 4: Paradise at Mount Rainier with Olivia
Week 5: Bounce E House


After a 1/3 mile descent, we viewed Mud Mountain Dam
 

Hiking back up

This blurry picture of Levi was the best I could get.
He was a speed demon hiking back to the top!

Playing with the other kids at the Orting park.


Levi and Micah loved watching the boats at the Locks!
 The fish ladder was a bit disappointing.  After seeing a hundred large salmon hanging out just below the locks--and watching a seal catch one!--there was a total of three fish in the underwater viewing area.




Since Levi really didn't want to go home, we stopped for ice cream on the way to the car.

Olivia was in town!  She joined us and Grannie for a trip to the mountain.  Our first stop was at Longmire where we hiked the Trail of Shadows (about 0.7 mile).

 A smelly spring


After a lunch stop at a picnic area, we joined the long line of parked cars at Paradise.  We were delighted to see three hilarious marmots!



At Bounce E House, Grannie and Levi spent their time sitting in the lobby.  (The owners were so kind to give us a refund because Levi never played!)
 Micah sure had fun, though!

Late Summer Fun

Spiderman and Superman
 
More costume fun with an adorable firefighter

Tuesday noon concerts in the park with Grannie
 
"Dancing" around the tree at another concert with Maddie and Avery

Two massive zucchini we found in the garden.  Good thing these boys are so strong!

This big guy (2.5 inches!) was hanging out on a zucchini leaf.
 
Part of ERC's team for Rally Round for Ultrasound.
For my second Half Marathon, my official time was 2:32:19 (a whopping 14 seconds better than last year!  Ha!)

The Cloves at the Triple Door

Micah and Paige in the police car at Olympia Children's Museum

Singers: Claire and Levi, Sound Technician: Micah, enamored audience: Grandpa
 
I got to spend two nights with Kristin and Leon and 6-week old Andrew!  It was SO great!