2012 Odds and Ends

                                         2012 was a very eventful year full of ups and downs.
The girls loved picking wild blackberries everyday from our yard. They spent hours in the bushes filling bowls and tummies.

We all accompanied Jess on many of his business trips over the summer. We got to see lots of beautiful places all over the Pacific Northwest.

                                                            Coeur d'Alene Idaho

                               Braeden started scouting and went on many overnighters.

                       We spent many weekends exploring the gorgeous city of Seattle.

                              And many weekends hiking through the forests of Washington.

I have always wanted to see Orca whales in the wild and on a hike in the Olympic National Forest we found them. It was amazing.

                             Jess was able to travel to Alaska a few times for work.

                                                                The kids started soccer.

This little guy got in loads of trouble. And has had quite a few moments in the doctor's office with his horrible asthma flare-ups.

                                                 We spent many nights warming up by the fire.

                          We took a ferry to Whidby Island and explored beautiful places.

Tulips April 2012

Summer 2011

 I really am going to shove our whole summer into one long overloaded post.

 Hiking Moalepe trail with all our peeps. Then cooling off in the cool water. The kids love this dirty water.

Dane got fatter........

And the highlight of the summer was our two week visit from our Utah cousins. We had so much fun and I want them back.

and fatter.....

Wailua Falls

Ono shave ice

 We went to the beach a few times while they were here. :)

 Dang isn't he just about the cutest middle schooler you have ever seen?

jumped off the pier.

Hiking....it was kind of muddy but I think was the hightlight of the trip for Rich. Ha ha ha

Searching the tide pools. And we found this crazy space alien.

Swinging Bridge

Kayaking and hiking Secret Falls

and to end our wonderful summer my Braeden started Middle School and Addi started Kindergarten. It was kind of a big depressing day. but they are both doing great. I dreaded middle school for 11 years and now am like Hmmm.... what was all that about? And that's a wrap......