Summer Recap 3.0

The annual visit from the cousins!!

It all goes by so fast...

My kids look forward to the annual visit from the cousins almost as much as they look forward to their birthdays.  And I look forward to it much much more than my birthday.  The only down side to the visit is that we pack so much into it that before we know it they're boarding their plane for home.  This year my fab sister and I did a driving tour of Wa101, nearly completing the full northern loop.  We overnighted in the Hoh River Rainforest and then met up with the rest of the family at Seabrook.  Later in the visit we spent tons of time camping (and fishing).  We BBQ'd with the extended family and partied in the backyard whenever we could.  It was glorious.  I can't wait for the visit next summer!

My sis and my baby.

The crazy first borns.

Spooky rainforest.

The furry jungle

As green above as it is green underneath.

The Hoh River.

It just goes, and goes, and goes...

My sister, keeping me laughing.

A key hole at Ruby Beach.

Random find: Ruby Beach.  Perhaps the best
beach in Washington.

Beauty.

More of Ruby Beach.

Hitchin' a ride.

Such brilliant kids we have.

Crazy kids, that water was FREEZING.

 But they were successful.
(He went back in the hole)

Illegal clam diggers.

My Mama

Pure Joy

Summer snow on the pass as we headed
to the campground.

Hitchin' another ride.

Exhausted hikers.

Ready.

Patiently waiting for her first fish.  It didn't happen.

Refreshed

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.  For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.   -Kahlil Gibran

We spent last week at Pacific Beach.  A full week with giggling kids and visiting grown-ups.  We were very fortunate in that our only measurable rain was during sleeping hours and the clouds frequently parted revealing the blue sky that so rarely shows itself to the Washington Coast.  The house we rented was filled with thoughtful amenities, like a giant bucket full of rain boots of all sizes.  It was a week filled with sand, sunshine, friends and wine.  I returned home refreshed and very ready to send the kids back to school!