Sticks and Stones

Yesterday Will and I took our first backpacking trip of the season to Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It was an amazing trip in very quiet, fragrant, lovely woods along the Stillaguamish River. This time around the weather wasn't as warm and there was snow at many of the sites I had considered. The weather at our elevation was pretty temperate but not hot enough for us to dip into the river. Mostly Will and I just hopped along the stones and I watched while he played with two favorite backwoods toys: sticks and stones.

I couldn't locate his sleeping bag or pad so I just brough along a blanket for him which I should have known wasn't going to fly. Of course, I woke up in the night and realized that I was sharing my mummy bag and Thermarest with him! My main excitement this time around was that I did spring for the extra weight in my pack and decided to bring a sleeping pad. Sure enough my cold arthritic joints ended up on the ground and he was warm and comfortable on the pad-- too funny!

On the walk back to the car Will wished that he could stay a few more nights so we'll see what we can do for the next trip. My favorite thing about the woods is the delicious smell and Will agreed. On the way out he said that the woods smell like marshmallows, mushrooms, and chicken!


After several bowls of brown rice cereal with pecans and dried apricots, he had his first bowel movement in the woods!

Watching his kindred spirit, the slug.

Sitting on our undisturbed bear can.

Eating with his "spork"

Summer Days

Will met up with his friend Keenan today at the gym where they jumped into a pool full of foam cubes among other gymnastic feats. Will was so much less cautious with Keenan around to inspire him. The other pictures are from the park near his swimming lessons. He likes to be the "Cuban restaurant operator" in that window.

Chillin'

Soccer

We signed up for soccer classes this summer which Will seems really excited about. He picked out his soccer "outfit" the night before with his royal blue shirt (which is his favorite color). The class is pretty low key and unstructured with the Coach giving some pointers but the kids mostly just kick the ball around the gym for thirty minutes, get a drink of water as a team, do a cheer, and get a soccer ball stamped on their hands at the end of class. Needless to say, Will loves it!

BBQ

Here are Lane and Will in the throes of BBQ fun... watering the garden and making goat milk ice cream in the pool!

Cooling Off

This weekend we had record temps and it was great to cool off with our buddies at their incredible neighborhood pool in West Seattle. The boys didn't venture too far from the stairs and wall but they did take some interest in watching some older kids and adults use the diving boards. This was the first time that Will tried out a flotation vest for swimming and he rather liked it!

Beach

Today Will and I met up with some of his friends for a long day at the beach. The Tonka and Bruder trucks were a hit among all the boys and the KOMO 4 news even took some footage of the fun!