TravelingWe had a fun vacation to Washington state. The first thing we did was drive for two days in our trusty Subaru Forester.
The bikes didn't drag on the road, obviously, but we had to put them down and up every time we needed to get into the back of the car. We got pretty good at doing that, and Andrew even got to help us at times.
Three kids and their carseats made for a tight fit, but we all survived. It helped if everyone had a favorite blanket.
Along the way, we stopped at the Berkeley Pit Mine in Butte, Montana. It is at the site of the original Anaconda mine, the one that was started before they went to Chile and started the famous Anaconda mine in Chile. Right now it is filled with toxic water and they are mining nearby.
Visiting and berriesWe had a fun time seeing Kirk's family in Sequim, Washington. The boys loved playing with their cousins. They haven't seen some of these cousins for at least a year or more.
Besides playing and visiting, we also picked blueberries and raspberries. We managed to freeze them and get them back home intact and still frozen.
The blueberries were just starting to ripen, so the fields hadn't been completely been picked over. The children tired quickly of picking, even though they didn't pick very many.
In the end, we had almost 20 lbs. of blueberries and about half that of huge raspberries.
ExcursionsWe were able to take some fun excursions around the area.
Marymere FallsWe hiked to Marymere Falls, near
Lake Crescent, in the Olympic National Park. The falls were lovely, but the photos of them were not.
Instead we have a photo of Andrew near a tree that is becoming a nursery tree and a photo of the family near a very large tree.
It was also nice to go walking in the rain forest when it wasn't raining.
Tide PoolsAnother day at low tide we visited Tongue Point and Salt Creek Recreation Area to see the tidal pools.
It is sort of difficult walking, especially with children, but if you can get all the way out to the end of the point, you can see some wonderful creatures and even poke your fingers at some of them if you dare.
Here is a photo of a star fish. A woman had picked it up, and we got to touch it before we put it carefully back in a pool.
The next creature is a "sun" starfish. I almost stepped on it, but then someone else picked it up and we got to hold it. It had 20 legs.
We also put it carefully back into the water so it could survive. This was the first time Andrew and Edward were able to visit the ocean--and remember it.
Neah Bay and Cape FlatteryWe drove out to
Neah Bay and Cape Flattery, which is the farthest northwestern point in the lower 48 states. We walked through beautiful, foggy rainforest to get out to the observation point.
The scenery was so incredible and beautiful that it looked fake.
We finally got out to the very end of the nice walk and could barely see Tatoosh Point (the island off the coast) in the fog.
On the way back, we enjoyed some fish and chips at the Breakwater Restaurant in Clallam Bay (we've been there several times, now).
Victoria, BCOur last big excursion was to take the ferry to Victoria, BC. Since we all have passports, this trip was fairly easy.
We walked on the ferry and the children had a fun time on their first boat ride. Thankfully, we had very good weather. On the way back, I asked the captain if Andrew could see the steering wheel and everything (Edward was asleep), so Andrew got to go see all the neat things in the captain's cabin and stand on the captain's chair.
In Victoria, we only had a few hours, so we went to the
Royal BC Museum, where, in addition to their regular displays, they had a visiting display of treasures from the British Museum. We had a great time there. Lucy charmed all the security guards. We especially enjoyed the free stroller and the clean bathrooms--we got to take children to the bathrooms on every floor of the museum.
As an added bonus, we got to see my former roommate from Madison, Marianne, who was working in Victoria. We had a quick lunch on Fishermen's Wharf and then ran (literally) to catch the ferry back to Port Angeles.
We had lots of great experiences, as well as the usual difficulties that arise when you travel anywhere or when you travel with children. Thankfully, we listened to promptings and managed to quickly take care of any potential problems quickly. In one case, I packed an extra shirt in the diaper bag (not a customary item for that bag), but we ended up needing it after Andrew leaned over a water fountain and got bird droppings all over himself.
We are glad to be home and now moving into more adventures with some remodeling and school starting in a few weeks.
More during the remodel.
During the remodel.
Here is a photo after the bathroom was done. We only have three little things left, one of which is the new bathroom door that is sitting outside being stained and varnished. Kirk's father made that pretty cabinet and we stained and finished it.
Another view of the bathroom.
Here is a picture of the new desk and cabinets. Aren't they beautiful?
Today we are having new carpet installed in the sitting room and family (home evening) room. The boys have given that room its complete name. We will put in a couch and finish painting. We thought the original owners might be sentimental about some of the things we ripped out of the house, so when we took out the built-in chessboard from the benches, I saved it and gave it to them. They did get a bit teary-eyed. I don't know if the child who made that board will be thrilled when the parents give it to him or her, but there it is.
Here is the new set of drawers.
I'm so excited about having some more space to put things in our little house. I asked the carpet guy if he would put the old carpet from our family room into the playroom. He said, no he personally wouldn't, even though he agreed it was a neat playroom. So, I guess that will wait until we can patch the ceiling and do some more fixes--and I find a younger, good humored carpet layer.
