Summer 2024

C finally got his driver's license.

School's out! V finished Grade 8 and H Grade 10.

H is keeping busy with projects and learning to cook dinners for when our schedule is busier this fall. Including making ramps to get bikes off the deck easier.

V graduated elementary school and will go to the same school as H in the fall.

V had a busy July-swimming on swim team and taking the HS required PE Credit.

We celebrated V's 14th bday with cake (We went to the water park with a friend of hers when we got back from seeing family in August):

In Aug we went to WA state

The kids got to meet my parents' dog in person.  She's adorable...

She's super smart

I was able to meet up with some friends on my own (former coworkers and a childhood friends) and go to a scrapbook retreat with other friends while the kids visited with my parents and their cousins.

We met up with my high school Spanish teacher and her partner at the Seattle's Japanese Garden then Pagliacci for pizza.

I was able to get out for a few runs:

In Lynnwood to the sound at Meadowdale Beach Park:

On the Chehalis Western converted rail trail:

And Mima Falls in Capital Forest:

We went to the ocean (note to self-WA oceans are for afternoons, not mornings).  The kids joked we were at the edge of the world and might just fall off because it was so foggy you couldn't even see the ocean until you were practically in it.

Then my dad sprung for the go-carts

The younger kids and I visited Mount Rainier and walked up from Paradise to see the glaciers.

We visited Narada Falls on the way down the mountain.

My cousin brought over baby squirrels from her newest venture-wild animal rehabilitator

We attended my parent's cul du sac picnic and met their neighbors.

We saw more cousins and then headed down to Portland to visit Powell's book store and have Shake Shack.

Then dinner at Red Robin where the kids tried to bankrupt them with free refills on fries and drinks.

Then we finally had to admit H can't just be a carry-on anymore... we're going to have to check him...

Maybe V too

When we got back V went to the HS orientation. And had a great time!

We got out on the paddleboards a few times with the help of adding an electric pump.

Then just like that school was back.  V is starting HS in Grade 9, H is in Grade 11, and C goes to our local college and has been biking most days to school.