“Gute nacht, schlaff gut. Bis Morgen,” I say.

“Good night!” Lake says.

“I love you!” I say

He replies: “I love you too! Good night!”

So sweet. Heart melting

This night after tuck in, Lake begins wailing. After a few minutes pause as it grows louder and more insistent, I go to check what is deeply concerning the small lad at this critical juncture of sleeping time. He is upset because his bear pajamas are creeping up his calf’s to his knees. “I think they are too small. I don’t think pulling them down towards your ankles will help honey. It will just keep riding back up all night. They are too small. Would you like to pick out a new pair and give them to baby sister?” He agrees to the wisdom of new pajamas for 3 year olds, and requests the cat pajamas like I have on. “These pajamas are for two year olds,” he astutely proclaims. “So you want to give them to baby sister?” He catches me off guard by offering further analysis. “These are not for baby sister, because they’re for two year olds. She’s zero.” !

“Good night”, I say.

“I love you!” he calls after me.

What a guy. I love this guy! And really… what a perfect evening, truly, I’m so glad I spent it with you!

“You have to deal with being on the mountain when you’re three”, proclaims the wee sage Lake. “When you’re a mountain climber.”

He was reluctant to climb up the mountain often singing his refrain of “I want to be carried,” We introduced summit treats for motivation and it worked magnificently. “I’m so excited about that ‘stomach’ treat, Mummy,” Lake kept saying and it gave him an extra spring in his step. Then when the sun was setting and it was time to head back to our room at Paradise Inn and have some dinner time, he wanted to keep climbing! He didn’t want to turn around.

On our first day out we saw the mountain, three deer, a close up marmot and four ptarmigans and heard there was a bear sighting an hour prior. Then the fog set in for the next few days.

We enjoyed reading by the fire and taking short walks with Lake up into the shrouded mountains.

Saturday the skies cleared again and we were able to get out for a big hike. Lake hiked all the way up to Glacier Point, and then when Lake and Michael turned back to hike down the Alta Vista Trail, Mama went on to continue the big loop. Theair was so freah and the mountains were calling toward Panorama Point and hiking the rest of the Skyline Trail, accomplishing her goal to see some Black Bears, ( a mother and her cub ambling across the huckleberry slope grazing as they went), some snow and five gamboling mountain goats. We also ended up seeing so many marmots as to lose track completely! We even saw a pair tussling like sumo wrestlers.

A perfect day at Paradise, I’m glad we have this annual birthday tradition for Michael and I’m glad I spent it with you!

Hardly can be considered Glamping anymore when it’s pouring down rain outside.

So thankful they had a cabin.

Upon our reunion, as I was tucking him in, I asked Lake if he was happy to be back in his own bed. Or if he preferred camping. He prefers camping, he said. They had a great time, those boys!

This afternoon Michael took Lake and Langley to Belfair State Park for the Ayres Annual Family Camp. I was originally planning to accompany them and insisted on the camping cabin when we booked our site. Then discovering we were pregnant, I elected to save my paid time off for impending Maternity Leave 2020. So the boys came out ahead with a camping cabin and the full Glamping experience. Fortuitous given the unending rain in the forecast. And Lake especially seems to be overjoyed for the experience.

Have a great time at the beach, boys! So glad you’re cozy in your cabin! Let the good times, and the thunderstorms, roll!

How do you squeeze the last drops of summer? Wring one more trip to your happy place out of the calendar before the season officially turns. As we flew to Spokane and onwards to Newman Lake we heard many stories of other families making “one last summer holiday” before school starts. Lake said as we were on the bus en route to the Link Friday after work:

I want to stay for 11 weeks and then come home. Because it’s more fun for me at NanaBaba’s. I like that

We came over to Newman Lake for the holiday weekend, and we stayed for four nights but tried to pack in 11 weeks worth of fun. Visiting, sailing, rowing, swimming, hiking, yoga, wildlife viewing (bald eagles, osprey), night listening (crickets and coyotes), northern lights and falling stars, and catching up on the recent nearby big game sighting stories (cougar).

We had a wonderful time catching the wind, soaking up the rays, splashing in the water, and reveling in the fellowship. Baba noted the visit had a dreamlike quality, as it nearly surpassed real life in its loveliness. And soon enough autumn will solidly be here with dark mornings, dark evenings and the signature dampness in the air. We will close our eyes and recall the last drops of summer. When the wind was filling the sails, the beaches were teeming with friends and neighbors, and the dock was full of family.

…and for now we savor the last drops of summer

When you and your best friend you’ve been friends with since childhood have children around the same ages, it’s such a special bond. Lake adores Maicy Jane and Hazel, and they likewise treat him like a brother. These kids have so much fun together! They kicked off their recent visit with a slumber party in Lake’s room, so as not to miss out on a minute of their time together. They went to the Pacific Science Center, The Seattle Center and the Woodland Park Zoo. But best of all was all the downtime in between to goof around. They play hard even when they’re at rest. Thank you for making the drive up and for the visit Jessica! We look forward to our next visit.

A perfect day, I’ll gladly spend a lifetime with you!

“Getting up early to run a half marathon tomorrow,” I told my friends at dinner last night.

“Which half?” retorted Greg cleverly, “the first half, or the last half. Because I heard the last half is a lot harder.”

It will be the second half, actually… being that I ran the first half last weekend!

Michael and I ran this one together. It was his first ever half marathon, in spite of having run several full marathons. We both did great and met our goals by having a truly fun time the whole way! We chatted and nearly effortlessly passed the two hours (2:02.22), running 9:33 minute miles, crossing the finish line holding hands. Meanwhile… we’re actually four months pregnant with Lake’s baby sister, now. Baby on board, indeed! I wore the signs for spaß. Baby sister loves running, taking after her parents in that regard. It was altogether an extra sweet experience to share all together.

A perfect day for the Iron Horse Half Marathon… I’m glad I ran it with you!

If you are the person who

• finds your son’s dirty socks in your purse (yes, this happened this morning)
• lives alone (yes, I’ve been there too)
• is the most stylish person you know
• has ever been confronted by a confoundingly stubborn jar lid just when you’re at your hangriest
• everyone looks to for recommendations…

JarPop is a must!

Simple JarPop TM – jar opener directions read:

Place JarPop on rim of lid. Gently lift JarPop handle just until you hear vacuum release. Lid will spin freely off jar.

Originally recommended to my mother by the friendly staff at Greg Grund’s Crown Drug in Hoquiam, WA as a top selling item, JapPop is a true find. It elegantly and easily assists you to open stubborn jar lids. Buy one, buy a dozen and become more popular with your friends and neighbors! Plus be the hero of those awkward late night visitors, jar in hand guilty look in eyes, Can you help me open this? Yes, JarPop can! And will… with pleasure!

Lake’s a fan! With JarPop, you can be this happy too! A perfect day; I’m glad I spent it with you.

Lake went with Michael and Vivien to pick up Langley from his Canyon Ranch summer vacation at Karen and Mark’s. It was a happy reunion! Langley looks as handsome as ever and is game to hop into our car for his next adventure. Our home is now filled fit to burst with cats and Langley and au pairs!

Welcome back, Langley! We love you so. It’s a perfect day with you here!

What does Lake like to do most, besides Hug cats, eat fruits, sing and perform? …Run around and touch things! So it was courageous of us to take Lake to the Museum of Anthropology while we were in Vancouver, BC. I tried to explain that it is a building full of artifacts from dead people so we want to be very quiet and respectful. Luckily there were lots of chairs and benches scattered throughout to climb on and a few touchable artifacts where interacting was encouraged.

Although to our great disappointment, no climbing on the Haida Bear. Still it was a great time, visiting.

On the drive home as we sat in stop-and-go traffic for much of the Washington’s I-5, Lake innovated the Beluga, his name for a Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR bullet train. We’re totally on board, Lake!