The Oregon Coast

We LOVE the Oregon coast. This week we met our good friends the Dolencs for five glorious days at the beach. The first two nights we camped in a campground (yes, we deserve a round of applause for camping with two four-year olds and two babies) and then we spent the last two nights relaxing at a beautiful beach house. It was a fantastic time.


We all spent many hours on the beach walking on the sand and playing in the water.




Sam was still getting used to the cold water on his toes. His sister, on the other hand, absolutely LOVES the beach. She would have spent our entire trip running in the waves.



The kids enjoyed our time in camp too. Many an hour were spent playing with games and toys on the ground and in the tent.



The weather couldn't have been more perfect--August at the beach is SO beautiful.


We felt blessed to have such great time with our family and our friends this summer.

Keeping Busy

We're staying busy this summer . . . trying to be outside as much as possible. In early August, Sam, Maya and I went with my folks to their cabin near Leavenworth in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. We spent several hours at the local swimming pool, enjoying the warm Eastern Washington weather.

Sweet Maya flashes a pretty smile.

Sam plays in the sand at the playground.

The kids are getting to be pretty good pals.

I got to go for a couple wonderful trail runs--then I joined the kids at the park.

Bapa was Maya's favorite swim buddy.

Sam always has smiles for Marmie.

Both Bapa and Marmie joined Maya in the pool one evening.

Aaron and I had a date night at the Sounders game.

I think in Aaron's secret double life, he'd be a striker for the Sounders!

A trip to Canby gave us the chance to see Gretta, Maya's favorite childcare mama.

The cute Canby girls pose for me--Maya's special friends from our life in Oregon.

Maya eats cake on my 34th birthday in Everett.

Sam celebrates birthday festivities with his mama.

Don't I have a nice family--they made my birthday SO special!

People We Love

We are doing just fine in Everett. Just fine. But there are people who were our friends and neighbors in Pullman whom we miss VERY much. These are some pictures of those people. It's not an exhaustive list by any means--just a small representation of friends we love. But these dear faces bring us joy and remind us of a very sweet time.

Sam playing at the park a few days before we left.

Aaron and Maya playing djembe in the Watsons' living room.

Three special friends; Annemarie, Kaitlin and Amy. I miss these dear souls SO much.

Two of Maya's favorite people: Gracie and Ryan.

Sweet, sweet Sydney and her fantastic mama Tiffany (a fellow writer, English teacher and kindred spirit!)

Maya, Leila and Maren: Four-year-old buddies!

Liz and Elsina.

Maya and Leila indulge me with their smiling faces.

Helping Sydney on the teeter-totter.

Sam and his best-buddy Ethan. They are 8 days apart in age.

Farewell, Pullman people. We miss you more than you know.