Ross Lake

Hans must have forgotten who he was planning the hiking/camping trip we just did together.

Yesterday we hiked TWELVE miles from the car to our camp site on Ross Lake.  We stayed at Devil's Creek and really, the devil can have it.  Twelve miles!  It was fun spending time with Hans and the hike was beautiful.  I am just more into the camping part of it all.  I hiked twelve miles, with a full pack, most of yesterday.  I even waded through one larger creek because the log across was just too dang high in the air.  After the sixth mile, my hips were giving me pain and I was slightly nauseous.  I think the last time I did anything resembling a hike was before we ever had kids.  Yesterday was a bit of an overwhelming re-introduction.  If you ask Hans, I did really well.  Today however, I can barely move.  We hiked the 3.7 miles back from Devil's Creek to Rainbow Point this morning, taking at least 2.5 hours since I was so sore.  Hans felt so bad for me that he said we'd wait by the dock for the ranger or someone in a boat to hitch a ride somehow, minimizing my mileage as much as possible.  Three older guys, Jeff, Eugene, and Brian, let us hitch a ride with them.  Very nice men, mostly retired, who do an annual fishing trip together.  Teased us a little about being married 13 years and not figuring out by now that maybe this hike attempt was going to be a bit much on me.  They dropped us off at the south end of the lake, but it was still another couple of miles to Highway 20, and a lot of it was up.  We hiked to the road and I waited in the shade while Hans hitched a ride with a vacationing German couple the 5 miles to where we left the car.  We had quite the adventure.

Visitors!

When I get photos from Mary and Meta, I'll be better able to write about all we've been up to.

July continues in a whirlwind of activity.  Meta visited last week for a couple of days with Mr. Emmett and Mr. Kai and her camera.  She takes such awesome pictures.  Meta took pictures of us with the Klanicas and took pictures when Gail and Aunt Jan came on Friday with Kacy, Micah, Melanie, and baby Kara.

When Meta arrived on Thursday, we met at Deception Pass State Park and played with the Klanicas.  

The three three-year-olds: Patrick, Hazel, and Emmett.  The water is so fun to play in, even if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Pip's outfit after falling in the water.  Eli's behind her in my jacket and no shirt or bottoms since his were so wet.

Catching Up

With all our craziness, it was nice to have one of the laziest weekends we've ever had.  Granted, the rainy weather did contribute to the zero accomplishments this past weekend as well.

Thursday with Klanicas was fun.  I got permission for Molly to go to camp with Abby for the day and they even had an extra shirt in the right color for her to match my girl.  Mary left with my Eli for his first overnight with a friend ever and I was left with two three-year-old girls until the older ones finished camp for the day.  Hazel and Annabella were hilarious, playing side by side, with one being "Mommy" and the other was "Little One."  Listening to the two of them chattering away is highly entertaining.

H: Okay, Little One.  It's time for nap.  You lay down here and Mommy will be here.  No, 'nabella!  You lay here (pointing to her princess bed as she climbs into my laundry bucket).
A: 'Night, Mommy!  You'll be right here?  (Closes eyes, fake sleeps.)
(2 seconds later)
H: Time to get up!  Let's go to the store.  (They go to Pip's room.)  'Nabella, you be Mommy.
And it starts all over.

Hazel says Annabella is her favorite friend.

Molly stayed the night with us and then we did a mad scramble drive to swap Molly for Eli and get my Abby to camp on time (only because we stopped at the library on the way back).  Didn't get Hazel a real nap until the weekend, but it was such a relief to have happen since it made for a much happier little girl.

Yesterday was another Klanica filled afternoon.  We went to Accidental Artist and painted pottery, something Abby had been waiting to do for when Molly got her since she did it for her Girl Scout badge.  Since I had all the kids with me, I splurged a little on a platter with the kids' handprints.  I'll have to take pictures of their projects to post here after they're fired.  Hazel was so mad about leaving her doggie named Scout behind to get "cooked."  We hung out at Skagit River Park in Burlington after zipping to Fred Meyer for snacks.  By this time, we had Rachelle and Emily along with us bringing our kid total to nine.  I think we did well for maneuvering through the store with nine kids trailing, especially with two of them being three, and three of them being boys.

Add Some Klanicas...

or at least the news that the Klanicas will be here in a few hours, and I get kids cleaning their rooms before 8:30 AM.  Wish Molly, Ben, Patrick and my Mary could come over more often, especially if this is the response I get from my kids!  We'll be having a full house soon since Annabella is also coming over today.  Only negative is that it's raining and my house is half the size of my sister's.  I'm thinking it'll be a pretty fun, loud day.

Boys!

Annabella was with us today and Hazel was busy all day playing.  After we walked Annabella to her grandparents' house, Eli ran into the house, disappeared for a few seconds, then ran back out to the backyard fence.  He ran out to pee!  Ugh.  Boys.

Wow, Time Flies

It's already the 10th.  Summer moves faster and faster every year.  I already have most weekends scheduled through October (although soccer games make much of that simple).  Abby starts Twilight Camp (through Girl Scouts) tomorrow, our friends from Louisana come this week, Mom and Meta are contemplating coming the week after, and the last week has the kids going to Farmor's and Grandpop's for fun grandparent time and swimming lessons.  Hans and I are thinking we'll go for a hiking/camping date.  And that just wraps up July.

Last weekend's 40th Anniversary fete for Harlan and Karen was a wonderful treat.  I'm still pondering if I'll share the musical entertainment from that.  They loved the sign Hans made.

We skipped Sedro-Woolley's parade on the 4th and tried out Arlington's.  I loved that Arlington's parade was about half as long.  The one here in S-W has far too many logging trucks and sprint cars.  There really isn't much variation in those.  Hazel was hilarious about the fireworks.  She ran circles around us while waiting for them to start, shrieking and giggling at the ones people would shoot off before the big show.

We've been in recovery mode this week.  Hans has been fussing about his sore throat, but won't go to the doctor.  I took Abby in and she has strep throat, but even that hasn't convinced the hubs to seek medical attention.  He's taking the antibiotics from his armpit boil, so that's better than nothing, right?  Abby's been on antibiotics long enough now that she's perking up and isn't contagious anymore, which is good since camp starts tomorrow.

Yesterday was one of the laziest Saturdays we've had as a family in a few years.  We spent most of the day in the backyard simply hanging out.  We had an impromptu barbeque with Hazel's friend Annabella's family.  It was nice to just chat and relax.  I'm going to be watching Annabella one day a week or so and when school starts, we may just trade babysitting so I can substitute.  Rachel (Annabella's mom) is going to check out the preschool I have Pip at too.

 

I love my little dirty ragamuffin.