Wildwood Park

Wildwood Park in Puyallup has this gorgeous little spot with a playground next to a shallow stream. We were out there a couple of weeks ago and loved it, so we went back with some Primary friends (from church) and took the camera.



Andy tip-toeing into the cold water.



The bank on the other side of the stream has this cool network of exposed roots (lots of erosion from years of climbing children, I'm sure). The whole place just makes a lovely setting. It actually reminded me of a cross between Korea and John Bryan State Park where I grew up in Ohio. (But without the humidity.)



Getting some help from Daddy.



Kate had a bit of seed fluff (like the kind you'd get from a milkweed plant) that she was playing with, and she was quite distraught when she dropped it and couldn't find it.





Andy, framed.

I ended up taking more pictures of the other kids than of my own. Here are a few:






We took along some lunch. I've discovered that it's difficult to get the kids to stop playing long enough to eat. Maybe next time we'll have them eat in the car.

Take a picture, it'll last longer.

Life's odd little moments. We seem to be having more of those, with Kate home from school. Here's a little frozen-in-time memory from today:  Kate goes out and plays in a dirty puddle with the neighbors.  Kate comes in and has a bath.  Kate eats lunch.  Kate asks me to take a picture of her yogurt.




Why am I taking a picture of Kate's yogurt?  She spotted a dinosaur skull in her spoonful.  Can you see it?  I've been taking a lot of pictures of food lately, by request.  Interesting pancakes and other things. 



How many seven-year-olds will eat plain Greek yogurt?  (Even if it does have dinosaurs in it!)

Cousin Margaret Rose

My brother Peter and his wife Karen welcomed their third daughter, Margaret Rose (they're going to call her Megan for short), July 23 at 1:06 pm, 8 lbs 6 oz, 21.5", with red hair like her sister Lizbeth. Baby and parents are doing well!

Growing up, Peter occasionally lamented being the only boy in the family. Now he has three girls!

Crabs at Kopachuck

We don't have a big trip happening this summer. I've had the feeling that the whole summer could get away from us if we don't make the effort to seize the day. Doug and I both tend to be kind of homebodies, and not really good planners, so it can be an effort to get the family out of the house and doing things. Doug picked up a Discovery Pass for us a while ago (good for all state parks!) but today was the first time we used it.

We took the kids out to Kopachuck State Park in Gig Harbor. I'd heard about it but hadn't ever been there before. It's a very cool beach--the water is sheltered and shallow, and there are lots of creatures. (It was a nice day for it, too. Not too sunny. Is that weird? I actually do better if it's not super sunny.)



Doug points out the little crabs in the water. Kate thought the crabs were great fun. (That weird thing sticking out from behind Kate is a large plastic dinosaur that she's holding. Just in case you're wondering why she's sprouting chicken feet.)



My camera battery died right after this (whoops!) but we did get some video. You can see a pretty good view of the crabs in the water, and at the end you can see Andy making letters with his fingers.



Lots of fun!  We'll have to go back again.

pretzelus giganticus

We went to the Indian buffet in Lakewood for lunch, and stopped by the Hess Bakery to pick up some pretzels. (Not that one needs anything else to eat after a lunch like that, but these pretzels are always worth getting.) They come in large and VERY LARGE. Kate opted for the super-sized variety.  So of course we had to get some pictures..





How long do you think it'll take her to eat that?