We spent the Labor Day holiday doing nothing laborious. We drove to a park we have never been to before - Burfoot Park - and hiked down to the beach. 
There we found a couple of pirates fighting valiantly on a sinking ship.
It is on days like today, and walks with this view, that make me truly love where we live. 
A few years ago, Dave's mom sent him the card below.
It was hilarious at the time, and even more hilarious since we now own cats, and Abby like to do this with them. 
This past weekend we joined my cousins, the Dillon's, and the Campbell's, at Ohanapecosh in Mt. Rainier National Park. Our first hike was around Lake Tipsoo, where we encountered snow. A lot of snow. It was great fun to have snowball fights in August!
The "spring" flowers were just beginning to pop through in places.
It was such beautiful weather, and as always, the mountain delivered. Abby said it was the most wonderful place on earth. (Take that, Disneyland!) For your viewing pleasure, here's some of what we enjoyed.
We hiked to Silver Falls on Saturday. I know it's not just me - there is something very peaceful about a waterfall.
Now, on an entirely different note, this woman, who was in the campsite across road, cracked us up. She wore the cute little silk dress, with Teva's, and *wait for it* pearls. I'm totally taking mine next time we break out the tent!
Caleb's approach was less physical and more intellectual. 
Of course Abby spent as much time as possible with all the "cute goats." 
We saw lots of these...
I'd never seen an albino peacock before. Well, not counting Shen from Kung Fu Panda 2. 
At our school, half the kindergarteners went yesterday, and Abby is part of the group whose first day is today. Here she is with her friend Lexi. Hopefully their friendship survives them being in the same class this year!
I can't believe both kids are now in school. I'm glad that they both enjoy it so much. 
It was all I could do to make him wait for his friend Zane to start walking to school!
He has a teacher who is new to the school this year, and a couple of kids who are also new to the school. It should be a great year. 
It was hilarious at the time, and even more hilarious since we now own cats, and Abby like to do this with them. 
The "spring" flowers were just beginning to pop through in places.
It was such beautiful weather, and as always, the mountain delivered. Abby said it was the most wonderful place on earth. (Take that, Disneyland!) For your viewing pleasure, here's some of what we enjoyed.
We hiked to Silver Falls on Saturday. I know it's not just me - there is something very peaceful about a waterfall.
Now, on an entirely different note, this woman, who was in the campsite across road, cracked us up. She wore the cute little silk dress, with Teva's, and *wait for it* pearls. I'm totally taking mine next time we break out the tent!
And then there was this.
One of our favorite pictures taken that day.
And one from our reception. The cakes were my favorite part of the reception. There were 6 different flavored cakes, of which we each only got one lousy little bite.
I can't believe it was 13 years ago. I'm looking forward to the next 13; and the next 13 after that, and well, I think you get the idea!
