Soccer boys

The boys had fun this summer playing soccer.  Both played with good friends which made it all the  more fun!  Both really figured it out by the end of the season and were running and scoring like crazy.  

tide pool treasures

This was a new beach, so it doesn't have a name yet, but it needs one as it was a highlite of this trip.  We all got a healthy dose of our favorite things...The kids spent hours finding treasures in the tide pools, I took loads of photos and Tom found a comfy rock to nap next to.  Life is simpler out here and we love it.

TPECTO krill

 The kids had a little bit of save the planet inside of them, so attempted to throw all these krill back into the ocean:)  We've never seen these little guys all over the beach like they were this day and this is one of our "must stop" beaches every time we go to this area of Prince Wm. Sound.  The kids have named our favorite beaches and this one is TPECTO.

First boat 2012

 Memorial Day is always our first family

boating trip of the year.  We packed in some good memories despite the constant drizzle. We anchored by the Lytles for a day of fun, catching up, and exploring our favorite beach together.  Shrimping was an adventure as the pot-puller died and we had to pull the pots by hand...not once, but twice.  The whale show made up for every mishap, though...We watched a whale and a seal play and feed on krill right in front of us for almost an hour.  It was beyond incredible to listen to their vocalizations above water and watch them roll and surface over and over again.

tour de cure

 Ella and I rode in this year's "Tour de Cure" with Taylor and Liane.  Ella & Taylor have been close friends forever.  Taylor has diabetes, so it was super special to ride in honor of her.

Decade of Claire

Claire Christina.  What a girl!  Claire loves owls...real ones, cartoon ones...she loves to draw them, collect them, wear them.    She's been owling with her Gramps and taken pictures of owls and owlets. Claire is smart.  She is fast.  Her new nickname is "FedEx" because she beat me.....& I didn't let her:)...in this weekend's 5K in Cordova.  She turned 10 this spring and went on a scavenger hunt on her bike with some friends.  Claire is sensitive and cares deeply about others.  She wears this sweatshirt ALL the time and I call it her "friend."  She stepped out of her comfort zone this spring and took a break from gymnastics and has been pouring herself into basketball.  Claire loves Jesus & I'm sure glad he's given us her!  A decade with this girl......we look forward to many more by your side, Claire!