Getting the Hang of a New Place

Even though this new house is only four miles from our old house, there are things we have to get used to.

Like, where to go for family walks - without loading up the car.

This is a great "trail" across the street. A mile will take you to an ocean overlook.

We found a snake in the yard.

Jim heroically caught it and took it to a field across the street.

By "caught" it, I mean he literally picked it up with his fingers.

 I will never ever pick up a snake with my bare hands.

Avery was running round and round the house the day our friends were loading up some stuff in their Uhaul.

She siddled up to me, tugged on my arm, and whispered, "I fell."

She was covered in dirt. It cracked me up.

We have been going to Birch Bay a lot since moving here. It's just down the street now!

I've had to find new running routes. For some reason I get really nostalgic for my old routes. Even though the run this evening was amazing, I miss my old check points. Kind of strange.

You can see Baker behind the tractor. 

Also behind the tractor is some BP oil refinery buildings. They aren't as picturesque, so I covered them up.

Then you eventually meet up with a view of the ocean and islands. With the sunset, I was really ooo-ing and aaah-ing.

BP owns all this land, but it's open to pedestrians. 

I do love the lay out of this house, but there is SO much counter to clean,

and SO much dark wood floor to sweep. 

It's a hard house to keep show room ready.

(also...post haircut...)

(and pre-haircut)

One day Avery and Evan were playing Flynn Rider.

He was tied up for at least 30 minutes. That's one of my favorite games in the world right there.

And on another boring day, both kids were asleep at 3:00 in the afternoon. It was nice.

Oh raspberries!

You little nuggets of summer heaven!

 I love fresh picked berries so much.

Andrew picks and shoves them into his mouth. 

I get such a kick out of watching him eat for some reason.

So pretty.

More Birch Bay. 

The tide came up, the sun was hot, so we got in. 

These kinds of days are my favorite family memories.