Four Days Later

Four days after our first visit to Mt. Rainier, the kids and I went back again,

but this time we took Grandma.

We took an easier one mile hike that had plenty of views like this one.

Our destination was Myrtle Falls,

and this was the view looking up from the top of the falls.

Half of the kids thought the bridge was great

(the other half weren't so sure it was engineered properly), 

and they were all delighted to make a new friend

(from a distance).

Too much fun and way too beautiful to only go twice...

Mt. Rainier

On Sunday, we went up to Mt. Rainier on a four mile hike.

And when I say "we",

I mean we ALL went.

See?

The hiking part was fun,

and the mountain was even more beautiful the closer we got,

but crossing the snow patches on the trail was the most fun.

(Especially when we got to slide down the snow-covered trail on the other side!)

We saw a buck, two does, a marmot, and a lot of wildflowers.

A lot of wildflowers.

(So many that I got overwhelmed trying to pick which pictures to post.

So you get to see two.

I'm sorry and you're welcome.)

Too much fun and way too beautiful to only go once...

Why I Haven't Blogged Since May

I sat down and went through the pictures I've taken over the last few months, 

thinking that I'd just do an update in pictures

but it was so overwhelming that I gave up within minutes.

I know we've been busy, but I'd forgotten already just HOW busy!

This picture though, pretty much sums up my summer so far:

four happy, healthy, active kids!

(The girls are wearing some of my mom's keepsake clothes: 

Anya - a shirt from Mexico, Jaela - my mom's high school graduation dress, and Macey - my mom's first sewing project)

A Cleaning Party

After the chicks moved out of the house, we had some serious cleaning to do before we had company this weekend. Jaela and I tackled the bathroom, then Macey and I cleaned the guest room. We dusted every surface (including the ceilings), polished the logs, and deep cleaned until every last bit of chicken dust was gone. We had so much fun that everyone wanted to get in on the action, so Anya decided to take care of the cobwebs and dust the high parts of the log walls while she was at it...

then Isaak dusted and polished the staircase and all the parts of log walls that he could reach.

He asked to vacuum next, so of course I let him!

Jaela wanted to mop the bathroom and kitchen,

and Macey wanted to mop the laundry room.

Anya and Isaak worked together to "mop" the hardwood floors, then Anya finished mopping the dining room.

***

Who knew housework could be so much fun?!?

Bubbles!

Peasant, Pee-sant, Pheasant

Playing dress-up, Jaela asked me:

J: Mom, don't I look just like a princess?

(She's wearing two dresses, three layers of shawls, and a scarf tied over her straw hat...)

Me: Actually, you look more like a peasant girl.

J: Really?!? (runs back upstairs to tell her sisters...)

Later:

J: Mom, did I really look like a pee-sant?

Me: No, you looked like a peh-sant.

Macey, a few minutes later:

M: Mom, wasn't that funny when Jaela asked if she looked like a pheasant?

Me: No funnier than when you called her a pheasant instead of a peasant!

Our Vacation: A New Favorite

Over the long weekend, we went to one of our favorite vacation spots...

Grandpa Pat and Grandma Suzie's!

The view from our window:

(my husband tells me the mountains are even more spectacular by dawn's early light, but I'm just going to take his word for it on that one...)

The girls rode every day,

so of course Isaak did too.

The trip home included a long detour to Multnomah Falls,

which were beautiful as always,

even though the weather and the attitudes weren't!

Survival Essentials: January 2012 Edition

Survival Essential #1: Coffee

We learned that it is possible to grind coffee beans with a wooden spoon. Then when the water finally boils on the wood stove, our little French Press provides us each with a decent cup (or two) of coffee.

Survival Essential #2: Food

On Wednesday, the day before the power went out, I cooked up two huge batches of beans to freeze for future use.

They warmed up nicely in a big cast iron pot on the wood stove for dinner Thursday and Friday nights. (It will be a while before we're ready to have beans again!)

We learned that pancakes cooked on the grill are especially yummy.

(So are fried eggs and pesto-encrusted salmon!)

(But not all at the same time, of course.)

Survival Essential #3: Water

Remember the hand-pump we had installed on our well this summer?

Mike pumped lots of water.

LOTS of water.

For washing dishes, flushing, cooking, and drinking.

Survival Essential #4: Candles

Once it got dark, we all curled up in blankets and quilts in the living room and read by candlelight.

Survival Essential #5: Laundry Tub

Sunday morning I finally gave in and did some laundry.

Some things just can't wait.

Survival Essential, Special Mention: Wood stove

The wood stove was the center of attention. It boiled water for coffee and tea, heated food, heated dish water, dried wet gloves and clothes, kept us warm, and even provided (some) light in the evenings.

I can't imagine these last few days without it.

Sledding

Anya went sledding with her eyes closed:

Jaela and Isaak were still upright when they got to the bottom of the hill:

Macey got airborne:

And Jaela and Mike crashed on the last ride of the day!

Silly Kids

Catching snowflakes in her mouth

A Navy Seal creeping up on the enemy position

Ruger, come!

Throwing snowballs for Ruger to catch

Trying out the grown-up-size skis

An Afternoon With the Little Yellow Airplane

This is our little yellow airplane.

She's a 1946 Piper Cub

(and I can't help calling her Stella).

That guy standing next to her is her pilot.

His name's Mike.

He has four kids that have been waiting for days for the weather to be clear enough to go flying.

They drew straws to see who'd be first, and Isaak was the lucky one.

(Mike IS sitting in the pilot's seat. Really!

You sit in the back to fly a J-3 Cub.)

Jaela got to go next,

Anya went third,

and although Macey had to wait until all of her siblings were done, she got to ride along (after her turn) while the pilot did a few extra landings and take-offs.

Who's next?!?