10th Annual Family Beach Trip: Seaside

Another summer and another amazing trip to the beach with the Johnsons. We were back at Seaside and enjoyed many of its staple activities: beach walks, digging in the sand, throwing/kicking a ball around, trips into town for ice cream and other distractions, and general "cousinland" antics. 

This year we added a couple of new activities. One day we picked up the Huey boys who were also in Seaside and drove to Ft. Stevens. We rode our bikes to some of the places Sarah and I use to visit when we camped at Ft. Stevens with our family as kids: Battery Russell, Peter Iredale Shipwreck, and Coffenbury Lake. The trails seemed much shorter than I remembered them as a kid. Ha! Another day we decided to try out a hike...a very muddy hike. We all had a fun time in the end, but all our shoes needed a spin in the washing machine when we got home.

And here are a few photos...

P.S. 9th Annual Family Beach Trip

Parker's 11th Birthday Party

 

In lieu of a big birthday party, Parker opted for mini golf and dinner with a few friends. So, David took them to Interbay for golf and Zeeks for pizza.

Happy Birthday Parker! 

P.S. Parker's 10th Birthday Party

Someone Is Always Flexing

At times, our house feels a bit like a frat house. Maybe it's all the flexing?

Lost Lake with Cousins

{Parker insisted that he doesn't like lakes and wouldn't be participating}

{He decided he'd get his feet in and try to catch the little fish}

{And on the last day Parker got on the paddle board}

P.S. Cooling off at Lost Lake, Lost Lake for Labor Day, A Little Chaos and Lots of Fun, The Jacksons at Lost Lake

Mama Camp

A week with no trips and no day camps for the boys meant a week of Mama Camp: a rainy hike, playing at the beach, fun at the zoo, tennis, biking, and mini golf. 

{Can you spot the elusive snow leopard?}

P.S. Mama and Papa Camp 2019, Family Camp 2017 

River Girls Reunion at Lost Lake

 

The "River Girls" finally made it back together! We all went on an amazing river trip together back in 2017, which we lovingly called the Smoked Salmon. Someone had the idea to have a reunion each year and we started by meeting up in Camas the next summer. In 2019 we met in Alta and then in Wisconsin for Damian and Elly's wedding a couple months later. And then Covid happened so we haven't all been together since 2019!

This time we all converged upon Grandma Lois's lake house on Lost Lake and it was as if no time had passed. We had fun in the water, played bocce ball, ate good meals, and laughed a lot. Already can't wait for the next one!

Parker Turns Eleven!

Parker at 11 Years Old
Height: 57.48in
Weight: 70lb 12.8oz

Parker is now eleven years old and starting middle school soon! It's hard to believe, but this guy really is growing so big and dare I say, responsible. His favorite shirt is his "Heart of Gold" shirt, and it really is a spot-on descriptor of him. We all have things we're working on, and Parker is no exception, but at the end of the day, he cares so deeply about people and how the world works. He continues to be very curious, inquisitive, and interested in how and why things work the way they do. And here's a bit more about eleven-year-old Parker. He... 

• mostly really loves that he's getting older and more responsible.
• continues to be a morning person.
• will attend Hamilton International Middle School in September. He seems to be equal parts nervous and excited.
• has feet the same size as his mama!
• is doing a second year of Seattle United and loving it! Plus, he's getting better every day. He has good foot work and does a great job of picking his head up and finding space. It also helps that he's fast and has a rocket of a shot. He's working on being more physical, which is surprising given how physical he is with his brothers.
• loves to talk and generally likes it when people listen, but someone listening doesn't seem to be a requirement for him to start telling a story or explaining something.
• still loves to touch everything and figure out how it works.
• sometimes has a bit of pre-teen attitude. We aren't a huge fan of it.
• loves raspberries, pasta, hot sauce, and lemon bars.
• detests squash, mushrooms, and olives.
• still loves his stuffed animals. Fluff the tiny Beagle is still his most prized possession. 
• still loves to read books together before bed. I hope this never changes.
• is constantly singing and humming. He even signed up for choir as an elective next year. 
• continues to take piano lessons and he's very good at it, but he doesn't seem as into it as he has in the past.
• Still gives the most amazing hugs and doles them out liberally. 

P.S. Parker Turns Ten