Summer Vacation...a week on the Olympic Peninsula

The third week of August we headed out for our grand adventure of the summer.(Warning: lots and lots of pictures to follow) We headed north to the Olympic Peninsula.  We thought the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston would be fun for the kids. However summer is especially busy and we ended up waiting in line for 2 hours before boarding. Bennett shows his mad face at having to wait so long.

The kids wanted to see the front of the ferry, but once they experienced how windy it was they liked the view from the side better.

Our first stop was Sequim/Port Angeles to visit Zach's mom, Oma as the kids call her. On Sunday we drove up from Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge, part of the Olympic National Park system. Bonus for us it was a fee free weekend...we love free!  The weather cooperated fantastically and the views were gorgeous. Here are the kids with the Olympic Range in the background.

 Marin found her car in the parking lot....it has her name on it and everything!

 We took a little trail around the other side of the ridge and saw where there used to be a ski hill.

Our goofy kids hamming it up.

Our next day trip was to Port Townsend and Fort Worden State Park on the NW edge of the peninsula. The weather once again cooperated and we enjoyed a gorgeous day playing in the sand. The kids dared go in the water, but only quick trips, as the Pacific Ocean is frigid this far north.

Marin lost her head on this trip, or maybe she's just helping Greyson out.

One of the kids favorite parts of this day was the marine science center on the pier. Inside were several "touch tanks" filled with sea stars, anenomes, and other touchable sea creatures. They were squeamish at first, but soon overcame that and loved watching the creatures.

The next day we headed to Salt Creek County Park to see some tide pools in nature, the weather was beautiful but the tide was coming in. We still had great fun climbing on the rocks and poking the little creatures.

After a bit of a drive around the top of the peninsula the kids were anxious to get out of the car. Our next stop was the tip of Lake Crescent to a short little hike to Marymere Falls. At 1.5 miles round trip it was perfect for 4 sets of little legs. Looks like we are raising some cute tree huggers here!

Weekend at the Grandparents

The last weekend in July we headed down to the 'couve to visit the grandparents and build a fence. All work and no play makes for a dull weekend, so we took the first day and headed for the beautiful Oregon Coast.

Some playing in the sand ensued and Greyson trying to pull his head out.

The wind was out in full force, thus allowing for some great kite flying.

 

It was also great weather for toddler flying.

 

Ahh the Oregon Coast with 3 of my favorite guys.

After the beach we headed for the Tillamook Cheese Factory, it doesn't get much better than eating ice cream while watching cheese be made.

The next day while the guys got to work building the fence the kids and I headed out to a local blueberry field. Ahhh heaven surrounded by yummy blueberries as much as we could pick and eat!

What a haul! This crew picked 33 pounds in an hour.

This calls for a party!

A new member of the family calls for a celebration! My sister and her husband recently welcomed baby Logan to their family. So over the 4th of July weekend, our parents, one other sister and Grandparents came to visit to meet the new little one and participate in the blessing at church.

The weekend started off deliciously with traditional swedish pancakes. Granddad's mother is from Sweden and he learned to make them from her. Ever since I can remember Grandma and Granddad have made swedish pancakes, boy are they yummy!

 

Greyson sure likes to get into his food!

After such a wonderful breakfast we were off to visit the uber-touristy town of Leavenworth, Grandma and Granddad hadn't seen it yet. The weather was perfect and the kids in good spirits.

Trying for a perfect photo-op outside...well 3 out of 4 kids looking and smiling is pretty good in my book.

We headed to Lake Wenatchee for a picnic lunch. Don't let the sunny weather fool you. We were all huddled in blankets, because it was sooooo windy and cold! We were all dressed for warm not windy and cold. Lunch was eaten very quickly so we could get back in to the cars and leave!

Here he is baby Logan!  Surrounded by 3 generations. Julie, our Dad and his mother.

Here are the proud grandparents with the newest addition to the Vieting clan.

School's Out for Summer

Yes I know it's the middle of July, but it's my blog, so there! Marin and Greyson had such fabulous teachers this year and did really great in school. Mrs S retired this year after 38 years of teaching. Marin loved her and grew so much this year.

Greyson had two teachers who did a job share. They were great with their different styles and personalities. Greyson came a long way with his reading and he loves school.
On the last day of school after they had met their teachers for next year both kids were so excited they couldn't wait for school to start again. Hopefully they'll keep up their excitement for learning!

First Campout of the Season

Hello Summer and welcome to the camping season!  We started out the weekend before school got out and headed up north to Steamboat Rock State Park. What a beautiful area! Right on Banks Lake.

 Ha! We made it! Don't they look proud? We started out Saturday morning climbing up Steamboat Rock, we weren't very well prepared, but the kids were troopers and we made it about 75% of the way up.  They climbed like mountain goats over rocks and through sage brush.

This spot on the way down the kids thought was a great place to take pictures, so we obliged.

Some parts got a little steep so on the way down the kids discovered the easiest and most funnest way was to slide on the bum.

 I found this idea in a magazine and it's a keeper. When camping take along a package of googly eyes and some white glue, instant craft and the possibilities are endless. This is Greyson's dog, see the ears glued to the top? There was also a tail on the back. Of course when dad's are allowed to play this might happen as well.

After climbing up rocks in the morning and playing in the lake most of the afternoon we were all pretty tuckered out, tired enough to sleep like this in the shade of a nearby tree.

 

Looks pretty comfy doesn't it? Oh yeah this is the life! What a way to start the summer!

Happy Birthday to my man!

One year older and wiser too! Happy Birthday to my favorite guy! We celebrated on June 8th with chocolate cupcakes and peanut butter frosting. Totally yumm-o!

Tractors, Runners and a Baptism....wow what a weekend!

May definitely came in like a lion and we've been running ever since. Here is how the month started with this thing coming through the back fence, just barely with some skillful driving from Zach.

A bit of careful manuvering and it was safely in the backyard with no damage to the fence, the house, or the brother-in-law.

 

The purpose of this tractor visit was to dig a new drain field for our septic system.(I know you who are on sewer are jealous you don't get to do this). One of the first digs Zach made with the scoop found the pipe that leads from the holding tank to the old drain field. Unfortunately he found it too well, pulled it right off the tank and out it came. Not exactly what we wanted to have happen.

And this is what happened, "poo soup", grey water came pouring out from the holding tank, and boy did it smell lovely(NOT). So now what? Dig deeper to till it stops coming out. Thankfully the rest of the project went well after a not so positive start.

 

The kids were enthralled with the giant tractor. They stayed on the back porch just watching in awe.

 

The tractor was big, though not particularly loud, even so, Bennett preferred to watch from behind the sliding glass door.

 

The kids thought the tractor was a giant play structure.

 

Another cool event, a big yellow dump truck backed in and dumped a whole load of rock that eventually went in to the trench for the new drain field. Tractors, dump trucks, dirt and rocks, the kids were in heaven!

Drain field finished. On to the next adventure of the weekend. AppleBlossom! The Apple Capitals' biggest party of the year. To start Saturday morning off the kids did a 2K fun run. It's great the kids are grouped by ages and set off on the mostly downhill course that goes along the parade route. They are cheered on the whole way by parade watchers. I was so proud of all 3 of them. I pushed Bennett in the stroller and ran with Addy and Greyson, Marin was faster and ran the whole way. They all did so well and we only stopped once or twice to walk! Ribbons, T-shirts, Apple Juice and apples at the end made it all worth it. After the run we were able to rest and watch the parade go by.

 

A beautiful ending to a weekend full of family and fun. Marin was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zach. She was so excited! It was wonderful to have lots of family here in town to support her in this milestone in her life! She's a great kid and I feel very blessed to have her here!

 

The group shot. Can you see how windy it was? We should have stayed inside for pictures. Oh well, what's important is the event and not the pictures right?