Outdoorsy Summer Adventures

You know us, we love to be in the mountains. Even though we are busy with a house, fun with friends, Rachel, and trips, we have gotten into the great outdoors a few times this summer.

Bridal Veil Falls

In May, we hiked to Bridal Veil Falls. It was a bit steep but not too bad. It is a beautiful, roaring waterfall. Rachel loved it. We hiked with Andrew's brother Wesley and his wife Maren. Andrew took many beautiful photos.

Unfortunately, Andrew used his $250 memory card that he was swindled into buying. It died in June on our family vacation. And we do not have the money to pay for someone to recover the photos at this time. Needless to say, we are unhappy about this. The moral of the story is to not spend that much money on a memory card.

Fishing in Daddy's "Boat"

We don't have a real boat (someday!), but Andrew does have a float tube. He went out one morning to our neighborhood lake to try his luck at fishing. No luck. Rachel and I went to see him in the morning. Rachel got to wear her life jacket and did really great on Daddy's "boat". Since then, she loves pointing out boats and saying they are Dad's.

A beautiful sunrise; lilypads; "Mom, the sun is in my eyes!"; Rachel and Andrew seeing the sights of the lake; Rachel and Sarah after the cruise.


The Big Four Ice Caves

In the middle of July, we went hiking to the Big Four Ice Caves. It is a pretty easy hike. I was 35 weeks pregnant, no climbing to the top of a mountain this pregnancy. But we had a great time. Rachel kept singing, "Hiking! Hiking!" I think she likes hiking. You were born into the right family, little girl.

The cutest hiker EVER; the Ice Caves are pretty much melting snow that make caves, they weren't very impressive right now; Sarah and Rachel; trees in front of The Big Four (the mountain); Sarah waiting for Rachel and Andrew (can you see the belly?); a waterfall going down to the snow; Rachel and Sarah at the picnic at Coal Lake; wildflowers along the road.


Camping at Cascade Park

We went camping with our friends at a Church property called Cascade Park. Rachel had so much fun getting dirty and playing with the big kids. All the kids loved the awesome barrel swing next to our campsite. We ate yummy food and had lots of fun. Rachel even slept really well in the tent!---until 5:20 when some very noisy crows started cackling in the trees next to our tent. I went out and shooed them away, but Rachel would not go back to sleep. She was fairly pleasant but super tired. Andrew and I were really tired, too, as we had stayed up late looking at stars and chatting with our friends.

Claire, Rachel, and Dallon having fun around the fire; all three kids on the swing, pushed by Kendra; Dallon kept kissing Rachel in the swing, which was really funny because she always tries to kiss him when she plays with him, but he never lets her; Rachel in the swing; a very sleepy Rachel snuggled up in a sleeping bag; Rachel and the awesome swing---so very tired but she did not want to get out.


We have had a pretty great summer and have gotten out into the wild at least once a month. That has been nice. I hope you have had a great summer, too!

Memorial Day Fishing Trip

We went fishing out of Anacortes on Memorial Day. We fished for lingcod and greenlings in the beautiful San Juan Islands. It was a fun time.


A beautiful morning on a boat.


Just an example of the pretty places we fished in. One place we were fishing was off of Stuart Island, where we could see Canada.


The GPS, depth measurement taker, and fish finder.


Wes and Maren fishing.


Hannah and I freezing.


Someone caught a sea cucumber!


Me and Andrew fishing.


"Wow, what a beautiful place! Do you think we'll ever catch anything?"


"No luck up here!"

We had only caught a few fish at this point. Nothing really amazing yet. Until...


Hannah pulled in this monstrous lingcod--which actually wasn't hooked! It was trying to eat a greenling that she had hooked!


Way to go, Hannah!
The cod was 36 inches (the maximum length that you can keep) and I don't remember how much it weighed.


Fun in the boat.


Brothers.


Sleeping in the boat. We had to be there by 5! Everyone got up at 4:15, except me, who woke up at 3:30 so I could nurse Rachel so my bosoms wouldn't explode on the boat.
Rachel did not come. :( She stayed with her Oma.

It was so cold. At one point, I said, "This is colder than ice fishing!" And it was.


Our combined catch.
I caught 4 rockfish, which you cannot keep. I am the rockfish queen!


Us holding the fish. I do not like to touch fish. Also I look huge, but I don't think I really am that size. Maren also caught a nice-sized lingcod.


Hannah and her fish. Wesley looking jealous.

We had fun!

Take us fishing again, The Dad!

Taking Rachel Fishing

Andrew loves fishing. And now I like fishing too. So, of course, we share this hobby with our sweet daughter.

When she was just a tiny babe, we took her to Cabela's to look at fishing poles.


So tiny. So uninterested and overwhelmed by Cabela's.

We took Rachel for her first fishing trip to Silver Lake.


Rachel and Dad sitting on the dock. Everyone is excited!


Rachel and Mom enjoying the cool evening on the dock.


Dad and Rachel fishing!

No, we did not catch anything. But we had a good time. It was nice to just sit by the water.

Kite Flying at the Beach

Even though we live pretty close to the Puget Sound, we don't go to the beach very much. We are more of freshwater people, therefore we usually head to the mountains. But we went to the beach last week. We checked out the beach at Edmonds where the ferry leaves from because we heard there was a public fishing pier. There truly is one and I think we might try some fishing if we get a bigger pole. Then we hung out, walked around, flew Andrew's kite, and had a picnic until it got cold. It was a nice afternoon.

Andrew and his kite.

Flying the kite.

From behind.

I had to get pictures from all angles.

Two bald eagles.

After the picnic!

Kissing should be an important part of all adventures.

We had a good day. Go out tonight and have an adventure!

Friends at Lake Sacagawea

We met some of our good friends in the middle. We drove from Washington and they drove from Oregon. We haven't seen them since last November, so it was great to spend time with them.

Jared fishing with N (on the lap) and J (standing). I love this picture. It is so cute.

I kept telling Andrew that this was the future. Just imagine: Andrew trying to get toddlers to fish but they just want to splash the water with the fishing rods.


Some friendly ducks. Sandra was throwing them some delicious tortilla chips.


J with his drum that we brought him from Hong Kong.


N kept sitting on the cooler and then tipping it so he would fall off. It was so funny.


After our friends left with two sleepy boys, we kept trying to fish. We fished for three hours. Andrew was determined to catch a fish. We could not leave until he caught one.

Frustrated, Andrew just started to run his lure along some rocks. This little fella just attacked the lure! Super aggressive fish can come is very small packages.

The fish.

It was a good day. I was happy and sunburned, even though I didn't catch a fish.