Clam digging and therefore . . . Easter at the Beach

One thing that most people don't realize about Seattle is that it is not on the coast. While we are very close to salt water, it's Puget Sound. So if you want to go to the beach, the real beach, with real sand, the closest one is two and a half hours away.

To add another fun fact, this one in reference to me, is that I love seafood, and I love to go and get it myself (shocker, I know).
Last fact, in the state of Washington you can go clam digging year round, but if you want razor clams (the best!), there are only certain days out of the year that they let you dig for them. One such day was last Saturday, the day before Easter.

Now a normal family at this point is planning their big Easter Egg Hunt with either the neighborhood, family or friends; but I was planning a trip to the beach.

So here we are, at the beach and Brooke is holding our very first razor clam!, and Luke in the background ready to go for the next.
Sadly, digging in the ocean and camera's don't really mix, so this is the only picture we have of our clams, and sadly we only ever caught nine of them.
Although this picture doesn't show it, there were hundreds of people on the beach that day, all digging to get clams; and I'm an amateur. Some people out there really know what they're doing and they're walking around with a ton. Someday.

Building the bonfire post clam digging to cook hot dogs on.

Although we were at the beach, stocking hats and coats were nice, if not necessary.

Zach, me and Luke flying our kite. I even let the boys hold the string for a while . . . until of course they let it go and I had to run madly down the beach chasing it.

And then the Easter Egg hunt. We did plan one, but certainly not traditional.

Cosette and Adalyn Williams, Brooke, Josh and Zach, all ready to go.

Not the greatest shot, but the circles on the beach are our eggs. The kids had a blast! Luke and Zach in typical toddler fashion, picked up one egg, ate it, and then picked up another. Brooke and Josh tried to show them the ropes, telling them that it was better to pick up as many as you could, but they would not be swayed. It was really a great day at the beach, and as you can tell from the pics, a for real cloudless day.

Final Pics from 2010

On Christmas day we went crabbing with the bishop. It was a ton of fun and the kids still go "crabbing" whenever they can find a bucket and a rope around the house.

19 crabs in total . . . ymmmmmm.

Luke would have been in the picture above, but he was in the picture below instead.

Luke getting loose with grandma, and undoubtedly my most favorite picture from the holidays.

Thanks for Thanksgiving

A little late, but I just forgot to ever post this. . . oh well.

Although we somehow scathed through the holiday without a single picture on the actual day, the whole week was one for which I am thankful. It started with a light snow Sunday morning that stuck to trees and grass, but left the roads clear. Monday morning it was a little tricky for Ruston to get into work, but he made only slightly late. In the afternoon, he played it safe and took the early train and was home by 4, while the roads were still clear and dry. We have several good friends who tried to make it home to Bonney Lake an hour later and either 1) never made it, 2) were stuck on a bus for 8 hours, without being allowed to leave (even to go to the bathroom, so they did it on the bus behind coats, or 3) walked for two hours up the hill. Tuesday was a snow day, no had to go anywhere, or for that matter could go anywhere. So we stayed home and spent the day playing in the snow and sledding. Although Wednesday wasn't a designated snow day, it was for us. Our fabulous little two-wheel drive truck was going anywhere, so yet again we played in the snow and drank large quantities of hot chocolate. By Thursday afternoon the roads were just a little wet, and the drive up to Bellevue for our turkey feast was clear and free. Friday I did make an early morning run to Target, and later we went to the mall.

In a nutshell, I got my husband home for the whole week, played in the snow with my kids, and in the end still got to go shopping. What a great week!

Super Heros

Apparentlty super man is now a gender neutral super hero. . .

cape and all!

Our Happy Halloween

My spooky cupcakes. I wish I could say I thought of it all by myself, but anyone who knows me knows I am way to type a to have even an ounce of creativity in me. I copied them from a magazine!

Ruston is holding Zach, he was Robin; Josh is the green dragon that has his backside to the camera. Sadly, we aren't the best picture takers and this is the only picture we have of Zach or Josh in their costumes. Luke and Zach were even Batman and Robin and they looked so cute together, but do you think we got a shot of them together . . .NO! Maybe I'll put their costumes bak on just for a picture!

Luke, after about the tenth car, he finally figured out what the deal was and then he was off!

Brooke and Kendall at trunk or treat

Josh thought these tractor bikes were so cool. He spent a lot of time driving his around.

Zach and his tractor out for a spin.

Luke did a great job driving the tractor.

Zach found a pumpkin just his size. Sadly, if your at the pumpkin patch on a field trip, that's the only size pumpkin they give you with your entrance fee. However, last years was only about half that size, if you can have a pumpkin be half that size and still be called a pumpkin.

Brooke and Zach are riding in Bossy, and just a coule of seconds after this picture was taken a tractor started pulling them along in a huge cow train.

Josh and Luke riding in Babe

These were just some fun pj's I found, but they glow in the dark and I think they're every bit as cool as their "real" costumes!

The Beach House

It wasn't until I looked back at our blog that I realized we never even mentioned the best vacation of our lives that we went on this summer. Needless to say, I'm having an affair . . . with the Oregon Coast. It's so beautiful, and woodsy, and beachy, and . . . perfect. The kids had a blast. They were always busy having fun, and I don't think I ever heard anyone say, "I'm bored, there's nothing to do.
Back in December I found a beach house on VRBO.com, and then we found some friends who were interested in going to split the cost with us, and then at the end of July, off we went. And really, can you go wrong with a huge beach house four blocks from the beach, hot tub, pool table, Foosball table, fire pit, amazing food and great friends? Ya, did I mention we had fun? Here are some pics from our adventure.

Don't worry, it's a marshmallow on his lips. Should I mention that it was 10:30 in the am when we were already roasting marshmallows?

I think the crab survived his encounter with Brooke.

Luke enjoying the beach.

Josh loved the wake board, sadly though he never actually did more than stand on it and let the waves come to him.

The First Days of School

It's funny to finally be posting Brooke and Josh's "First Day of School" pictures since I know of several places where school isn't just starting, they're well into their second month. But out here in good ol' Bonney Lake, we milk summer for all it's worth, and we don't start until the Tuesday after Labor Day.
In reaching that oh so exciting first day of school, and for Brooke her first day of kindergarten, as a mother I have also hit a milestone, the beginning of packing a school lunch. The first night while Brooke and I sat smearing PB&J across bread, I felt like that car insurance commercial, "I am so there".

(anxiously awaiting the school bus)

(Brooke's already going up the stairs)

The first day of Kindergarten for Brooke was a hit. She was so excited because on the first day they didn't do any numbers or letters. She is also really enjoying music class and all the new friends she gets to play with. However, I think she's taken back a bit by the "rules of the playground". Mostly by the rule that says, "even though we're friends at home, that doesn't mean we play together at school. I have my friends and you have yours, but when we get home again, let's hang out." What is the deal with that rule? I guess I kind of get it, but Brooke is all sorts of confused by it. Fortunately, she does have "her" friends that she can hang out with during recess, so she's handling it very well.

Josh is also had his first last day of preschool. For two years now we've taken our kids to Ms. Shauna's for preschool, and the kids just love her. She does an amazing job, and like every good teacher is so underpaid. Josh loves her, and we love her, and he's so excited to go and learn.

Josh and Ms. Shauna