the littlest gardener.

maybe you've heard us complain about how the construction company that has been digging up the road outside our house for the past THREE WEEKS left one of their giant trench boxes lying on top of our parking strip garden overnight. well two days ago the foreman approached me and said they'd like to plant us another garden and what sorts of plants would we like. and then yesterday, this! blueberries, lavender and rosemary, just like we asked for.

and they're off. see you in a week, sweet kiddo.

waiting to wave goodbye to the buses.

last hug.

registration!

the more curated 'off to camp' shot.

what it actually looks like as we try to get out of the house for camp drop off.

pensive on his last night before sleep-away camp.

demoing his knife skilz under the watchful eye of chef nat.

a lot of excitement at the chin-up bar.

riley makes an excellent white blood cell.

at the pacific science center 'grossology' exhibit. you know, just sniffing some bacterial odors trying to decide if they originate in the mouth, armpit, foot, or anus. we did this of our own volition, which is pretty weird if you actually think about it.

as the drought continues, and rattlesnake lake shrinks there's more beach for lying on. silver linings?

post bath screen time is a definite 'only when we have visitors' perk.

asha came to visit and do a little art with kale.

and bumper boats.

on the plus side, there was lazer tag.

aiden's birthday at the 'family fun center'. it was every bit as loud and chaotic as it looks, my hearing might never fully recover.

whole family bike ride on car-free lake washington blvd.

fancy footwork.

goalie practice.

impromptu post-camp su soccer game attendance.

goggles make everything more fun.

good thing the lake is always available for a refreshing dip.

it's hot work being at camp all day.

what about when your friend jenny-sue comes to seattle to read her new book and you get to play with her amazingly cute baby and listen to a good story? does it get better than this?

sometimes, when your brother gets to go play whirlyball with the grownups but you are not quiiiiite old enough, well then you need a corn dog and a slurpee (1st slurpee ever, folks) to feel that all is right with the world.

apparently soccer in the park is less fun than soccer on the street.

shannon and co. came to visit us from portland, and the kids played soccer all the way to the park.

probably not his first selfie, definitely won't be his last.

i found this gem on the camera after the kids had been home alone for a few hours.

also we like to share our blueberry bounty with the chefs.

what can i say, we are a family that loves to watch a cooking competition. especially a live cooking competition at the farmers market.

maxing and also relaxing.

hard at work in the mudflats.

early morning hangies.

but soon enough 'hot guys and cute animals'has worked it's magic and they're all thick as thieves again.

when thomas and georgia come visit from san fran it takes a few minutes to reconnect.

and spent the next 3 hours pretending they lived in it. magic.

on a recent trip to rattlesnake lake the kids found this cave amongst the tree roots.

what better way to celebrate calvin's birth than a bbq (with shade, no less).

and for jumping, obvs.

bridge knows all the good lakes for swimming...