On the farm

This summer, Dave's grandparents decided that maybe now would be the time to think about downsizing. What with a 4 bedroom house, garage/shop/artist studio, pole building, greenhouse, shed, orchards and fields, they may be on the right tack.

It is a bittersweet transition, though - and one that may not even come to pass - so we decided we needed to get down "to the farm" to see it again just in case it sells. Labor day was a great opportunity - and the weather sure cooperated - so we headed on down.

Now, Dave and his brother spent many of their formative days down there, under grandpa's elbow, at grandma's table, so I'm really so glad that the girls have memories of this place they are old enough to hold on to. In addition to the tons of other shots I've posted over the years, here are a few more to round out the bunch:

Lead the way, Grandpa!

potatoes

seeing where food comes from

diggit

while managing to stay clean :)

checking the stock

Four little campers

So the other burgeoning camping tradition would be our annual trip with the Waddells. Gordon, Danika, Lucy and Beatrix are game for fun in the woods, so we take them up for it - with relish!

The girls range in age between 5.5 and 3.0 years and we're finally seeing some playing (and sparring!) together. It's so great. I know that the more we get these girls together when they are little, the more they will love each other as they get older.

Somehow, I managed to only glimpse shots of the adults, but I promise we were on the scene.

This year's trip was to the Salmon La Sac campground just NW of Cle Elum. Cle Elum...where the massive forest fires were raging, though where we were, you were none the wiser (except maybe for the haze on the lake). Thank goodness - the smoke and fires didn't snuff our plans for fun!

Lucy in her element

Bea in hers

 

Zoe "dipping her toe" (that's enough thanks ;))

Chill baby

Chill

You do it your way, I'll do it mine

memorable impressions :)

hi there

time to chill...again

camp snack - jiffy pop!

2nd annual

take 2

take 3...

take 4?

keeping cool, keeping out of trouble

On the few days when I was at home and able to hit the weeding, I was with the girls and thankfully, it was hot. What a great summer we had!
 
The best way I've found to be out in the yard with the girls while still being productive is to have a healthy amount of distraction. So our $10 kiddie pool got lots of use!

We don't have a lawn per se, but we have about 18 sq feet of grass and the girls make use of every inch (plus some! thank you neighbor who is *never* home!).

Some quintessential shots of the fun:

Girlie on the go

Girlie from the deep

cool me down

hahaha!

Little campers

I was raised a camper. My mom tells of my first trip @ 4 mos old when it was so cold she'd nurse and change me in the car with the engine running and of the trip a year later when I spent the weekend with my head (yes, my head) down in the dirt. And Dave has stories of camping in Alaska with his folks, one involving a bear, his brother and the tent...

My family didn't rough it for long (we got a pop-up when I was about 7), but I will always remember the summer trips with my family up and down the East coast, from Canada to Virginia. The car ride, the familiar gear, packing only as much as would fit in my cubbie - that was camping.

We seem to be on a good start of continuing the tradition with our girls. Even though our tent is rather large, has a door (yes, a door) and a light (yes, a light) and even though we haven't ventured past a three-hour radius outside of Seattle, I can quite certainly say we camp. And they love it.

In August, we set out to the Hood Canal/Bremerton area with most, but not all of the St.Pierre contingent (Amy and the boys were home in ME...). It was pretty hot by Seattle standards, but we were able to keep our cool.