Ready for adventure!

When I realized how close I was to the ocean, I thought one Saturday, the boys and I are going to check it out! So. Today was the day. It was 70 degrees and gorgeous out, but of course, windy and sandy and COLD, so it wasn't like a real beach (you know, California. Hawaii. WARM sun. Blue water. etc) But the ocean is the ocean. I'd like to explore more, but this was just our check it out trip, so next time I'll have a better plan.

The kites were really cool... loved the spinning one. I have never seen one like that before.

This little surfer kid was so cute...

he looked so longingly at the water, but it was just too wild today.

Matthew feeling a little overdressed. He wanted to play in the water so badly The horses all seemed annoyed by the wind. I thought this one was so pretty.

Dirty water. But I liked the colors in this one.

And, of course a stop into one of the local shops. It looks suspiciously like August in this shop, but we know the truth about Washington beaches... it is never warmer than November no matter what time of year! :D

Friday night with two handsome men...

Tonight, the boys and I busted out the craft stuff and went crazy!

Our hands. I have been meaning to get Jake's handprint for awhile but he is so finicky about messy hands... then tonight he happily painted his hand just like brother and me. Go figure.

What's worse than a naked unpotty-trained toddler?

A sleeping naked unpotty-trained toddler...

He fell asleep after his bath... quite cute, but a tweence dangerous. :D (Love the modesty while sleeping. It's like he knows the camera would be pulled out...heh)

Spirit, Spirit - We've got spirit! How 'bout you?

Matthew is now officially a Panther - too cute, if you ask me! He got a T-shirt when I joined the PTA (how adorable am I?) hah.

Testing Youtube

I'm testing out the whole 'post a video' thing. This is a clip of Amanda talking really fast. It makes me laugh. :)

Sharks

It's m'birthday!

I am 29. Thank God. A WHOLE year until I turn 30. My list.

aheeem. (clearing throat)

1. Run a flippin marathon! I have been trying to do this for 10 years now!!!

2.

Ok. I think the marathon is enough.

Now... let me find a pluggy spot for my treadmill.........

Makin' Caterpillars

I just can't resist an empty egg carton... :D

It's a ZOO out there... (tee hee)

Today, Matthew, Jake and I met up with my friend Katie and her sons Ashton and Owen. Matthew and Ashton are 10 days apart, and Owen is about a year younger than Jake. Between the two of us... we have alot of boys. Our adventure today was Pt Defiance Zoo in Tacoma.

After visiting the sharks, enjoying a park bench picnic in the shade, and then searching for a bathroom, we stopped by this water tank full of fake fish things. I am not exactly sure the point of the rubber starfish...

Then we found a real tidepool - the boys were so cute and curious.

I was after some tiger pictures, and was fortunate to be so close...

but I had to shoot from behind glass. Oh well.

The tiger place

Then we headed over to the "water park" as the kids called it - the tiny little pad that has random sprinkler gizmos. The kid area was fun but crowded on this hot, summer Saturday.

A bird we happened to walk by.
Jake loved feeding the goats - so cute. The lighting was crummy and I had my super zoomo lens on (and rather than take the time to change it) so I just tried to snap from as far away as I could. Heh. Isn't this goat creepy looking?

On our way out, Matthew wanted a picture on the cool bench. Jake, of course, never misses an opportunity to take a swipe at Matthew. Mean little brother.

Long time, no see

Love this picture. He made me take about 10 shots. He'd jump, run and look at the picture, and do another one. This was the best...

More balancing

And some foliage in the setting sunlight.

Waterfalls and Museums

It's our first official weekend here in Olympia and I took the boys to the Tumwater Falls Park to take advantage of the sunshine (and ability to burn some energy!) I dusted off my camera and snapped a few shots (200, heh) but unfortunately I never adjusted my image size after doing my Ebay photo shoot sooooo the shots were tiny and pixelated. What a shame. But it was good practice, so we'll have to head back and get better ones. Maybe with the boys in more photo-worthy outfits hah. It is so pretty there, though. Such a nice, peaceful trail.

Jake copying his brother

In every picture, Matthew had to hold up this little rock to his eye... I am not sure why? I had to keep telling him to put it down hah.

After the waterfall trail, we headed to the Hands On Children's Museum. We got a membership and have been about five times in a week. :)

It's almost kinda like being at the ocean.

Mr Cutey trying to tie his shoe. He bunches up the laces and presses them against the shoe, and refuses to let me help until he has thoroughly given up...

And that was our Saturday. Busy day.