A visit from Michelle

We were so thrilled to have our dear friend, Michelle, over to hang out with us yesterday. Michelle is another great "Japan to Washington" friend and we had a wonderful time catching up on the past 3 years. Emma adored the new book, Pinkalicious, Michelle brought to her and both kids just had to help make dinner last night!

"I love school!"

This was the tune Emma was singing as we were packing up and heading out the door this morning. Chris is off at camp this week (we are definitely missing having Daddy around!!) and I'm working like a crazy woman preparing my new classroom, so the kids are spending more time this week at school (The Jackson Park Child Development Center). We are thrilled with the transition they've made from home to school. Both kids love their teachers and are making new friends.
Emma decided that she should carry Camden's bag and he could carry hers this morning. ;) Yes, it was cool enough to wear long sleeves today in good ole Washington!

Here we are this evening making pizza. I'm not sure what I think about having 2 helpers in the kitchen, but Camden loves having a stool to stand on, too!

Look out, Betty Crocker!

We had another giant zucchini just waiting for us to harvest from our garden. Here is my little Betty Crocker in training making some zucchini bread this morning...

I really wanted to help, but Mom said there were too many cooks in the kitchen...

A few more backpacking memories...

Here are a few more pictures I had to share (thanks Aimee!)...

Up, up, up the hill we go! Emma's in the lead-watch out! This is my Indian Jones moment of our hike. It might not be a rickety old bridge with the rapids raging a hundred feet below, but unlike Indian Jones, I crossed this river (creek) with a baby on my back! ;)I think this picture will become a classic of Emma and Claire. Can you tell who is a morning person and who is not quite awake yet???

Backpacking Adventure!

We went on our first family backpacking trip this weekend. Here we are all smiles ready to trek 3 and 1/2 miles through the Wenatchee National Forest to Eight Mile Lake. Emma was our strong little hiking girl on the lookout for special coins the magical forest fairies left along the trail for her and Claire. Camden got to ride in style on my back and Chris was basically the family pack mule with our gear! It was an ambitious adventure, but I am proud to say that we made it!

We made it to camp! Emma and I found a cozy spot in the warm sunshine to relax.

Talk about Mother Nature at her best!

Emma, Chris, and Camden are ready for our camp cook (Chris Warthen) to bring on the chow!
The highlight of our trip: hanging out as a family in the tent. It was too cold and windy to be outside once the sun went down, so we sang songs and told stories inside.
Good morning! Aimee, Claire, and Emma warmed up with some hot chocolate and are ready to pack up and hike back out. Here come the troops!
(Emma, Chris, Claire, Aimee, and Chris W.)

Fun in Leavenworth

Friday afternoon we set out for Leavenworth, Washington to get a jump start on our backpacking trip. The people of Leavenworth thought their town looked so much like a little village in Bavaria, they decided to make everything look as if you were really in Germany. We had a terrific time wandering around town and enjoyed some delicious German treats!

Camden swimming away in the pool at our hotelEmma showing off her GIANT pretzel (probably the best one I've ever eaten!!)
You can't eat at a German restaurant without beer!

Camden and Chris showing off their new trick

Hot fun in the summertime

We've been having a Washington heat wave the past few days. It's nothing compared to those sticky, miserable August days in Japan or Iowa, but the backyard pool was definitely the place to be yesterday evening. Camden loved it when Chris squirted him with the hose and would fill up buckets of water from the pool and pour them on himself. :) Emma practiced her swimming skills the best she could in our little pool.