August 2025

 August was a good month! 

We spent some of it in Utah, the rest hanging around Olympia. 

 The Nickerson's came for a weekend and I had to work a handful of days...


 If you look closely you can see a Bittern (cool bird) that my mom and I saw at Nisqually



Avi had a playdate with his friend Atlas


Deschutes River Day! 




Lakewald Gardens in Lakewood




Berry Picking


We got to babysit Dale for a couple afternoons



Dropping Avi off at Adventure Camp


String and Shadow Puppet Show







Nickerson Visit









Custom watercolor anniversary gift from Hannah





Isla in front of Laurel's new mural downtown


Avi at Survival Camp



Trip to Utah: Zion and Bryce National Parks


What an epic road trip we took this summer to Utah!
This was a once in a life-time trip/family reunion centered around going to Zion National Park. 
We took 2 days to get there (stopping in Twin Falls, Idaho), spent a full week in the town on La Verkin (30 minutes from Zion) and did a day trip to Bryce Canyon as well.  The cousins all had fun (there was 13 of us all together) especially in the rental house pool!  It was hot (107 at the most) but we were strategic.  Went on some epic hikes, but the Narrows takes the cake (probably the coolest hike of my life).... 



Twin Falls Idaho




Short detour at Cathedral Gorge State Park









Finally made it to the rental house in time for a sunset swim



Had some work obligations but not a bad view to be on a zoom







Checking out the nearby Confluence Park view




Up early to hike the Narrows in Zion
























It was amazing!  Did 8 (?) miles (out and back), the kids were troopers


Day trip to Bryce with a smaller group




We did a 3-mile loop trail that was more challenging than any of us anticipated but beautiful











Going up this was tough! 



all four people in this photo are asleep after our epic hike



Another highlight was tubing down the Virgin river with Zion Tubing Co.





















Upper Emerald Pools hike at Zion











Competitive Family Game Night




A couple stops on the way home (stayed the night in Ontario, OR)