Liam's Home State

We just got back from a trip to Washington. 

We drove and stayed with some friends in Port Orchard.

Friday, we went to the Tacoma Children's Museum.

LIAM LOVED IT!

Of course, he went straight to the stone pillow area because he thought they were balls.

Playing in the water was a huge hit!

We really couldn't get him away from the water area.

Sitting under the huge pirate ship!

Giant vacuum wall.

It sucks up scarves and balls.  Then, shoots them out! 

How cool!

We had to stop by pikes place so I could get some tea.

Apparently you can order online, but it's just not as fun.

Bucca Di Beppo!  

Clint's parents flew in and met us while we were there.

A few other things we did:

Liam attended his first Mariners game

Jim, Clint and I went to the Seahawks/Packers game

(we aren't really discussing it)

Clint and Trent fixed a few things on our house while Liam played and I cried in the back yard :(

Visited Manchester Elementary School

Visited with some great friends

Looking forward to our next trip home to Port Orchard!

Still totally feels like home to me :)

Canning Fun

We've done some major fruit picking/canning again this year.

We picked over 100 lbs of plums and two boxes of apples.

Haven't officially weighed in the apples yet.

Clint, Liam and I made about 70-ish jars of jam and apple sauce is coming this week.

I'm sick of looking at sugar :)

I'm not looking like I'm having too much fun, but I actually do enjoy making jam.

This was probably my 8th batch of the day...tired by this point.

This is how Fin helps...

He sucks out the juice of plumbs while Clint and I do the rest :)

We had to pick in segments...

We don't always dress this nice to pick fruit.

This just happened to be after church :)

Liam's turn.

It got too hot for some of us to wear our shirts.

"hi mom."

Officially "Huck Fin" in this picture :)

Getting Big

Liam has started playing in his room by himself.

When things are noisy and I hear toys flying through the air I know things are going okay.

It's when things become scary quiet that I know something bad is about to happen.

Or it's happened already ;)

Clint and I were sitting in the kitchen a couple days ago when Liam took off for his room.

We heard banging and loud noises for a good 15 minutes.

THEN...

things got quiet...

Really quiet...

Generally when things are scary quiet,  I call out to Liam and one of two things happens...

Scenario 1--he tears down the hall to say "hi" and all is well...

OR

Scenario 2--he stands perfectly still, not moving a muscle to see how long it will take me to find him and catch him "in the act..." whatever the act may be!

I called out in my sing-song-y voice, "Liam, what are you doing?"

nothing.

"Liam, where are you?"

absolute silence.

So I get up and head down the hall dreading what I may find...

First stop...bathroom...

No toilet paper strewn about...GOOD!

Next stop...Mommy and Daddy's room...

door closed...no one inside...Yay!

(side note:  I'm dreading the day Liam can open doors)

Third Stop...Liam's room...

I'm completely and utterly shocked at what I saw this little munchkin doing.

I yell to Clint, "Hurry, come quick, and grab the camera!"

And what do I see?  

Liam had climbed up onto the BIG Rocking chair, had his Bible open, and was pointing to all the animals on the ark calling them by sound!

My heart actually skipped a beat 

and I melted right there!

By the time Clint reached the room,

 (30 seconds later), 

Liam was off the chair throwing shoes all over the place.

It may have only lasted a milisecond, 

but I still smile thinking of Liam going to get his Bible without any parental prompting,

 and just having a moment with Jesus.

I KNOW Jesus was there, 

and I Know they had a good time!

Here's a verse I've been thinking about for the last few weeks or so...

Matthew 19:14

"let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, 

for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."

We have big shoes as parents.

Scary, BIG shoes!

I'm so grateful that my parents led me to Jesus.

"Dad,  thank you for filling your big shoes as Dad.

I know I was a stinker in my teen years.

(probably other years too)

Thank you for being patient, praying, and holding my hand through the tough times.

I love you!"

Fall is Here

We are starting to get into our regular routine around here.  

Yay!

The A-Type person in me that was handed down to me by my lovely father is VERY happy about this!

I like summer, but I prefer to put my white, non-tan-able legs way, and bring out the sweaters and Jeans!

I LOVE FALL!

Our friends Mike and Krystal came for a few days to visit...

along with their daughter, Cece, and Krystal's sister, Michelle.

Awww... bald has never and may never look this good again!

Liam's little profile...

Eating at the table like a big boy.

Well, well...

What do we have here?!

A hunk of someone else's dock!

Clint:  "WHOA!  You guys gotta come see this!

Let's try to get it out!"

and so the fun began.

They got it out.

Then, they decided they were having too much fun to stop 

so they paddled to the waterfall.

Then, they paddled back...

Clint: "Can we keep it?!

Please!?"

One HUGE water logged piece of dock is MIGHTY heavy...

good thing it has boat ties on it.  

I guess we'll just tie it up...

dock to dock :)

All the while, Liam found a new pair of "sasses" aka sunglasses!

At first he, wasn't sure about the eye suction, 

but once he was okay with that, we had to convince him to take them off for bed!

FIRST PACKERS GAME!

Clint had a buddy over to celebrate!

This little buddy happens to live with us, so it worked out well.

Oh, look!

Fin with out pants on...

surprise, surprise...

And just in case someone out there is having a bad day, 

here's a look at our silly, goggle-wearing, maniac!

He is QUITE the handful lately :)

Waterton Lakes, Canada

WE MADE IT!

Have I mentioned to you that Liam loves is obsessed with rocks?!

He worked on building a very intricate "rock pile" the entire time Clint and I set up camp!

This is going to be the cheapest Christmas we will ever have ;)

See what I mean about the tent being crowded?

too bad I didn't get one with Lindi taking over like she owns the place.

Liam so enjoyed the scenery on our hike to Crandell Lake :)

Lindi did too...

...or at least she enjoyed the smells.

Crandell Lake

"Mama...I. LOVE. THROWING. ROCKS!"

Fin did manage to stay awake on the way back to camp.

A.l.m.o.s.t. t.h.e.r.e...that "pack o' kid" gets heavy after 4  little miles...

Maybe I should have offered to help.

Nah, Clint is Tough!

Liam was hardcore for his first trip.

High 81*/ Low 33*

What's this?

Oh,  just Liam shoving a banana into his face...

mmmm...

Playing with "da boe."

Falling asleep mid-fish...haha

Liam wishing these "buts" aka. boats were ours.

Best buddies.

When Liam cries, Lindi usually comes running to give a kiss/lick :)

Cameron Lake

*SMOOCH*

We rented a peddle boat...

 ...or is it paddle boat...

Well, I feel silly right now...

Anyway, we rented one whatever boat.

 Fin's favorite part was feeding Daddy "ish" aka gold fish crackers.

Back to shore.

Our last picnic lunch...

PB&J, oranges, bananas, yogurt, and cheese & crackers.

What kid wouldn't like this?

"Bye-Bye Canada"

"Mama, Look "shish" aka flowers !"

Not even close, but he LOVES saying it!

"See ya' next summer!"