Klahhane Ridge Trail

Last Saturday, I really wanted to go hiking since I haven't been all summer.  We decided we would hike from the top of Klahhane Ridge down to the bottom of the mountain.  We left one car at the bottom and drove all the way up and starting our hike.  I tell you, it was a really hard hike.  I didn't realize it would be that hard.  The switchback trail was only .6 miles and then we thought we would go downhill from there.  Oh-no.  We hiked 2000 feet up til we started going down (downhill was 4000 feet). 

Going along the Ridge was amazing.  You could see in all directions.  You could see Canada, Sequim, and Port Angeles.  On the other side you could see Mount Olympics, Steeple Rock, and Hurricane Hill.  It was a clear, beautiful day.  

Anyway, once we started going downhill, I wish we were still going uphill since it was so steep and slippery.  The hike was 7.5 mile and Lake Angeles was half-way point.  It took us 5 hours to get half way.  Chris and I have hiked up to Lake Angeles before and knew the rest of the hike wasn't as bad.  We were able to hike the other 3.5 in 1 1/2 hours out. (Lizzy hiked the whole way and didn't start asking to be carried until about 1 mile from the car.  We told her she had to hike the whole way and she did).

I told the kids they have to humor me at least once a year hiking.  Well, they did and I was really sore for days afterwards.  

    

 Hiking to the top

 The kids had snowball fights along the way plus a bonus of cooling off.

 Lake Angeles, so far away but so close.

 Finally at Lake Angeles, the fishing were jumping everywhere.  I am pretty sure we will be hiking up there to go fishing!!!!

 Eating dinner!!!(lucky Chris brought some freeze-dried meals!!!!)

We saw mountain goat with her baby, deer running up and down the mountain (which was a little scary to see something running really fast downhill or uphill and not know what it is til you could focus on it) 

 The kids about 1/2 mile towards the end.

The crazy parents!!!!!

Dog Days of Summer

Well, we are having a great summer hanging around the house and doing a little of that and a little of this.  

We are still having a wonderful time with our dog, Maggie.
Maggie loves being with the kids at all times.  She hates that she cannot get on top of the fort and go down the slide with the kids.  Well, the kids finally figure out a solution to the problem.
Maggie was so happy (I think she went up and down many times that day)!!!!!

We have a problem wearing out our dog.  She is the energize bunny dog.  We walk or run her everyday but stills has so much energy.  So Thomas decided to take her on some bike rides.   

Any suggestions of wearing out a dog let me know because she never runs out of energy. 

 (Maggie went with Chris and the young men on Saturday for a 20 mile hike.  Chris said she had energy until the 19 mile and then she started to slow down.  When she came home she still ran around with the kids!!!!)

Lizzy has decided since she doesn't have a horse, Maggie will have to do.  Maggie is okay with Lizzy riding her as long as she is sitting.  Maggie is not big enough to carry Lizzy around even though Lizzy tries on a daily basis.  

Relaxing Summer

August has come and I feel already gone (even though we have the other half to go).  

We have been doing many things but mostly hanging out at home.

Lizzy and I are starting to count down to the first day of school.  Another two weeks to go until the boys go to school and about 2 1/2 weeks til Lizzy has her first day.

 Lizzy has been asking to take dance for about a year now.  We finally were able to sign her up for a summer program.  Now she dances with specific dance moves and to classical music.  She even lets me to her hair like a dancer.

She even dances in the trees.  

Thomas has been rowing all summer long. He has wanted to row for awhile but he now is old enough to row with the youth rowing club.  He has been practicing with the Ergs at school for a couple of years.  He has really like rowing in a real row boat (which has given him a 6 pack).  When the weather is not windy they are out on the strait rowing (He is in the gray shirt).  Last Wednesday he was excited because they went in a 8-man row boat.  He said that the boat was really heavy.  He has a great coach that is teaching him the basics of rowing. 

 Henry has been taking tennis lessons for the last couple of weeks and has improved his serve (no pictures yet).  He really like to stay close to the net and volley the ball.  It has been fun to take Henry to play tennis this year.  We can actually hit the ball back and forth.  

Henry has also gone fishing with his friend Dale.  He has caught a couple of sockeye Salmon.  Dale took videos of Henry (which are awesome, will have to post later)!!!!!  Today, he was up at 5:30 am to go fishing again.  Didn't even have to wake him up.  Let us say, we all were up the earliest we have all summer. But we cannot wait til Henry comes home with smoke Salmon!!!!!   

 This summer Lizzy and Elena have hung out a lot (we sure miss her when she is gone). 

Can you believe they play in the pool when it is in the 60's.  Cold!!!!! 

 This year Lizzy is having a hard time playing by herself.  She feels someone needs to be entertaining her at all times.  Well, I do not have the energy to do this or feel like I should have to.  So finally she figured out she could still play war with Lynx.  We are so glad we have Lynx to entertain Lizzy.

This summer we got a slip and slide to play on.  But why would we use the slip and slide the right way.  We have used it in many different ways.  Mostly to see if we could get inside by jumping up and over.They also go around banging into things when they are on the inside.  

 What is summer without Lake Crescent.  We have gone a few times this year.  This year the boys are into diving for things they found at the bottom.  Lizzy is into the social scene and plays with whoever is at the beach that day.

 The boys have been watching a lot of Mythbusters this summer.  Henry also has a book of experiments from the Mythbusters.  Henry decided to make jawbreakers and see if they explode in his mouth.  Well, we made the jawbreakers but no exploding in the mouth.  

 So my favorite thing this summer is the boys are doing the dishes all by themselves.  I think I was feed-up one day with who knows what and told them the new rule was one will to the washing and the other the rinsing when one of them had dish duty.  Wow, love it!!!!!!