Hiking in the Methow: Take 2

This is actually the first of two trips we took to the beautiful Methow Valley this summer. Mom, Perrin, Liam and I went over to Winthrop the last few days of July and enjoyed a few days camping, hiking and swimming together. Here are a few photos from that trip.....

Liam and his Auntie P enjoy a meal at our campground.

Yummy! We prepare a meal in camp (definitely not backpacker's fare...we were car camping this time!)

Liam taking his hiking very seriously....once he found the perfect hiking stick!

Liam, Noni, Dini Dog and Perrin pose at the top of our hike

Liam and Mama head down the trail toward camp.

A visit with Emma

Our dear friends Emma, Ethan, Calvin and new baby Bliss came to town last week. It was wonderful to meet sweet little Bliss (born on my birthday!) and to spend time with Emma's family and our "Fairy Godmother" Heidi.

Heidi, Emma, Bliss and Judy (Emma's mom)

We had a little picnic at Heidi's house. Here, Heidi holds Bliss, while Grandma Judy reads to Calvin and Liam. My mom listens too.

Perrin holds little Bliss.

Old friends.

Calvin and Liam play in Heidi's garden.

Calvin comes to visit!

Calvin is two months older than Liam and the two boys got along famously last week. It was so much fun to see them side by side. They played from sun up to bedtime and Calvin definitely gave Liam a "run for his money" as far as energy goes!

Liam and Calvin in the garden cart.

Riding bikes at Grandma Judy's house (Calvin's grandma)

Calvin and Liam ham it up!

Bathtime.

"Say cheese!" Liam and Calvin camping at Shaw Island.

Beach time on Shaw Island

While Emma was visiting, Liam and I headed out to Shaw Island to spend a few days at Emma's family's land. We camped for two nights and spent most of our time playing on a great sandy beach. Liam and Calvin had so much fun. Emma and I were actually able to sit back and hang out while the boys played - what a luxury! We got some nice hot weather and the salt water warmed up enough to swim. Here are a few pictures from our time on the beach.

Liam and Calvin play "trucks" on the beach.

Ethan takes the boys on a (homemade) rafting expedition.

More time moving sand around.

A little chat in the shade of someone's driftwood fort.

Sliding into their hole! Oh, the endless pleasure of sand!

Liam and Calvin

There was nothing sweeter than watching Liam and Calvin playing together at Shaw. They spent three days entertaining one another. As Liam said to me the first night, "We are like two peas in a pod."

Liam and Calvin giggle on the hammock with their sticks.

Liam and Calvin......

Camping in the Methow Valley

Last weekend, we spent three wonderful days east of the Cascades in the Methow Valley with our friends Chris and Shannon and kids, Kirsten and Bob and kids and Hana Baker (yes, she spells her name like me!) and her husband, Tyler. We stayed in Winthrop and enjoyed the smell of pine, the warm weather and the good company. Kirsten's mom trailered two horses all the way from Mount Vernon so we could trail ride. It was heaven!

Our friend Chris takes Liam and "Robin" on a walk.

Liam and Julia enjoy a ride on "Dooley"

Even I got a ride. Kirsten and I took a great trail ride up in the hills close to where we were staying.

Our three little nymphs look on as a deer grazes in the early evening light.

Eating blueberries in the "buff". Does it get any better than this?

Hiking in the Methow Valley

Here are a couple pictures from a hike we took on Harts Pass in the Methow. We went with our friends Chris and Shannon and their girls. Liam did great! He hiked about 4 of the 5 miles and he and Julia took turns setting the pace in the front.

Liam and Julia gaze across the valley at the Cascades.

The wildflowers were incredible and hard to capture on my little camera. Here is a field of Lupine.

Lunch break! Gabe, Chris, Julia, Liam, Leah and Mama Shannon help prepare some lunch on Harts Pass.

Julia leads the pack as we head on our trek home.

The final stretch. Julia and Liam.