Water!

We are all about water these days. Liam has been asking to wash the car for days, but it has been too chilly! I know for all of you Californians out there it is hard to believe, but it has been too cold here up north to play with the hose!

The other day, we got a nice warm afternoon and Liam (and Daddy) got to wash the car. Liam worked very hard.

Washing off the soap.

The other day when Liam wanted to wash the car and it was too cold....we compromised. He washed his trucks on the back porch.

Who thinks he will be this excited to wash the car when he is a teenager.....???

This week, Liam and I went to a local park to play in the water. Liam was totally in his own world...and element (check out those kids watching him go crazy). I finally had to pull him out when his teeth were chattering and he had goosebumps from head to toe.

Indoor Play

We have had a unseasonably cool spring and are looking forward to some sunny summer weather. Here are a few pictures from one of those mornings. I traced Liam and his friend, Julia, on some butcher paper and they "decorated" themselves.

Liam works with some stickers.

Concentrating.

Then there is always time on the couch for reading. Here, Liam "reads" me one of his favorite new choices from the library

Fun on the beach - Cypress Island

Yes, nothing better than wet, wet sand. Liam enjoyed the low tides at Cypress this weekend. He spent about an hour on the sand flats, burying his legs and digging holes.

The bandana....let me explain. I do think it is cute, but it is also because I worry about Liam's scalp and for some reason he will wear this, but not his hat right now. And....I think it is cute.

Liam relaxes and eats a s'more by the fire. Sticky, sticky........yum.

Another island weekend

We met Chris, Gabe's brother, at Cypress. He was in Washington for a dental conference. We also enjoyed our warmest weather yet this year, which felt great! Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend.

Striding out on the beach.

Liam has been very attached to "Baby" lately. She/he goes everywhere with Liam. This was Perrin's baby when she was little so it has been well-loved. So well loved, that I need to give it sutures this weekend to repair a partially severed arm!

Seductive.....or just plain sweet? You be the judge!

Mother's Day

Happy belated Mother's Day to all those wonderful mothers I know and admire. Here are a couple of pictures from last weekend.

I was making breakfast on Saturday and Liam found Gabe's glasses and came walking into the kitchen with them on. He and I had a good chuckle. Liam is good at laughing at himself.

Getting a kick out of himself.

Later that day, Liam got busy painting a "Thank You" card for my mom and dad who had kindly given us some tickets to a local performance circus. Liam and I, plus a friend and her daughter went and had a great time. Liam loved the jugglers and acrobats and the aerial ballet was pretty amazing. It was two hours long and the kids were transfixed the whole time.

After painting, Liam got to use my roller and roll out some color. That is his favorite.

"Uncle Kevin" comes to visit

Our dear friend, Kevin, came to visit a few weeks ago. We had a great time catching up, eating some good meals and taking him out to Cypress for the night. Even though the weather was a little chilly, we had a nice time and Liam got to show off his beachcombing skills.

Finding dried crab shells.

Looking for that perfect rock.

"Look at this, Mama!"

Liam and Kevin heading to the beach in the evening.

Springtime

After a very cool spring in the northwest, we are finally getting some warmer days. It feels great! A couple weeks ago, while watching our friends, Julie and Leah, we decided it was time to pull out our wintered vegetables and make room for some more. Here are a couple of shots of the kids....nibbling.....

"What do you think we should try, Julia?"

"How about the broccoli?"

Sitting down after the snack in the warm grass.

Spring Break - Cypress Style

We spent a couple beautiful days on Cypress Island. Liam loves the sandy beaches when the tide is low. Here are a couple pictures of Liam exploring the tide flats.

"Mud flinging"....literally.

Beachcombing.

Splashing and thinking....

Later....a warm bath and some good 'ol naked playtime. Doesn't get much better than toy trucks and being naked in the afternoon sun....does it?

Liam in the cabin.

Spring Break - Guemes Style

We enjoyed Spring Break (a couple weeks ago) at Guemes and Cypress Island. We spent the first few days at Guemes Island, visiting with Uncle Reuben and Lucia and playing on the beach, roasting hot dogs with Daddy and other good "island things".

Liam and Daddy roast some "dogs".

"What???"

Kayaking with Daddy

Bedtime story with Uncle Reuben.

Goodnight - hear the frogs........

The Dentist

Liam had his first dentist visit the other day and did great! We talked about it for some time before-hand and he was very excited. I was worried that it would be like the first time you take your puppy to the vet and they are so excited, but a couple of shots later.....
But, Liam walked away pretty proud of himself and the owner of a new electric toothbrush (which I though was silly, but is actually great!).

I thought this was pretty hilarious, but Liam brought his own magazine with him to read before his appointment. Anyone who knows my dad would get a kick out of this because Luther Schutz doesn't go anywhere without his reading materials. Here is Liam reading his National Geographic (for Toddlers) waiting for his name to be called.

They looked in Liam's mouth - no cavities so far - and they counted his teeth and they told me he would most likely need orthodontics when he got older! What??@!! He probably will, though.

Liam held very still and he did so well, they even gave his teeth a little polish!

"Hey, didn't someone say that I got a 'prize' for being so good?"

Snow day at Mount Baker

This weekend our friends Kirstin and Bob invited some friends up to their cabin in Glacier for some sledding and skiing. We met up on Saturday night, had dinner, make a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. Dinner and company were both fantastic, but with 5 kids and 3 couples in the cabin sleep was fairly elusive!
We woke up on Sunday morning, made waffles and headed up to the mountain for some serious sledding. The weather was cold, windy, and snowing but the kids were troopers and everyone had a great time sledding down the hills just above the ski-area

Liam is ready for the hills

The Green Hornet!

Hana and Liam coming back up the hill

Kirstin and Shannon

Après Sledding

After sledding we were ready for some hot chocolate and snack so we headed down the mountain to the lower lodge. The kids got warmed up and ready to hit the rope-tow.

Our Hosts:

Kirstin...

and Bob.

First Day on the Rope Tow

Finally we headed out for the rope tow and Liam's first day on skis.Ok Liam, ready for the downhill part??

Down the hill!

Wow! I want poles Daddy! (This was the theme of the ski-day)

Sledding a Baker Video