little black journal

Christmas 2025!  We kicked off our annual visit to Portland with much fanfare in the form of a ride on Santa’s own Polar Express.  Kathryn bought tickets for the kids to ride this Christmas-themed locomotive on the evening of our arrival, and festive vibes were high.

We settled into our seats and the kids cousin-ed around as the train left the station.  We soon heard excited murmers from the back of our car…”Santa is coming!”  Isaac turned around excitedly:

And then nerves got the best of him.  This photo cracks me up.

But candy canes were distributed and Christmas wishes were shared and Isaac decided this guy is actually alright.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Wednesday, Christmas Eve, was maybe less adventurous, but decidedly more cozy.  We lounged around the house in the morning, reading and doing puzzles and sipping warm drinks.

But because Isaac short-circuits if he doesn’t leave the house before noon, we set out late morning for pastries and a walk in Lake Oswego.

Turns out he short-circuited anyway, but we rolled with it.

We lunched back at the house and then the ladies headed out for some shopping at Bridgeport Village.  I picked up one final gift for Shane at Vuori while Juliette and her cousins perused Brandy Melville.  We all convened at Barnes and Noble, because…books are apparently the middle ground between crop-top baby tees and luxury athletic wear.

Isaac hung back with Bina.  These two have a funny kind of affection for each other built on an unspoken agreement that neither should get too close to the other without plenty of fair warning.

We squeezed in a round of cookie decorating before dinner.

Isaac got caught sampling the merchandise several times over.

And then, after a taco feast with the full fam, jammies were donned for the main Christmas Eve event…

Our viewing of The Polar Express by the fire is essential.  Not to be missed.

Finally, finally, after the movie was finished and cookies were set our for Santa and Christmas Mouse was read aloud, the youngest kiddo was tucked in for the night.  Juliette lingered on the couch past 10pm, at which point I shooed her to bed.  The Santa jig is obviously up with this girl, but still, it just doesn’t feel right to let her see me hang the stockings and set out gifts labeled “From Santa”.  There’s something to be said for still pretending.

Christmas morning dawned with excitement from kids and grandparents alike.

We had established 8:30 am as official stocking-opening time and Isaac and Juliette started right on time.

Isaac was mildly perplexed by the Lightning McQueen underwear in his stocking, but I reminded him that Santa knows not just what he wants, but also what he needs.

An apron from Grandma and Grandpa…

And a new truck from Mom and Dad.  Happy kids.

Santa came through with the Paw Patrol Zuma car…

And Morgan was stoked when she unwrapped Ariana Grande’s new fragrance.  I love these glimpses into what’s hot with the teens these days.

Isaac’s reaction was lackluster when he unwrapped the platypus Squishmallow Juliette had picked out for him, and yet…he’s insisted on sleeping with it every night since.  Sometimes gratitude takes him a minute.

Guess who’s headed to college next year with a fancy new laptop?!

Footwear was a theme this year.

New shoes for everyone!

I love the post-gift quiet, when we flip through the pages of our new books and nibble on treats from the kids’ stockings.

While Luke Skywalker takes a ride on the semi truck.

Charcuterie time…

Snuggle time…

OUT OF THE HOUSE time.  Let’s go for a walk!

(Turns out Starbucks is open on Christmas.)

Christmas afternoon was a fog of board games, floor puzzles, and couch naps.

Juliette served as sous-chef to Morgan for the cheddar biscuits and homemade mac and cheese.

They made a great team.

We savored our traditional country ham for dinner, watched National Lampoons while polishing off the rest of the sugar cookies, and called it a day.  Merry, Merry Christmas, family.

December…I always find that this is the hardest calendar page to turn, as on New Years Eve I’m left wanting more.  More twinkle, more time with friends, more sweet traditions, more cozy.  But also, I’m so thankful.  Last month was rich with celebrations and beauty, indoors and out.

We spent the day after Thanksgiving (November was rich, too!) walking through the misty woods at Old Robe Canyon in Snohomish.  It was hard for me to forfeit our annual trek to the North Bend tree farm when we bought our fake Christmas tree a couple of years ago, but we’ve instituted a winter hike in its place and this trail was perfect.  Not too steep, not too long, a scenic place to rest mid-way for a snack…it checked all the family-friendly boxes.

Braver souls might have forded this section of trail that was standing in a couple of inches of water, but we decided it was just the right place to turn around.

In case I haven’t said it in awhile…northwest is best.

Snack break!

We spent a couple of hours post-hike in the town of Snohomish, checking out the diner and bookshop scenes.  Pancakes: huge.  Bookstore: charming.

The main street has flags at each intersection that people can carry across for pedestrian safety.  Isaac temporarily declared himself the town crossing guard and took his job very seriously.

Also, Christmas decor at the shops on First Avenue is on point.

And for a real holiday decor bonanza, we met up with my mom and dad at Watsons Nursery in Puyallup to sip hot cocoa and peruse their Christmas wares.  I walked out with only a pair of bow-shaped earrings and a small houseplant, but it took restraint.

Everything just feels cozier in December…Isaac and I grabbed an extra-special soda and plate of fries at a neighborhood brewpub while Juliette was at her piano lesson one evening.

And the holiday performances!  Juliette is in the middle school choir this year and I loved every minute of their winter concert.  Walking in the Air from The Snowman?  So dreamy.

Isaac had his first go at the stage for his preschool concert and while he offered scant details beforehand on what he would be singing or wearing (on the way to the event, he told me, “Hmmm…I think I’ll be a red fox…”), he proved to be a pro in his angel outfit.  His class’s rendition of Go Tell it on the Mountain was more enthusiastic than any I’ve scene before.

My mom and dad came up for Juliette’s winter piano recital and I grabbed a couple of festive pics before we all headed out.

Nailed it!

We had a party-per-weekend in December and Juliette’s soccer team potluck won the award for most kids packed into a single living room.  These girls and their families have become such a lovely part of our community.  Kudos to the coaches for building something real, real special here.

Isaac was invited to a birthday party in which the main event was a cuddle-sesh with bunnies and guinea pigs and chinchillas and oh, my boy…while all the other boys squealed with delight, he wasn’t sure what to make of this furball being plopped on his lap.

Eventually, though, he warmed up.

And then the snakes and lizards came out and he got real into it.

No thank you.

Our small group Christmas potluck is the only event that garners 100% attendance each year – it’s kind of mandatory, as in it’s too good to be missed, and it’s always packed with good food and lots of laughs and a raucous white elephant gift exchange.

Isaac scored this penguin stuffy that evening – it was almost swiped by one of the older boys, but then Isaac’s lip quivered and his eyes watered and mercy was eventually shown.  He has named it Kevin, after Kevin McCallister, and he won’t go anywhere without it.

And perhaps the warmest and coziest of all gatherings is our annual brunch with the Rusts and Chens, where we eat and give gifts and remember that sometimes family can be chosen.

Juliette’s Gilmore Girls-themed sweatshirt was proof that Nance knows my daugther through and through.

Spicy chips and Mod Pizza gift cards for the big kids, because as much as I love these boys, hell if I know what to buy a teenage guy these days!

And finally, cue the Christmas sights, like Santa at our neighborhood gift shop.  This guy is wonderful – warm and easy-going and there’s never a line to see him.  Isaac hopped right into his lap and declared that he would like a Paw Patrol Zuma car for Christmas.  Santa took notes (I listened in).

But then…Isaac decided he really really wanted a pair of red Nike tennis shoes for Christmas, so he asked if we could go back a couple of weeks later so that he could let Santa know.  We were in the neighborhood for a pastry run, anyway, so I said sure.  Santa took notes and I listened in, again, for backup of course.

It’s possible that Isaac loves seeing Santa for the free candy canes?

The Christmas Ship with its cast of carolers docked near Alki Beach one evening and Juliette and I headed down to sip our hot chocolate and listen to the songs.

The twinkle-meter was high that night.

And the beloved Menashe house…kitcshy and joyful as ever.

We cozied in a lot last month, particularly due to the unending rainfall, but we found our indoor fun the form of gingerbread houses and Christmas movies and board games.

Isaac watched part of Home Alone from behind the bookshelf, unable to face all of the booby traps head on.

Juliette and I made a dried orange garland and it became my favorite fireplace accessory.

Speaking of which, the power went out one evening and our fireplace came in clutch.  Max cozy.

And then the annual Mama-Jules slumber party by the Christmas tree to celebrate the first day of winter break.  Two full weeks of no work and no school on the horizon!  Peak merry and bright.  Christmas is (was!) right around the corner.

Today marks the last official day of fall, so it feels like a good night to get November booked and blogged!

It’s hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we were raking leaves and putting our patio furniture away for the year.  Currently our backyard is soggier than ever, with not a single leaf to be found on any of our deciduous trees or shrubs.  I forgot for a minute – we used to have a lot of fun out here!

Our family spent an afternoon at Volunteer Park in early November and I took some of my favorite photos of the season.  Sunshine and golden leaves and the kids running wild.  I love this place in autumn.

Isaac made a game of throwing a chestnut as far as he could and then immediately going on a hunt for it, kicking leaves left and right to find where it landed.  Fetch for one.  I got to sit back and just watch.

And then the age-old game of “stick as fishing pole” – he poked me in the back a lot with this small branch, pretending he was hooking me.  I would have been irritated if not for this goofy grin.

He’s got a keeper on the line!

Sticks, rocks, and nuts make the best playthings, but slides and swings are cool, too.

We cozied in a lot last month, with leisurely weekend mornings spent coloring and eating TJ’s chocolate croissants (our go-to breakfast treat).

This kid loves a good homework assignment…

We started decking the halls in late November; I made my own Christmas wreath for the first time ever and might never go store-bought again.

When setting up the Christmas tree, egg nog is essential.

Opening up our Christmas bins is some kind of wonderful – the number of times Isaac literally jumped for joy over a beloved-but-temporarily-forgotten book or ornament…

Halls decked!

These damn, fragile strings of C9 bulbs that tangle and shatter each time we pull them out of the box…it’s a shame they’re the ones that give off my favorite hues of light!  Worth the effort once they’re strung.  And Juliette is such a great little elf.

Shane’s mom came to visit the week of Thanksgiving and we loved having her here, as always.  She and Juliette baked and watched Wicked and caught up like old friends.

Isaac loved having an extra reason to go out for treats.  Grandma won’t say no to Molly Moon’s ice cream!

Thanksgiving day was comfy and chill.  We spent the morning enjoying the tree and the Macy’s parade – I’m a believer in a slow, slow start to the holiday.  Our menu is always planned around a desire not to spend the full day stressing in the kitchen.

That said, if Juliette wants to make the cranberry sauce while still in her pajamas, by all means!

Isaac was overjoyed by the number of familiar faces he spotted on the parade floats.

I mean…Paw Patrol?  Super-sized?  Mind blown.

The final touches…

And dinner is served.

And this pic says it all.  Make a spread of your favorite foods, set it in front of your kid, and he’ll frown and ask for a hamburger.  Isaac is still learning the art of gratitude.

That sparkling cider, though – he had no notes on beverages…

Three pies for seven people?  Too much?  Nah…

Juliette joined me and Isaac in his bed for books that night and Lordy, THANKSgiving hardly begins to capture it.  I couldn’t be more grateful for these kiddos.

And yes, that’s a black eye – Isaac slipped and fell on the playground at school earlier in the week and earned himself one heck of a shiner.

Tank filled.  On with the business of December!

We’re deep into autumn and barrelling toward winter, it seems.  The day after Halloween Isaac asked, “Is it Christmas yet, Mama?”.  The aisles of Target would make us think so!

But I’m hanging onto fall vibes for at least a couple weeks longer, as this past season has been particulalry good and we seem to have found a particular groove.  The kids have settled into their schools with grace and positivity.  Isaac started at a new preschool in September and is digging his big-kid classroom with weekly visits to gym and chapel on the larger church campus.  Plus, a Spiderman water bottle?  Psshhhh…

Juliette is a Middle Schooler and made quick work of learning how to navigate her new world, complete with class changes and locker combos and homework.

Isaac brings home a letter worksheet and some coloring pages a couple of times a week and feels so self-important when he declares that he has to do his homework.  Sister lends a hand when he’s stumped.

He’s got ‘X’ down pat.  And Buddy writes his name now!

Fall is also for soccer and we’ve been watching lots of it.  Juliette plays on both her club team and the school team, so she’s on the field for four practices and two games per week.  She’s a more confident, skilled player with each passing month and I’m her biggest fan.

I mean, we wouldn’t spend a Saturday afternoon sitting in the rain for just anyone…

We’ve also become big fans of the Seattle Reign and took Isaac to his first big-time sporting event last month.  He liked the action on the soccer field, but loved the Red Vines and Sprite.  When at Century Link…

Shane’s and my birthdays come right on the heels of our kids’ and while I celebrated my big day in NYC with my best girl, Shane was happy with a lower-key hurrah.  Drinks and pizza at Mioposto, some wiffle ball at Hiawatha, apple pie at home.  It was just his style.

Isaac has baseball fever and asks every hour on the hour if Shane will throw the ball around with him.  On a sunny fall day, it’s an easy yes.

Time to head home for dessert…

Happy birthday, Shane!  You’re so damn good at loving us.  We love you back.

We’ve play-grounded hard this season.  We spent a Saturday afternoon romping on no less than three separate playgrounds near my mom and dad’s house.

And Isaac and I made the most of the October golden hours by getting outside while Juliette was at piano or soccer.  This stretch of Beacon Avenue near Jefferson Park on sunny fall evening is magic.

And Camp Long with a chai and a vanilla steamer at 4pm on a Friday, when you have the full weekend ahead of you?  SO GOOD.

I love that a game of uber-obvious hide-and-seek still brings him so much joy.

To be able to walk and talk with my boy now!  I mean, it’s a lot of chatter about Paw Patrol and Spiderman, but he’s got stuff to SAY and I’m here for it.

Isaac and I paid a visit to our most favorite tree at Lincoln Park on one of the last pre-time-change evenings.

Buddy loves the zip line these days.  Faster, Mama, FASTER!

And then, of course, there were all things pumpkin.  We spent a sunny afternoon down at Carpinito Farms picking our perfect pumpkins.

I told Isaac he could get whatever pumpkin he wanted, as long as he could carry it to the wheelbarrow himself.  Challenge accepted.

I’m trying to pull out my big camera more often these days, but it gets sideswiped by my budding photographer.

We carved our pumpkins the weekend before Halloween and Isaac got a huge kick out of scooping out the gooey guts.

It’s so satisfying when your spoon comes out of there with a big ol’ heap of mush.

Isaac asked me to carve the face of his favorite Paw Patrol character and I admit, it came out a bit more…abstract…than I anticipated.

Juliette kept it simple and sweet.

Isaac has had his Halloween costume locked down since September (Costco starts stocking them early!) and was thrilled when his classroom Halloween party rolled around.  It was a Wednesday and he and I had a playground date that evening, so he got extra mileage out of his racecar uniform by wearing it to zip through Mount Baker Park.

We hunted for chestnuts and then spent 20 minutes sending said chestnuts down the playground slide, to see whose was faster.  My nut had a flat spot and lost every single time, but Isaac encouraged me to just keep trying.  Mr. Positivity, this kid.

And Juliette Grace!  We bought this dress at a garage sale a couple of years ago on a whim because it was beautiful and only five dollars.  On Halloween we finally made good use of it.

Halloween evening was rainy as all get-out, but we still took the kids around the block for some trick-or-treating.  Isaac was tentative at the first couple of houses, quietly mumbling, “trick or treeeeeeating…” when neighbors opened their doors.

But Sister showed him the ropes and his confidence grew with each house; at one point he happily helped himself to two full-size candy bars when a kind lady held out a tray full of Snickers bars and M&M’s.  Juliette was mortified.

THIS RAIN.  Time to head home and sort the bounty.

Finally, October was for cozying in.  Yes, we got out a lot, but we also spent a lot of time racing Hotwheels across the coffee table and reading books under a pile of blankets.

Saturday mornings are my favorite time of the week.  Coffee, fire, a day of soccer and and playtime ahead of us.

Isaac and I are always the first ones up and we like our Mama-Buddy time, but it’s a treat when Juliette rolls out of bed.

He is almost legit at Jenga now and needs very few hints on which pieces are non-structural.

Also, when he does knock it over, he laughs rather than cries.  Which means we all win.

Play hard, rest well.  Words to live by.

Halloween pics coming in hot, but first, our final summer snaps.  For posterity.  For the Grandmas!

And speaking of grandmas (and this blog’s most faithful readers), Shane’s mom came to visit in June for Juliette’s fifth grade graduation. For bonus fun, we squeezed in plenty of park visits and a quick trip to Vashon Island.

To the isand!

I love how my kids so eagerly lean into their ferry faves – Juliette bee-lines for the puzzle table and Isaac heads right for the deck.

Vashon was charming as ever.  We discovered a perfectly packed used bookshop connected to the Coffee Roasterie.

And then said hello to the Vashon Troll.  This guy’s name is Oscar the Bird King and he’s lovely.

Isaac spent half an hour in his driftwood fort burying his beloved Sonic action figure and then frantically digging it up.  There was a moment when we thought we’d lost him, but crisis averted.

We capped off our visit at Dragon’s Head Cidery for the requisite picnic lunch, hammocking, and cold beverages.

Fourth of July found us back on the ferry, this time headed toward Marrowstone Island for a holiday with our buddies.

We settled into Jack and La Verne’s place, pulled out the whiffle ball and bat, and let the festivities begin.

A quick romp through the woods / beach…

And then an evening on the lawn at Marrowstone Winery, for food and drink and music and laughs.

Happy Fourth!

These wide-open roads were made for morning scootering…

Juliette has become obsessed with the card game Piles and builds her fan base wherever she goes.

In other random highlights, our family spent a morning at an alpaca farm in Duvall, petting bunnies and feeding (then being chased) by a variety of barnyard animals.

This is her Can We Get A Rabbit? face…

These creatures…  Goofy-looking as all get-out.

But those eyes!  I love them.

Juliette did not love the slobber factor.  Put out a handful of feed and these alpacas get EXCITED.

Thanks to Shane for humoring me.  This trip was not on his summer bucket list, but I had a blast.

Plus, Lake Sammamish was conveniently located on the way home.  Beach day!

With some Rusts, to boot!

Felt so good…

But time to pack it up.

Juliette spent a few nights away from home at summer camp on Vashon Island.  I took her to the drop-off point via the water taxi and the goodbye to Brother and Dad was tough.

I connected her with her buddies and we hugged goodbye and we both cried a lot, but I was excited for her upcoming adventure.

And then Juliette was gone and our house felt not-quite-right without her.  Our reunion on Vashon Island several days later was awfully sweet.

SO SWEET.

Finally, there was plenty of joy found right at home.  The Jarrells came to visit for a weekend and the kids reveled in cousin and grandparent time.

On the weekends we weren’t camping or island-hopping, we were cycling through our West Seattle favorites.  Good Society, Coleman Pool, Alki Beach, rinse and repeat.

(A special shout-out for sunset walks down to the water with my girl – this is when we have our best chats…)

Our summer home base continues to be our backyard, for reading and water balloons and sprinklers.

Shane thinks he looks like Johnny from the Karate Kid.  I think he looks like utter delight.

I was gardening one evening and noticed a rustle in the ground where I’d just pulled out a scraggly rosemary bush.  I gently nudged aside a clump of dried grass and discovered a nest of several baby bunnies!  Juliette got her wish!

Shane set up a bunny cam as I’d seen no sign of mama and feared I’d scared her away with my poking around.  But early the next morning we got a motion notification and there she was!  Giving them breakfast and then tucking them back in.

I got a little obsessed with these dang rabbits, trying to get a peek every few hours but not wanting to scare them away.  I’d lay awake at night worrying about raccoons, googling home-rigged predator protection strategies.  A few days later, as I was showing Nance our sweet little nest, a bunny darted out of the hole and across the street.  He was tired of my meddling, I guess.  An hour later, the other two were gone.  Ah well, it was fun while it lasted!  And to be honest, I needed my life back.

Summer’s final blackberries…

Perfect to the very last drop.

 

Tuesday in Minnesota dawned sunny and warm.  Isaac hit the ground running, as per usual, begging for a game of dodgeball while we sipped our morning coffee and chai.  We made a game of standing on the porch and trying to peg him with a foam ball while he darted back and forth across the (quiet) street.

Juliette loved this game almost as much as Isaac – a rare chance to throw something full-force at her little bro!

More porch play…

And then the grownups rallied and we all hopped in the car to check out Itasca State Park.  We went for a short trail walk and then waded in the water.  THE headwaters of the Mississippi River, to be clear.  The kids were unimpressed by the geographical significance of this, but Shane was pretty pumped.

We decided to see how far the shallows went.

(The shallows went on for awhile!)

Admittedly, it got a little deeper than we expected in some places, but Isaac’s shorts were quick-dry!

The waters eventually got deeper and the mosquitos got thicker, so we bailed in search of lunch.  It was a fun little adventure, though.

We grabbed a bite at the WoodShed in La Porte and then the kids asked if they could play a quick game of tag out front before getting back in the car.  When on vacation…

These goofballs probably criss-crossed this lawn 25 times, then they made a game of rolling down the edge of the ditch as quickly as possible, laughing all the way.  I tell you, THIS IS THE STUFF.

For the record, these two very often drive each other crazy, but I haven’t got the photos to prove it.  Just believe me.  But also believe they love each other a whole whole lot:

Afternoon pool time…

And then a golf cart ride to the clubhouse for ice cream, which turned out to be a bust as the clubhouse was closed, but Isaac took it in stride.  He still got a golf cart ride out of it.

Shane kicked off Wednesday on the golf course.  Again, Isaac and I waited for him at the last hole with bated breath.

They’re back!

Juliette got in a few good swings as well.  Three cheers for cheap, casual golf.

We packed a lunch late morning and headed over to Walker City Park to spread out some blankets and maybe play in the water.  I say maybe, but Isaac’s mind was made up the moment he saw the dock.  This spot was made for jumping!

Again…

And again.  And again.

I finally wrestled Buddy out of his floaty so that we could chill and eat our sandwiches in the shade, but the quiet time was short-lived.  To the playground!

This girl, though.  She is quickly learning the art of beach towel lazing.

If you want Isaac to sit still, you have to pin him down.  Literally.

I told Isaac he could play in the shallow water and he found a spot to sit and gently splash around with his new Sonic toy.

Then sitting and splashing turned to running and splashing, and I said, when on vacation...

I’ve never seen six inches of water look this fun.  Way to bring the party, kiddo.

We went back to the camper in the afternoon and I took a solo walk.  While the day had been chock-full of highlights already, watching my boy run up the street toward me as I rounded the bend home was probably top three.  I was only gone 30 minutes, but he turned our little reunion into an all-out hug-fest.  I ate it up.

Evening golf!  Shane was in the groove!

And then evening cards on the deck.

Whatever Shane’s bluff was, Juliette wasn’t buying it.

Isaac and I took one last walk down to the lake, this time with his high-tech “moon-finder”.

Those pink cheeks!  The sign of a top-notch lake day.

I know I go on and on about reveling in the chance to go slow and follow my kids’ leads, so I’ll give it a rest and just say I’m so thankful for these few days by the water.  Thankful for dandelions…

For paper telescopes…

For pastel skies…

For screened-in porches and family members that make us feel so at home so far from home.

Until next summer, Minnesota…

 

A Minnesota Summer!  We made it happen!  Let’s go back in time a couple of months…

Shane, Isaac, I boarded our plane with even more anticipation than usual, as Juliette had traveled to Minnesota a few days earlier to spend some extra time with Shane’s mom and we were eager to see our girl.  Let’s GO!

Together again and it felt so good.

Plus, this sweet boy!  Little Brexton, Hayden’s baby, was so much bigger than when we’d seen him in March.  Juliette had spent the full day prior snuggling him to pieces and he was attached to her hip.

THE SWEETEST!

Isaac was mildly curious about the baby…

But was fully enamored with the golf cart.  That’s my boy!

Shane spent our first morning of vacation out on the golf course with Jason.  It’s been years since he swung a club, but he quickly got his groove back.

It helped that he had the very best caddy.

Isaac was obviously a bit young for golf, but we made the most of waiting at the final hole for Dad, Sister, and Uncle to appear.

The anticipation!

The rest of the day was spent bouncing from Pat’s porch to Tiff’s porch, right across the street.  It’s rare that all the Minnesota and Seattle cousins are in one place, so we made the most of just catching up.

I remember when this guy was just a little babe, even smaller than Brexton.  And now he’s taller than Shane!  Time…

One of the chillest, happiest little guys I’ve ever met.  He was so content to be passed from one lap to the next.

That said, at some point Isaac was like, “Enough with the baby already!”  Let’s go play!

We laughed a lot that day…

And we realized upon unpacking that we’d left Isaac’s goggles at home, so we made an emergency run into town for backups, knowing the pool would eventually beckon.  Isaac picked out a pair from the sporting goods store and insisted on wearing them the whole way home.

These are some of the best moments of vacation, just running errands without any rush.  Time to be goofy, to wander off-route.  To pop over to Dairy Queen for pre-dinner Blizzards.

We ate dinner on the porch, courtesy of Chef Tiff, the Hostess with the Mostess, and then Isaac and I took a walk down to the docks to get his final wiggles out before bedtime.

Hunting for hot dog plants became an evening ritual.  Like I said, it’s the simple, silly things.

Let the games begin (again)…

Monday dawned a little gray and misty, but Isaac warmed his tush by the fire and all was well.

One last photo with the littles before Hayden and fam hit the road…

The sun broke through in the late afternoon, so we threw snacks and towels in bags and boarded Tiff and Jason’s pontoon for a family cruise.  The lake was calling!

This little sand bar is one of my favorite places in all of Minnesota.  I have memories here of Shane catching frogs, Juliette and her cousins jousting on a floating raft, Denny and Pat watching it all with total delight.  This is Leech Lake…

The boat ride back was sweet, the kids sun-kissed and damp-haired, content to sit back and listen to the country tunes piping through the radio.

We showered and ate and took our sunset stroll.  You know, golden hour and all…

We played a game of tag in the grass near the docks, because, well, ISAAC.

This kid is a tornado…

But then there’s the calm after the storm.  Rest well, Bud.  There’s more playing to be done tomorrow…

Fall is in the air, but you KNOW I’ve got a boatload of backlogged summer pics.  Stick with me.

We spent a weekend in mid-July camping at Kachess Lake, happy to have the family all together for this trip with a bonus four, as the Rusts had agreed to join us.  We landed at camp late afternoon and checked off our setup tasks one by one.  Lounge chairs,

Tent,

Beverages.

I took the kids down to the lake to scope out the shoreline while Shane stayed back to string the hammock and dig into his weekend reading.

The water was little mucky, but not too cold.  And the backdrop couldn’t be beat.

Really should have changed into those swim trunks…

We dined on beef tacos, our tried and true camp stove favorite, while the rest of our gang got settled.

The Rust pups were a welcome addition to camp life.

One of my favorite things about camping is the ability to walk in the woods at any given moment.  Did we just walk to the lake before dinner?  Yes, we did.  Did the kids want to go back right after dinner?  Yes, they did.

And did we opt for another walk to the lake before bedtime, the whole bunch of us?  Yes, we did.

Saturday morning!  Ube pancakes!  Sausage!  Pups!

Post-breakfast lake stroll: the colors out here at this time of day were on point.

The kids and I played a game of hide and seek and Isaac was convinced that he was fully invisible if he laid down in the foot-high grass.  I SEE YOU, BUDDY.

This boy left so many footprints in these long dusty roads over the course of the weekend.

Juliette set off on a separate path and challenged her brother to a race back to camp.  With that, he was OFF.

I huffed behind him, barely able to keep up.

We made it back to the site (before Juliette, no less), loaded up our car with chairs and water toys and a cooler full of lunch fixings, then drove down to the lakefront to set up shop for the afternoon.

Tuckered.  He slept over an hour on this rocky beach, a thin picnic blanket for a bed and a life jacket for a pillow.  When at camp…

While Isaac dozed, sister and I paddled.

This girl will forever be my favorite first mate.

We drifted back to shore to find Isaac up and ready to romp.

Pink cheeks, big grins, sunny vibes.

We spent the rest of the afternoon bopping around the campsite, snacking and gaming and reading.  The Rust boys continue to play the role of surrogate big brothers to my kids – they are as kind-hearted and patient as teens come.

We all took a walk after dinner and I led the crew on a very circuitous route to the same stretch of lakefront we’d been hanging at all weekend.

Long live family camp…

We decided on Sunday morning to pack it up early and grab a hot breakfast at a nearby diner.  Isaac said good morning to the dogs and then I took him for a walk while Shane and Juliette got on with the business of breaking down the tent.

Just a boy, sitting on a log with his warm milk and his mama, reveling in how good summer can be.  It’s one of my greatest hopes that my kids do not take this place we live in or these people we live life with for granted.

One last look, Bud.  Let’s pack it up.

And with that…back to civilization a la The Pancake House.  I do love camp life, but clean tables and flush toilets are nice, too.

I had big dreams for Schnell Family Camp Season 2025 and spent a lot of hours on campground websites last winter, looking at campsites and mapping drive times and making reservations, keeping my fingers crossed that weather and schedules would allow us to follow through come summer.  And WE DID IT.  Mostly, I mean – there was a forest fire that nixed one weekend’s reso, and Juliette had a couple of soccer tournaments that required Isaac and I to trek on without her and Shane, but no regrets.  We’ve been living our best PNW lives these past couple of months.

We got right down to business the day after school let out and headed to Lake Chelan for our inaugural trip.  Shane upped the ante and reserved a boat for a couple of hours; we drove straight to the dock, strapped on our life jackets, and let ‘er rip.

Faster, Daddy, faster!

Juliette Grace, you look good on a boat.

Our boat came with an inner tube and I was the first to take it for a spin – Juliette wanted to see how it was done.  Shane took it easy on me, keeping the boat slow and steady.

And then Juliette took a turn, timid for just a moment but soon giving Shane the thumbs-up signal that we had agreed would mean GO FASTER.  Isaac and I watched from the back of the boat and he laughed as Juliette whipped around behind us.  Isaac turned to Shane and said, “Juliette is so happy, Daddy!”  That grin…

Swim break…

One last full-speed blitz before heading back to the dock…

Brilliant idea, Shane.  What a beautiful way to let the festivities begin.

We rolled into the campground late in the afternoon, pleased to find our site was tucked back from a lot of the hub-bub, perched over a small river whose bubbling sounds would be the soundtrack of our weekend.

We got settled, ate our hot dogs, and then capped off the day with our most favorite camping delicacy.

Isaac played drums on our skillet with the hot dog skewers while I finished doing dishes.  Toys schmoys – this is fun stuff.

Friday started with coffee, cinnamon rolls, and a morning fire.

Isaac’s yellow scooter was so clutch that weekend – we were able to make back and forth to the bathroom in record time.

Shane took the kids to the playground while I dragged my camp chair down to the river to read and drink a second cup of coffee.

Dang it, though – I soon wanted in on the playground action.  I mean…

Back at camp, hammock gold fish…

And riverside smoothies.

Isaac climbed up and down this hill a dozen times a day.  I do not take for granted the sure-footedness that comes with him getting older.

That said, he took a spill on his scooter after lunch and kind of lost his mind over his skinned elbow.  I laid down with him in the tent and his whiny whimpers soon mellowed to a quiet snore.  Bud was beat.

While Isaac slept, we enjoyed more grownup camp vibes.

I had hopes of paddleboarding that afternoon, but it was windy and the water was choppy, so we settled for a lakeside snack.

Back at camp, Juliette cozied up in the hammock while Isaac and I reveled in golden hour by the river.

And then Isaac joined me on a scouting mission to check out the lakefront sites.  Scooter for the win again.

This lake’s colors!  The temps were a bit too cold to want to take a dip, but we did plenty of water-gazing.

Juliette ate ramen while I made tacos and we dined all out of sync that night, but we were together and no one complained and I called it a win.

Good morning, bud!  Thank you for the sleep-in!

Again, who needs toys?!

Saturday morning was cloudy, but the lake was quiet and we took advantage of the glassy conditions to get out for a paddle.

In lakes as large as Chelan’s, where paddling across the lake is impossible, we pick our own mini-mini destinations.  As in, “Hey!  Let’s paddle over to that floating pinecone and pick it up!”  Almost the same sense of accomplishment.

Taco leftovers for lunch…

And then tent shenanigans during a passing drizzle.

We were all a little antsy by late afternoon, so we drove into town for burgers and a stop at the local toy store/candy shop.  Juliette picked out a tub of orange cream cotton candy and after much agonizing, Isaac selected a furry bouncy ball with the face of his favorite Bluey character on it.  The heart wants what it wants…

These two did plenty of getting on each other’s nerves that weekend, but also, they made each other laugh a lot.  It’s a package deal, parenting these two, and most days the scales tip toward joy.

Isaac was up early-early on Sunday, but after a quick trip to the bathroom, we snuggled back under our blankets.

And snoozed.

And snoozed.  Felt so good.

Those couple extra hours of sleep did my boy good!

One last tent romp before we packed it up…

I took the kids down to the lake while Shane broke down camp.  The sun came out in full force that day and we dosed up on Vitamin D before hitting the road.

I feel ya, Buddy.  The disappointment of a now-empty campsite…

We did a final sweep to collect our odds and ends and then shared a round of hugs, as Shane and Juliette were headed off on their own father-daughter five-day adventure in Winthrop.

SUMMER!  It arrived with a bang.

Another photo blitz, to catch up on the last bits of Spring, and then it’s going to be a camp trip bonanza on here.  In May and June, there were playgrounds…

And scooters…

And spray parks, oh my.

Dates at our favorite neighborhood  pub…

And a visit to our new favorite ice cream shop…

And so much time at Alki.

Lowman Beach is still our favorite place to spread out a blanket and a picnic feast.

I’d like to give a special moment to Isaac’s little button-down…

And Juliette’s Coffee Coffee Coffee shirt, gifted to her by a friend’s mom when she learned how much Juliette adores Lorelei Gilmore.

In April I chaperoned Juliette’s Fifth Grade Camp and had the best time with my girl.  While all the other kids with parent chaperones asked their moms and dads to sit at the front of the bus, Juliette saved me a seat, insisting we buddy up.  I couldn’t say no.

And I got ALL the 11 year old scoops.

These were my cabin mates, sweet as could be.  While the fifth grade boys were stealing latex gloves from the first aid kids and turning them into makeshift water balloons to be launched at cabin windows, these girls were stringing twinkle lights on their bunks and arranging their bookshelves just-so.  Don’t get me wrong – girls can stir up their own types of drama, but these particular kiddos were such a pleasure throughout the weekend.

We had an activity-packed couple of days.  Campfires…

Beach walks…

And a squid dissection!

A squid ink signature to prove she completed the assignment.

The kids played some form of tag in which they were all different animals in the forest food chain and Juliette dominated, gazelle that she is.

Our last morning brought shelter-building, fire-making, and a surprise salamander-sighting.

And to cap it off, the climbing wall.

It was pretty special, to watch Juliette scramble up that wall with her classmates spotting her and cheering her on.

I’m so glad I got the chance to tag along.  And I’m so glad I won’t be asked to do it again for another eight years (I’ve got you, Isaac!).

Mother’s Day was spent enjoying our usual backyard French toast brunch.

Tastes goooooood…

We went down to Whale Tail Park to test out Isaac’s new rocket launcher and he picked me the tiniest, sweetest daisy bouquet.

With a hike up through Schmitz Park to cap it all off.

I spent a weekend in Bellingham with a few lady friends, drinking foofy drinks and eating good food and laughing till we cried.

We went for a walk through the neighborhood and were accosted by a herd of goats.

This group spreads out a taco bar like nobody’s business.

Shane and I celebrated the evening of our 19th anniversary at Cactus Grill with the kiddos.  Maybe a tiny bit light on romance…

But big on love.

The romance came a few days later, when we snuck away for a night on Whidbey Island while my mom and dad watched the kids.  We drank our canned wine and ate our fancy cheese and streamed the Daily Show while waiting for the ferry at Mukilteo.  There was no passing of snacks to the backseat, no pleas for Paw Patrol, no interrupted conversations.  Just us.  It felt good.

We perused the plants and housewares at Bayview Garden before checking into our little cabin for an afternoon of reading and dozing.

We spruced up for dinner in Coupeville at The Oyster Catcher, where we treated ourselves to oysters and pork belly and creme brûlée.

I just asked Shane if he could remember what his favorite thing was at dinner that night and without missing a beat, he said, “looking into your eyes…”.  19 years and we still got it.

Morning reading time in our backyard…

And then a hike at Ebey’s Landing.

Woooo!  This place!  I could have watched these grasses wave in the wind for hours.  But alas, we missed our mayhem back home – time to roll out.

Mid June brought all the end-of-the-school-year happenings, like Juliette’s piano recital, which she rocked.

She played a duet with Nico and the two of them stole the show, tearing through their piece without missing a beat.

Shane and I were invited to an assembly the week before school let out where Juliette was presented with a Seymour Kaplan award for her exceptional attitude of kindness, consideration, and generosity.  To hear that auditorium erupt with cheers when her name was called, to listen to her principal talk about her one-in-a-million spirit, to watch her bound to the stage with pride and still, humility.  How’d we get so lucky?

There was a fifth grade picnic at Lincoln Park…

And then the big event!  Graduation Day!  Juliette donned her finest, hugged her grandmas, and said, “enjoy the show!”.

There was a dance performance and poetry readings and the essential presentation of diplomas.  SHE DID IT!

Her teacher is a gem of a human and challenged Juliette in all the best ways.

Juliette Grace, I’m so freaking proud of the person you are.

The next day, I walked her to elementary school for the very last time.  She looked back with a smile and waved goodbye, trotting back to me for one final hug.  I was a little sad, of course, but mostly thankful.  What a gift this school has been for my girl.  She’s so ready for what lies ahead.

Bring on middle school!

BUT FIRST:  we summer.