little black journal

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.

The main event!  We drove down to Portland a couple of days before Christmas to settle in with the fam and enjoy some downtime.  We unloaded our car and then got right down to business – cards and the hand slap game and lots of cousin love.

Isaac was always up early, eager to explore the house and grab some Bina snuggles.

I know, Bina – that’s how I feel, too, when Isaac wants to play before I’ve had my coffee.

We made our usual pilgrimage to Powells for books and PDX vibes.

I tell you, row upon row of beautifully-illustrated books and Isaac beelines for the carousel of Paw Patrol paperbacks.

And an intro to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

We finished our book shopping and then went back to the house to settle into the couch and watch Elf.

The BEST.

Isaac and I popped over to the playground late afternoon to get some residual wiggles out.

When the lawn decorations match your sweater…

I liked being the last one to bed while we were there, relishing the quiet and the fire and the glow of the Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve!  Isaac was up very very early and was very very loud, so I tossed him in the car, not sure exactly where we headed.  We ended up finding a cozy table by the window at Grand Central Bakery on Hawthorne.  Buddy got a cinnamon roll, I got a latte, and everyone back at the house got to grab some extra Z’s.  We all won.

A woman walked by and said, “A cinnamon roll in your pajamas on Christmas Eve?  Life doesn’t get any better than that!”  Right, Bud?

We got back to the house, threw some real clothes on Isaac, and then headed right back out with Shane and Juliette to catch the 11am showing of Moana 2.  Isaac’s first movie!

Loved it.

The afternoon was lazy and lovely.

(Can you guess who won Uno?)

Morning rain brought an afternoon rainbow.

We gathered in the living room after dinner for our annual viewing of The Polar Express.  On my list of top five holiday traditions, for sure.

We’re ready for you, Santa!

Isaac was up first on Christmas morning and I tried to stoke excitement with the missing cookies and the half-eaten carrot, but he really wasn’t grasping the concept.  “Why did Santa bring me a carrot?”

But oh, the presents.

All the kids are up!  Showtime!

The next hour was filled with the sounds of wrapping paper being ripped, delighted exclamations and effusive thank you’s.

The only thing on Juliette’s wish list was a four-pack of holiday mini Squish-mallows.  I initially didn’t take her very seriously when she said she wanted them, but then I saw the look of disappointment on her face when I told her they were sold out on Amazon.  I put a watch on them and they popped back up a week before Christmas – I’m so glad I snagged them.  How many more years of stuffy love does she really have ahead of her?

And Isaac’s main ask was for a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy.

Nailed it.

My dad sat in his usual chair and got his usual gift of beer and chocolate.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Isaac had picked out this book from Powell’s a couple of days earlier and saw us buying it, but still couldn’t believe his eyes when he unwrapped it that morning.  Three year olds are the best.

Gifts opened.  Kids thrilled.  Mission accomplished.

The rest of the morning was quiet and wonderful.  The kids played with their gifts.  I drank coffee and finished my book.  All was merry and bright.

Dinner was our usual country ham, with a side of mac and cheese a la Morgan.  Sugar cookies and apple crisp for dessert.  Thanks to Mitch and Kathryn for continuing to be the most gracious of hosts.  I know we all make for a very full house.

We headed home the day after Christmas, to tackle a couple of house projects and cozy in with the kids.

Isaac and Shane became fast fans of The Outdoor Boys, a YouTube channel filled with videos of a guy that camps in extreme weather.  Random but wholesome viewing.  Isaac’s plea all weekend was, “Watch snow camping, Daddy?  Snow camping?”

I took the kids down to the Menashee House for one last feast of holiday lights.  Shane is of the opinion that Christmas decorations should be taken down the day after Christmas – fresh start, don’t overplay the magic, yadda yadda.  I say, keep the twinkle coming.  Till New Years Day, at least, though really the full month of January is fair game.

I had something come up at work and needed to head into the office on December 30th.  Isaac was at school and Juliette asked if she could spend the day with me downtown.  I welcomed the company, as I was none too thrilled about having to give up a day with my girl.  She marched up the stairs to my building like a boss.

We cut out early and spent the afternoon roaming downtown, lunching and shopping.

It felt like one of our annual getaways – way to rekindle my love of our city, Juliette!

She makes everything new and beautiful and fun.

Shane and Juliette headed to the slopes on New Years Eve for a ski day and so Isaac and I were left to rustle up our own mini-adventure.

“Bye, sister!”  Those are heart hands he’s making…

While those two skied, Isaac and I hit up Costco and then ran circles around the Juanita Bay playground in Kirkland.

Like, literal circles.  I think he went down this slide 25 times.

The dock here is huge and amazing and perfect for tossing rocks.

And hunting for bears.

Post-playground, we warmed up at Zoka Coffee.

And then a nap by the Christmas tree, as we knew its days were numbered.  Sometimes I lament that I can’t downhill ski with Shane and Juliette, but…this might be better.

One of Isaac’s preschool buddies had a New Years Eve dance party that evening, complete with a disco ball, and we popped in for an hour to bust a move or two.

We returned home around dinnertime to get our own party started.  Games and snacks and laughs with the Rusts and Jordan.

It was a mellow evening, complete with a 9 pm New Years toast, but that’s how we roll now.  I’m not mad about it.

Cheers, Bud!

(Isaac got real into the toast thing.)

Happy 2025, friends.

December was full of all the holiday things as we fully leaned into the Schnell Family Twinkle-Fest 2024.  Early mornings were spent playing by the Christmas tree, wondering which ornament would be Isaac’s favorite du jour…

We leaned into time with our chosen family as well, gathering on Black Friday to devour a spread of Thanksgiving leftovers.  Jack’s turkey congee was so good for the soul.

We visited the Christmas market at Seattle Center while Shane’s mom was still here.  Lights and hot cocoa and a carousel (that the kids rode twice, no less) and a visit with Santa, from whom Isaac decisively requested a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy (I took notes).

Juliette says she’s too old for the carousel, but agreed to ride “just to show Isaac how to hold on”.

The Christmas Ship is another favorite ritual on our holiday calendar and since we missed the ship’s November docking at Alki Beach, we drove over to Seward Park to catch their Lake Washington show.  We perched on a log, wrapped a fleece blanket around our shoulders, and listened to the carolers’ voices ring out over the water.

Want to talk about twinkle?  The annual Menashee House display was unveiled on December 1st in all it’s brightly colored glory.

We visited our other favorite neighborhood displays, like the yard with 40 inflatables, and the house with a projection of a cookie-eating Santa in the window.  I love how this time of year turns even our run-of-the-mill drive home from daycare into a wonder-filled event, ripe with holiday magic.

Shane’s mom headed back to Minnesota in early December and we missed her the moment she left, but are so thankful that we were able to ring in the holiday season with her.

Juliette participated in her school’s annual craft fair on a Saturday, selling handmade bracelets and decorated mini-trees.  It was such a festive event, the cafeteria brimming with creativity and pride.  Juliette’s wares were a hit and she turned a good profit, though she reminded me that “it’s not about the money, Mommy”.

Juliette decorated a gingerbread house…

And Isaac ate said decorations…

There was a father-daughter pickleball game under Alki’s evening lights…

And Nancy, La Verne and I skipped town on a Friday for our annual getaway.  We hot-tubbed in Port Townsend and browsed cute bookshops and feasted at Finistere, then cozied up at La V’s Marrowstone house for movies and dessert.

We made it back to Seattle in time to watch the kids’ December piano recital.  Juliette practiced, practiced, practiced beforehand but was a ball of nerves when we walked in the church.  I sat with her onstage for a quick little rehearsal prior to showtime and watched her shoulders relax as she made it through the most challenging bars of The Beach.  She got this.

Nailed it.

My most favorite holiday tradition is our family brunch with the Chens and Rusts, where we eat and exchange gifts and be merry together.  Pickles the Bassett Hound loves it, too – don’t let those droopy eyes fool you!

Does this boy need a puppy for Christmas?!

This gang gives the most thoughtful gifts; each little surprise is emblematic of just how well we know and love each other.

(The Chens know the way to Isaac’s heart, for sure!)

Juliette and I kicked off her winter break with our Christmas tree slumber party.  I think I fell asleep well before she did, but I woke up in the wee hours of the night and found her snoozing peacefully.

Isaac joined us early the next morning…

And then I took him to our neighborhood Santa while Juliette was kicking the soccer ball around with some friends.  Isaac hopped right up onto the couch and these two had a nice little chat and then suddenly Isaac was right on Saint Nick’s lap, cheesing for a photo.

This time around, Isaac’s one Christmas request was for a candy cane.  You got it, Buddy!

Gosh, I love the Saturday before Christmas.  Most the to-do’s are done, we have two weeks of break stretching out in front of us, the house is cozy with anticipation and the sound of Elf or The Grinch playing in the background.  It’s such a good day for a blanket nest.

(Are you cozy, Juliette?)

Next stop, Portland!

Summer is slipping through our fingers, as it does every year, and I’m snap-shotting as many moments as possible, wanting to freeze-frame joys big and little.

We’ve felt a little short on buddy-time these past couple of months due to by-passing travel schedules, but have squeezed in a couple of hangouts, like this evening with the crew at Lowman Beach.  It’s so apparent from these photos how much Juliette loves being the presence of these people.

We skipped our annual Idaho trip this summer and leaned into a West Seattle Fourth of July, complete with a curbside viewing of the neighborhood parade, which is really just a single fire truck followed by hundreds of families taking a walk together in their red, white, and blue.

We picnicked with friends in the afternoon on the Fourth, with popsicle appetizers and a burger bar and eight varieties of chips…

And then spent the evening at home, doing sparklers and fireworks with our neighbors.  This is the first Fourth that Isaac has been old enough to hold his own sparkler!  Such pride.

The fireworks were a bit confusing for him, initially.  Why were we making so much noise?  And such a mess?

But soon he got into it.

REALLY into it.

We only made it to Coleman Pool once this summer, on an 80-degree day that proved to still be too cool to enjoy a long swim.  But the bikeride was beautiful, our quick dip was fun, and the beachfront burritos were superb.

When temps climbed toward 90 later that week, we hopped in the neighbor’s pool for some more drawn-out swim time.  What a treat.

On the rare occasion that we found ourselves with a free Saturday, we headed toward open water with our paddleboard and squirters in tow.  I forgot how good Chism Beach is!

(Don’t jump, Isaac!)

(JUMP, JULES!)

It took Juliette ten minutes to get up the gumption to make the jump and swim to Shane on the floating dock, but once she leapt, her dad was all cheers.

Back at shore, Isaac eased into the water a bit more gradually.  Cold, Bud?

But he quickly acclimated.

Juliette showed him how to load the water squirter and once he got the hang of it, he was dangerous.

Popsicle break…

And then lunch at Dough Zone, where this cool kid drank half of my mango iced green tea.

We ordered a second paddleboard last month so that we could get out on the water as a family, but our first paddleboard popped (on land, thankfully) as we were loading up for a sunset SUP at Lowman.  The best-laid plans…  Isaac and still got out on the new board for a quick test drive.  It floats!

Miscellaneous playground snaps, of wading pools and spray parks and climbing walls…

We took in (part of) a Mariners game at my office’s summer picnic.  Snacks, lemonade, and matching pink hats for the kids.  I don’t even recall if the M’s won, but we certainly felt like we came out ahead!

Juliette has been extra fitness-focused since getting her Apple watch and is always game to accompany me on my evening walks.  I LOVE these walks, this dedicated catch-up time with my girl.  Often the highlight of my day.

If I’m working from home and can step away from my desk a little early, we jog to Isaac’s preschool to pick him up, then catch the bus home.  Something for everyone!

Front yard hangs continue to be another simple summer pleasure.  So many giggles during my evening watering.  Pants optional.

Finally, Isaac and I capped off July with a berry-picking spree at Bybee Nims while Juliette was at a soccer tournament.  It was cloudy that day, but Mount Si was no less beautiful and the blueberries were no less sweet.

Isaac ate about 10 berries for each one he dropped into our bucket.

And for the record, I told him not to eat the green ones!  This will teach him to listen to his mama.

Back to the blues…

These slow, sweet summer days with my boy…we’re eating it all up.  Every last bit.

 

 

I know, more pool pics?  Indulge me.  I want to remember every last dip.

By Wednesday Isaac and I knew right where to beeline for the best sunrise seats.

The architectural details at the resort were a treat to explore – crisp, clean, nice.

Isaac and I finished our morning coffee and found the rest of our crew at the gym.  Big kid boot camp!

A post-workout feast…

Buddy and I chose the pool in lieu of the gym.

And then suddenly the endless pool time and early mornings hit him hard.  He fell asleep poolside late morning and didn’t stir for a couple of hours.

Wakey-wakey Bud!

And right back at it.

When Isaac takes his first real swim strokes, I think it will be under the tutelage of his sister.  She’s already showing him the basics.

Poofy hair, don’t care…

But gosh, what a cool kid!

Every so often we would wonder if we should venture outside the resort, but ultimately we circled back to the same conclusion…how can this be beat?!

La Verne and I did, however, spring for a short beachfront horseback ride with the kids before dinner.  I was surprised by how vulnerable I felt once I hopped in the saddle, completely at the mercy of my horse’s whims, but all our animals were gentle as gentle could be.

We went our separate ways for dinner, as the kids wanted sushi and Shane wanted tacos (MORE TACOS) and Isaac wanted (needed) to go to bed early.  La Verne took N and J out for Japanese, Shane and Jack chowed down at the mercado, and I snuggled up with my boy.  Win, win, win.

Thursday!  Our last full day.  I felt due for some solo morning time, so I grabbed some coffee and walked on the beach while Shane hung with Isaac.

We did rustle up the gumption later than morning to venture into Cabo San Lucas for a waterfront stroll and a boat tour.

It took us a few minutes to find our way through the tourist traps and connect with our scheduled captain, but eventually we found our guy and set off.

We saw fish and a little peek-a-boo rock portal and then the famous arch.  Our guide was wonderful.

Isaac was feeling very relaxed on the cruise back toward the dock.

A brief wildlife sighting…

And then we were back to our happiest of places for smoothies and lunch.

And margs.

Jack and La Verne made reservations for us that evening at Flora Farms, a farm-to-table dining experience outside of Cabo.  And the whole thing was just so utterly perfect.  The food and the drinks and the adjacent lawn that the kids ran wild on while the adults lingered over our meal.

 

I love this picture, N and J deep in conversation in the foreground while Isaac flops around on the grass in the distance.  Classic.

Top night.

And then…it was Friday.  Go-day.  You know where I spent my last morning…

Oh, those mornings.  To stroll at our own pace, to pick flowers and debate whether we wanted to put our feet in the pool or the ocean.

The ocean won.

I gave Isaac’s clothes my best shaking before we packed up, but still, I brought home a good handful of Cabo sand.

Ocean or pool?  Why pick just one?!

I dropped Isaac with Shane and then hit the breakfast buffet with La Verne and the kids.  Pozole, breakfast tacos, pastries, fresh fruit, gimme all the things!

Last dip!

We really made those final couple of hours in the pool count.

We reluctantly grabbed our towels and headed back to the room to shower and pack.  Isaac shouted Vamanos! as we hustled out and I made a mental note to thank his daycare teachers for his growing Spanish vocabulary.

And then…we were off.  Adios, Cabo!  Adios (and GRACIAS), Chen fam.  Those few days were so good for our souls.

Summer is here (!!) and I better get our Spring Break trip to Cabo on the blog, before I’m buried under a backlog of sunny PNW pics.

Jack and La Verne generously asked if our family would like to join them at their Cabo timeshare for a few days in April and while Shane wondered for a hot second if we should go to rural Texas instead to catch the solar eclipse from the Path of Totality, the pull of friend time and pool time and taco time was just too great.  We were IN.  It was an easy flight – the kids simul-streamed Harry Potter, snacks were eaten, no one got sick…we were off to a good start.

We were greeted by our lovely hosts when we rolled up on Sunday afternoon and had ditched our travel clothes for swimsuits before you could even say “Margarita”.

Or…”Mango Smoothie”.

Living their best lives, right out of the gate.

This pool.  Perfect temp, perfect views, perfect swim-up bar.

We’d had a tough March and while grief can’t necessarily be tucked in a closet and left at home, there was certainly relief in having time to focus on just being together.

My desert palette girl…

Monday!  Guess who was up first?

I’ve come to love our quiet vacation mornings together, where we rustle up some coffee and feel the sun warm our cheeks.  Isaac and I put our feet in the pool and had a snack and eased so wonderfully into vacation-mode.

I think his little red Lighting McQueen covered just about every square inch of the resort’s sprawling property during our five days there.

Big kids are up!  Pool time!

Occasionally the N and J would ask, “What should we do now?” and we’d come up with a race or a challenge or an underwater game and off they swam again.  Happy fishes.

The solar eclipse happened later that morning and while this photo looks totally staged, the wonder is real!

Back to business.

When we needed a sun-break, we hung out on our private patio.

What a treat to have so much time to catch up.  Long conversations with old friends are too infrequent these days.

We spent a little time at the beach before dinner and while the silky sand and turquoise water was a feast for the eyes, the warmer pool temps ultimately won out.

Taco time!  We had dinner a nearby mercado and tucked into enchiladas and tacos and kid-sized burritos.  Isaac dug it.

Buddy and I spent Tuesday morning sipping coffee on our favorite patio and then playing on the beach.

He’s such a sweet little pal sometimes.

Shane and I took turns working out at the gym and then we all convened at the pool for another day of luxe lounging.

We drove into San Jose del Cabo for lunch.  Poor Juliette had come down with a brief stomach bug in the night and was a little low-energy that afternoon, but still felt good enough to peruse the shops and galleries with me.

Lunch was…TACOS at La Lupita.  Like, a lot of tacos.  Big tacos.  Shane may have set a new PR on amount of food consumed in a single sitting.

A different kind of pool time after lunch…

But then back to the real pool.

We ate dinner that night at one of the resort’s on-site restaurants and I saw the color come back to Juliette’s cheeks as we were waiting for our food.  She devoured her meal and laughed a lot and I felt so grateful to see her fully back in action, able to revel in the magic of it all.

Even our guacamole felt extra-special!

Eat up, Isaac.  We’ve got more swimming to do…

We cozied up back at the apartment after dinner and watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with the big kids.  I’m bottling up the memory of the way they laughed when Jennifer Grey’s character kicked the principal in the face.  It’s the little things.  And the big things.  All the Cabo things.  

One more summer trip to log on the blog, before we get to a humdinger of an October (humdinger in THE VERY BEST WAY)…

We had such a fun family reunion with our buddies at Hood River last summer that we declared it an annual event.  We reconvened on the Oregon/Washington border this past August for another long weekend of eating, drinking, and playing; this time we stayed on the Washington side and booked a bundle of rooms at Skamania Lodge.  Isaac was like an un-penned animal after four hours in the car and immediately set out to explore every inch of the wide open grounds.

Meanwhile, Shane and I explored the bar menu.

This place was going to do juuuuuust fine.

Our friends trickled in throughout the course of the evening and the gaggle of children grew and grew.

Isaac wanted so badly to be counted among the big kids.

His sister did a pretty good job of including him.  Along with that blonde red-shirted boy, who had no affiliation with our group but made himself right at home!

Speaking of big kids…it still blows my mind we’ve got teenagers in the group.  I mean, this guy’s not drinking age, but he’s old enough to pour for the grownups!

Wine and pizza and crispy Brussels sprouts were passed around…

And before I knew it we were talking under the stars.  We never run out of things to say to one another.

I’ll give you one guess as to who the earliest riser of the bunch was on Friday morning!

I forgive you though, Isaac, for getting me up with sun.  This golden light at 6:30am was pretty magical.

We strolled down the hill and toward town in search of breakfast, stopping every so often to take in the view.

We found yogurt and fresh mango slices at the supermarket and then took our fare down to the riverfront to eat.

This kid’s playground radar started beeping and suddenly we stumbled upon these couple of random slides.

And then we found Sister!  (She and her Uber-Dad offered us a ride back to the hotel.)

We took over the hotel lobby late morning…

Played a little disc golf…

And then hit the pool, to Juliette’s utter delight.

Isaac’s delight, too!  He’s loving the water more and more.

Strike a pose, ladies!

While the big kids perfected their cannon balls, I was happy to walk laps in the shallow end with Isaac in my arms.

Lucky kids.

I felt like I’d lived a full day by noon, but we were only getting started…  We walked back into town after swimming to find lunch, then convened at a park to bat the volleyball around and play various lawn games.

At some point the fathers disappeared.  I found them at the whiskey-tasting room next to the park and asked Shane if there was room in their circle for one more guy.

Isaac fit right in.

At some point we strolled up the street for ice cream, again completely overtaking the place – traveling in a pack of 24 is no joke!

There were plenty of times during the weekend when Shane and I had to divide and conquer, one of us hanging back on Isaac-duty while the rest of the group partied, but there were also plenty of times when Isaac folded right into the mix, thrilled by the presence of so many adoring playmates.

Tech break.

And then to the local fair!  It was a quick little trip, but enough time to get our fill of tractors and farm animals.

We spread out at the picnic tables at Walking Man Brewing for dinner.  The grownups drank beer and the kids played corn hole and all was right with the world.

How ’bout them Friday Night Lights?

Saturday!  Morning!  Sunrise!

Isaac and I spent more mother-son bonding time down by the river, this time finding a little dock to lounge on.

I filled my empty coffee cup with rocks from the shore and he tossed each stone in, one at a time, until the cup was empty and he asked, More?  More?  More?

We were here for awhile.  I didn’t mind.

Finally, though, I coaxed him off the dock and into the stroller in search of breakfast.

We found a train on the way, which was very exciting.

We found smoothies and cinnamon rolls and espresso at The Cabin Drive Thru.

And we found this late riser!  Glad you could join us, Jules.

The gang headed out on a hike late morning (sans Isaac and Shane) to Wahclella Falls.

Here comes the party bus!

The hike to the falls was a mild climb, but the kids hardly complained and the payoff was real.

Paparazzi children…so weird to be on the other side of all those lenses!

The more adventurous of the fellas couldn’t resist taking a dip.  I wish I had audio of their high-pitched shrieks as they collectively dunked.

These two got along so swimmingly all weekend, despite the fact that they only spend 2-3 days together each year.  Some friendships just work.

That’s how I feel about all these folks, actually.  We just work.

(Back at camp, Shane and Isaac were partaking in their own form of bonding.)

Juliette, luckily, had plenty of fun uncles on the trail to fill in for Shane.

We cooled our dusty heels that afternoon at a little swimming basin in Hood River.  VIVA LAKE LIFE!

This game made for some laughs and some very good action shots.

Give yourself a couple of years, Isaac…

We floated and jumped and lazed around for a couple of hours, collectively keeping an eye on each other’s kids.

Isaac wasn’t feeling great that afternoon, but the paddleboard did pique his interest.

We migrated a quarter-mile down the road to convene on yet another lawn for a picnic dinner.

Juliette and S were very into their cartwheel practice and suddenly the grownups were challenging each other to headstand competitions (Nance for the win).

And then there was much cajoling and cheering as the adults showed off their own cartwheel skills.  Some people stuck the landing.  Some really didn’t.  In either case, we laughed a lot.

16 years of friendship and counting…

We high-tailed it back to Seattle on Sunday morning, as Isaac’s fever had spiked in the night and we were eager to return to the comforts of home.  But man OH MAN, we left with boatloads of good memories.  Cheers to Year 17.

July is slipping through our fingers like sand (warm sand!), so best get the June photos logged before I’m in over my head with pics of my kiddos in swimsuits and sunglasses…

Shane, Juliette and I found ourselves with a toddler-free day on Juneteenth, as the three of us had no school or work, so we dropped baby bro at daycare and headed northeast toward Wallace Falls for a family hike.

It was overcast that day, but the cool felt good as we climbed toward the falls.

This hike pushed our limits at six miles round-trip, but it was dotted with intermediate lookouts that broke up the journey.  Plus, we felt extra light on our feet without Isaac in tow.

When Juliette’s feet started to drag, we made a game out of seeing how many Harry Potter characters we could name, from A to Z.  Answer is:  88!  We’re into HP World deep.

The money shot / turn-around point…

A few more minutes to contemplatively take in the view / catch our breath…

We made record time on the return trip, each of us motivated by the promise of Blizzards from the Dairy Queen we’d passed 10 minutes from the trailhead.  Whatever it takes!

Three feels nice sometimes.

We spent the following weekend out on the Olympic Peninsula with the Rusts for a pickle ball bonanza in Sequim.  Let tournament season begin!  Shane and Jason talked strategy on the ferry deck while a pod of Orcas played in the distance.

Our AirBnB was farmhouse-y and cozy and the scene of much backyard game-playing.

The Rusts brought their net for some pre-game warmups.  The inclusion of Isaac added a whole new level of complexity to the game.

Game day!  Good luck, Daddy!

I didn’t watch many of the matches, mostly because I was chasing Isaac around the nearby playground, but also because I found I don’t have the nerves for it.  It’s just a game, but oh, I wanted those wins!

Leveraging the beloved bottle to get brother to sit still and watch for a moment…

And a high five for a won match!

Isaac and I were both tiring of the same slide run on the playground by mid-afternoon, so I put the kids in the car and we drove out to a nearby dairy to visit some cows, pet a cat, and eat some ice cream.

Isaac isn’t quite ready for a solo cone, but not to worry – Juliette is an excellent sharer.

One last pat-pat goodbye…

Back at the courts, we found that our crew unfortunately ended the day medal-less, but not without a handful of wins.  Super proud of you, Shane, Nance, and Jason!

Back at the house, Shane clocked in for Isaac duty while Juliette and I did our own dinking in the driveway court.

Dinnertime tickles…

And then more backyard gaming once Isaac was in bed.  We played Spike Ball and lounged in the Adirondack chairs and Juliette brought out her jump rope to school Gryffin and Isaiah on how to do a double-under.

G and Z are teenagers and wanting more and more independence, but there are times when they’re still Juliette’s goofy big bros.  What a joy to all grow old(er) together.  We laughed a lot that night.

Early-morning front yard bird-watching with Buddy on Sunday…

Bacon and cinnamon rollss..

And then a short family hike out at the Dungeness Spit, as Shane didn’t have to leave for the courts till noon.

We only made it as far as the start of the actual Spit, as we’d left our stroller in the car and Isaac walks slooooow, but it felt good to get out together.

Driveway b-ball while the adults loaded the cars…

And then Shane and Jason took to the courts for mens doubles while I took to the beach with the kids.  The Spit was calling us back and this time we made it down to the sand.  The full stretch is five miles long, but we were happy just to cover a bit of it.

Juliette discovered that beached kelp bubbles make a very satisfying pop when stepped on, so the kids spent the better part of an hour racing up the beach, looking for kelp.

Keep up, Isaac!

Seriously though, this game was a thing.

Isaac was quite proud of himself with each and every one.

QUITE.

We hung out for awhile at a pile of driftwood, the kids picked out a couple of perfectly-sized walking sticks for the trek back, and then we zoomed toward the car to watch Shane’s and Jason’s final matches.

Top day.

And pro tip – use the stroller to get as far as the beach!

Back at the courts, Isaac got some skating lessons…

And we found that Shane and Jason were dominating the 4.0 mens doubles scene!

Last year they played this same tournament at only 3.0, so this was a significant jump for them.  They held their own, though, and after a couple of nail-biters walked away with bronze metals!

The last week of June was packed with end-of-the-year festivities at Juliette’s school.  There was her jump rope club performance, where she showed off her months of hard work with a series of double-under/skip-hop/fancy-pants moves.  I didn’t even know such things were possible!

And there was the annual Move-A-Thon, where kids run as many laps as they can around the school parking lot in the space of 20 minutes.  I volunteered as a lap counter and was very proud of Juliette’s get-up-and-go, despite the heat.

Girlfriend was flushed!

There was an outdoor movie night for third graders at the school playground, but when kids realized it was still too light out to see the movie screen, most of them opted for the playground.  Juliette and this sweet, freckled red-head often call themselves sisters.

And the last day of third grade!  I paused at the gate when I dropped Juliette off that morning and reveled in the sight of her stopping to chat with her favorite teachers aide while her friends ran to greet her with a hug.  These school with these kids has been good to our girl.

DID IT!

Isaac toasted to his sister with a backyard popsicle and then we got down to the serious business of summering.

We’re comin’ for you, Idaho!

There’s quite the random smattering in here – June was good, full of small simple pleasures and slightly grander getaways.

We wrapped up May and kicked off June with a visit from my parents – Isaac served up heaping helpings of his homemade broccoli stew to Grandma while Juliette played the part of the card shark with Grandpa.  So fun to have some new playmates in the house!

Sunday morning snaps…

And more playtime!  Plus a free haircut.

My parents are diligent about doing their morning exercises and Isaac was eager to join their routine.  Work those muscles, Bud.

We spent most of Memorial Day weekend in the backyard – almost felt like summer!  Juliette found an old football and learned how to run a handful of plays under the tutelage of Shane and my dad.  Her joie de sports is unending.

We celebrated the high-70’s weather with Isaac’s first Fudgesicle.

He was a fan.

Kudos to Juliette for devouring hers without a trace of chocolate left on her face.  My girl is growing up…

We romped around Lincoln Park for a bit on a sunny evening…

And gave my parents a West Seattle culinary experience when we picked up Pecos bbq to pair with our beer from Ounces.

A water balloon toss with Grandpa…

Followed by another round of Fudgesicles (I bought the big box!).

We had one last dinner al fresco before my parents packed it up early the next morning to hit the road.  It was such a lovely, light few days with them.  We stayed close to home, but loved folding them into our day-to-day.  It was nice to have extra hands on-deck to coax Isaac out of his evening crankies with a silly game of catch or a couple of books.  There were evenings we all just sat around the living room and chuckled over his myriad of facial expressions and admired the way that Juliette sisters him with such grace.  Seattle is beautiful in the Spring, but those kiddos were definitely the main attraction.

I wish I could remember the context of these few photos of Juliette, but no matter…they’re such a good semblance of her striking beauty and delight in life.

We saw softball season come to a close in mid-June, which was bittersweet – I loved watching Juliette on the field, loved sitting on the sidelines with Isaac (when he’d actually sit), but napping on the go has its challenges…

Such focus!  I think he actually spotted a dog in the distance, but we’ll pretend he’s watching his sister warm up in the bullpen.

That’s a wrap!  Proud of you, West Seattle Storm!

In other miscellaneous goings-on, we finished Book 7 of Harry Potter last month, hitting a major milestone in Juliette’s Hogwarts journey.  I initially felt a little sad as we heard the narrator of the audio book utter those final sentences, but this wasn’t the end – the magic lives on as we talk about the books and their characters all the time (like…all the time).  It’s fun to see your kid so immersed in something so magical.

Isaac still helps me water…

And has mastered the art of drying off.

I had a solo Saturday afternoon with the kids while Shane took a pickle ball lesson and we found ourselves at Lincoln Park.  The weather had cooled that weekend, but it was still more than adequate for rock-throwing and crab-hunting.

And snacking.  Boy loves him some freeze-dried mangos.

Soccer season ended a week after softball season and I was left with the same mix of disappointment and relief.

Definitely sad to see this season end – Juliette’s confidence on the field and the communication among her teammates skyrocketed these past couple of months.  We just signed up for Fall league!

Isaac is convinced he’s part of the team.

Shane also found his footing as assistant coach this season, though you can see some kids are more keen than others to study the lineup!

The final game ended up being a zero-zero tie, but we called it a win.  Defense like I’ve never seen from these girls before!

(Coach Dan is THE BEST.)

More backyard meals…

Look at those matching grins!

In farther-from-home goings-on, we spent Father’s Day weekend on Marrowstone Island with the Chens.  When Jack asked how early we could arrive on Saturday, we said we could easily make the 6:45 am ferry.  Very occasionally pays to have an early riser in the family…

We pulled up to the house by 8:30, breakfasted, and then headed out for a walk along the beach.  It was chilly that weekend, but these PNW kids know how to beach in any weather.

Shane found himself on a little island and though he could jump to the rocky bank without getting his feet wet.  Want to take a guess at how that went?

Made for some good laughs, at least.

As in soccer, Isaac had no clue he was on the sidelines while the big kids did their thing.

His oblivion is charming.

Though Juliette is awfully good about bringing him into the fold.

We lunched at Finnriver Cidery, slurping ramen noodles and wolfing down hot slices of pizza while Isaac napped in the stroller.  Such a treat!

 

Cornhole:  Dads vs. Kids.

(Buddy’s awake!)

The grounds at this place are perfect for roaming.

Make a wish, Juliette!

I don’t know who came up with this game, but it’s funny every time.

We spent the afternoon cozied up inside, playing video games and chasing Isaac around the house.

When baby boy really started bouncing off the walls, we ventured out for a pre-dinner walk.

Isaac loves the sound of birds and becomes very surprised/excited when he actually spots one in a tree.  It’s the little things with this kid.

Isaac was up with the sun on Sunday, so I put him in the car, picked up a coffee, and we cruised around the island.  You know we got an early start when Buddy is grabbing his first nap before 8am…

Once he was awake, we pulled up to a nearby beach for an early romp while the crew back at the house rubbed the sleep from their eyes.

He had that puddle-jumping look in his eyes, so I stripped off his socks and shoes before they could get too soggy.

Cold, schmold!

Back at the house, I made chilaquiles for breakfast while the guys opened their Father’s Day cards from the kiddos.  Juliette’s card said “Happy Baller’s Day”.  She’s got Shane pegged, for sure.

One more woodsy walk…

And a porch pic of the Dads of the Day.

It started to rain as we were about to head to lunch, so we instead called it a trip and high-tailed it to the ferry (where the sun came back out, of course!).

Father’s Day afternoon was cozy and quiet, with couch naps and golf-watching and takeout burgers for dinner.  These are few of Shane’s favorite things…

June Part II (HELLO SUMMER!) coming up next…

I just took the stockings down and cleared my collection of bottle brush trees from our mantle this week – the holidays were a little hard to let go of this year (as in all years, to be honest).  They were just so slow and sweet and packed with time with my favorite people.

We came home from Portland to a couple of unopened gifts under the tree, which the kids made quick work of tearing into…

And then we laid out a game plan for the rest of the week.  Isaac’s school was open, but Juliette’s was not, so we took advantage of the three-of-us time to do some cross-country skiing at Cabin Creek.

It was snowy that day and we loved gliding through the fresh powder.  This course really pushed the limits of Juliette’s and my Nordic downhill skills, but we did it!

The uphill slog:

And the downhill glide.

Proud of you, Kiddo!

Juliette has passed my shoulders and is approaching nose-height – this kid is going to be taller than her mama in no time, it seems…

On Thursday, Shane and Juliette headed out for a downhill day at Snoqualmie with a couple of Juliette’s friends.  They had a blast, zipping down the slopes.  I had a blast, binge-watching Bad Sisters back at home under a pile of blankets.  It’s rare that I have the house to myself, and I made it count!

We did pick up Isaac a bit early from daycare those days, so that he wasn’t completely left out of the fun.

And we checked a couple last things off our holiday bucket list, like a visit to the Menashe House (Juliette missed round one last month).

I had postponed my annual getaway to Cedarbrook with Nance and LaV earlier in December, but we made up for it on New Years Eve Eve.  There was shopping and movies and dinner at the hotel bar and ice cream in bed and lots of overdue catching up.  Life gets busy, but it feels good to know we can count on this tradition to stitch us back together!

And then New Years Eve!  The big bash!  Our nearest and dearest came over that evening after Isaac was in bed, and we ate tacos and drank all kinds of things and told lots of stories.

(Story time with Aunt Nance in action!)

We struggled to find a playlist that appropriately matched the vibe of the evening and so I put out a call for 90’s song requests; suddenly we were embarking on a three-hour dance party, bopping to REM and Offspring and Warren G.  Jason’s got moooooooves.

Juliette looked at us like the crowd of tragically un-hip 40-somethings that we are, but couldn’t resist getting in on the Boot Scootin’ Boogie.

Kris Kross makes you jump-jump?  Things got progressively sillier as the night went on.

There was a 10:30 pm Domino’s order and some intense debate over Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam and then we toasted at 11:15 pm as the nine year olds’ energy was waning. 

People split and the house was suddenly very quiet and then suddenly not-quiet as Isaac started crying while I was brushing my teeth.  He must have sensed that he just missed out on an epic party, so I ended up rocking my dozing boy as the clock struck officially midnight.  I think I got the best of both worlds.

New Years morning brought the annual Polar Bear Plunge at Alki Beach.  Juliette was feeling extra-bold again this year and decided to join her dad.

All smiles pre-plunge!

But then reality hit…

And then my poor girl really wasn’t happy.

Isaac was like, “What were you thinking?!”

It took a hot minute, but once Juliette was re-bundled her smile came back.  She’s much braver than her mama!

Cheers, polar bears, to a fresh new year!

We got a bonus break day as school and work were closed on January 2nd, so we decided to give Cabin Creek another go, this time with Buddy on board.

Isaac fussed a little as we were getting him strapped in, but once Shane started to cruise he fell silent and zoned out in the very best way.

The snow was icy and super-fast that day; Juliette and I both took a couple of falls and there was a moment when I wanted to chuck my skis into the woods and just walk back to the car, but we stuck with it and eventually re-found our joy.

Sweet dreams, little boy.

We spent our final afternoon together cozying down at home, having tickle fights and doing puzzles and playing piano.

One last nap together, and then it was back to business with a vengeance.  January has felt a bit nuts, work-wise, but oh, those lazy holi-daze.  They were awfully good.