Photos of the Week: October 12

There must be more to life than having everything.” – Maurice Sendak

Practice, practice, practice!

This weekend, we’re back at the beach on Whidbey Island visiting our favorite heron. Its print in the sand is as big as my foot.

Whidbey Island wildlife

As much as I love this beach in the summer, I think I might like it even more in October. The driftwood is awesome, it feels quieter (not that its ever very loud or busy), and the sun is milder so we aren’t having to run for the shade or the pool.

If Cooper could read, he’d put the knife down. Maybe the sign of the week only applies to humans because he still attracts a pretty nice tribe. 🙂

(featured photo is mine of the Seattle Space Needle)

Photos of the Week: October 5

We are the windows through which our children first see the world. Let us be conscious of the view. ” – Katrina Kenison

We enjoyed great views when riding bikes in West Seattle.

West Seattle has some funky old houses that have been there for generations. Kinda fun to see these little bungalows triumphantly holding their ground between the new high rises that are popping up along the waterfront.

Mr. D shows that it doesn’t take many times hanging out at the skate park to pick up some tricks and start looking like a skater dude. But Miss O looks like a dancer wherever she goes.

Cooper has a new friend. Riffing off the sign of the week — I lost my dog because I left the water running.

I had the good fortune to stop in to Dunn Lumber this week to get a few pieces of wood. I complimented them on their signs.

Photos of the Week: September 28

Once you have tasted the taste of sky, you will forever look up.” – Leonardo da Vinci

September in Seattle is so typically delightful. So we were outside a lot this week like for this Saturday morning bike ride.

My brother learned to sail at 6-years-old in the Philippines and has never stopped loving being out on the water. Miss O and Mr. D were delighted to get their hands on the tiller.

More fun in the water.

Cooper cannot believe these two bunnies don’t want to hang out with him. Fortunately, Miss O is a much more willing friend!

The cat has more of an arm’s length idea of snuggling.

Skateboard park

Reaching for the sky. Because as the sign of the week implies, there’s no time to waste!

Photos of the Week: September 14

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” – Michael Althsuler

We went to California for my niece’s baby shower. Here are the intrepid travelers.

Farm animals in the Central Valley, CA

Mountains from the plane. Left one is Mt. Rainier (14,411 ft), middle is Mt. St. Helens (8.300 ft.) and the third is Mt. Hood (11,249 ft).

I know I’m repeating myself – but Mt. Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 United States with 25 glaciers.

I had to look up whether Mt. St. Helens had glaciers before it’s eruption in 1980. It did – it had 11 named glaciers. Now there is just one in the crater of the volcano called Crater Glacier. Good naming, huh?

And Mt. Hood has 12 named glaciers.

Cooper kept a close eye on us when we came home.

First day of Kindergarten for Mr. D.

And here we are – flying into fall.

I love Alaska Airlines for their generous welcome of kids!

(featured photo is of a sunset over the Central Valley, CA)

Photos of the Week: September 7

The difference between school & life? In school you are taught a lesson and then given a test. In life you are given a test that teaches you a lesson.” – unknown

This week, we did a lot of end-of-summer projects to get ready for the rainy weather. Cooper helped.

We stained the steps. Cooper helped.

Our friend Eric said that he had some style advice for Miss O so she’d be memorable for the first day of 4th grade (left). Fortunately, she choose to listen to her aunt Lindsey instead!

Starting Kindergarten. Miss O did online Kindergarten so this feels like the first time I’ve really experienced this rite of passage. I’m not sure I can even encapsulate all my feelings about this. Except to say that there’s so much hope and potential that comes with this milestone!

The last (likely) lemonade stand of the summer. At least that’s the plan…

Photos of the Week: August 31

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” – Lao Tzu

Biking through a rainy summer afternoon. Soaked but still delighted by the freedom on two wheels!

Enjoying more of Miss O’s birthday celebrations.

Cooper has the Force all wrong. And apparently, light saber on the tongue makes a dog thirsty!

Holding bunnies and rope climbing. Both require strong, steady hands. I just made that up but it sounded like a theme.

Back to school soda display and the sign of the week.

And one note about the featured photo. I get up at 5:30am and for most of the summer, the sun in Seattle is already up. I’m so grateful to be seeing sunrises again. It’s something that Vicki and I talk about on next week’s Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast. Stay tuned…and please subscribe!

Photos of the Week: August 24

Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions.” – Henri Nouwen

Young Cooper had another week of ups and downs.

First, was the day that Mr. D abandoned a strawberry popsicle on the edge of the counter. Cooper was the first to notice and positioned himself under the drip. It was like manna dripping from Heaven.

Second, was Miss O’s birthday. She got a gift card for her favorite Boba tea shop and was elated. Then Cooper stole her wallet, took it outside, left the bills all strewn about, and chewed the Boba gift card. So the next day, he had to do the perp walk with Miss O to the Boba shop to see if they could still redeem the card. Fortunately, they could still read the numbers on the card, and all was forgiven.

On the subject of interesting pets, Rusty the Crested Gecko shed his skin. Does he look all new and shiny?

We had bike camp this week.

The delightful Miss O turned nine-years-old and let everyone (including Cooper) help blow out the candles.

Handsome Mr. D graduated from pre-school.

In the ingenuity of kids category, we have a picture of a unique way to beep an electronic door lock. Miss O had Mr. D to put her backpack on (the key was in the front pocket), then lifted him up to the door to buzz it. Oh, to have that much energy…

Which I thought paired nicely with the sign of the week.

Photos of the Week: August 17

“There is pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrude
s,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar;
I love not man the less, but Nature more.
” – Lord Byron

When we were on vacation, there was a seal that swam every night in the bay. Even though I knew roughly when he’d show up and where, the best I could do is a snap of his face and his splash. I salute the patience and talent of wildlife photographers.

It made me even more grateful for the herons and eagle that sat still long enough for me to photograph them. So very cooperative!

Cooper was happy to have us home. Unfortunately, he got a little piece of grass stuck way down in his ear and had to have it surgically removed this week.

Picking plums from our tree – the hard way and the easy way.

Rock climbing camp with a side of foos ball.

And the sign of the week paired with one more image from the bay.

Photos of the Week: August 10

Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.” – Kristen Butler

This crow has been honing his ability to pick up bread crusts all week. He picks up one, two, three, four, then drops one. It seems he’s figured out that three is his limit and then he carries them away. The bunny has nothing to do with the process but he’s in the yard looking cute.

We are still on vacation. Nonetheless, there is a lot of productivity and creativity going on.

We’ve spent a little time paddleboarding every day this week. I’m not sure what’s going on in the third picture – but the water is pretty cold so perhaps Miss O is tell Mr. D to get out!

Beach time, pool time and son shine!

My kids have been finding me the most beautiful tiny shells on the beach. They get down low and bring back tiny treasures like miniscule shells, a sand dollar smaller than a dime, and scalloped shells smaller than my pinky fingernail. The shells are so tiny that it’s almost impossible to take a clear picture of them. The more that I ooh-and-aah, the more that they bring me. It’s so fun – just like the sign of the week.

Photos of the Week: August 3

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” – John Muir

We’re on vacation on Whidbey Island this week. In a few words, this is what we’ve been up to.

We started by washing the windows so we could see the view.

On the beach. We found the clams but don’t dig them up – just try to avoid the spray.

Hammocking and stick ball.

Playing in the water.

Whidbey wildlife.

The scene and the sign of the week