Other people’s toys are the best.

Until well after the sunset, all the kids collected rocks, lined them up on driftwood pieces, and floated them out as ‘wishes’ into the ocean as the tide went out.

Forget whatever anyone is wearing, if there’s a body of water, they’re going in. Not quite swimming, but definitely not wading:) I can’t blame them here, it was so idyllic. Though, this was more of a before they all waded out deeper moment.

Biking for blackberries! Only this was Meryl’s first real bike ride off our neighborhood block. She borrowed a non-gear bike (much like her own) and faced the challenges of gravel roads and lots of rolling hills (read, not flat pavement). There were emotions, there were doubts…and there were blackberries! (And she doesn’t even like blackberries that much, ha!) She did it! She was so proud of herself, in the end:)

One of these cows will be in our freezer this fall! We’ve been buying beef from this farm on Lopez Island for several years now, so we had to see the cows and learn from the couple who raise them each year. And, watch out for cow poop along the way. (We have two freezers in the garage filled with beef, pork and chicken from a farm outside of Seattle, and seafood…from Alaska, of course. Thankfully, our electric grid continues to hold tight!)

We celebrated Frank’s birthday on the island!

The urban, home edition to his birthday celebration:)

We went to a Mariners game! And Meryl somehow turned into a zombie with fangs:)

What game?

It was a school night, and although the new pitch clock rule significantly speeds up the game, time is time.

We biked to school to pickup the kids, biked to the Mariners game, and biked home!

Hall sleepovers are still a thing! Phew. I love them, for as long as they will last.

School started back up last week and I think it’s safe to say we’re all thrilled!