A Hiking We will Go

We explored a great in-city hiking option yesterday called Camp Long. We followed a half-mile long trail to a small creek and then played around in the water for a bit. On the way back, Isabel wanted to start off by herself and to our amazement, she hiked the whole way back (uphill) by herself. Even Jason was winded a bit, but that little girl just kept going. Good news as we have a few longer hikes planned this summer. At the end of the trail was a fun rock climbing wall, which Isabel just had to do. And we ended the trip with some running in the adjacent field. The kids entertained eachother playing chase and digging up gopher holes. Dad got in on the action by teaching Isabel how to do cartwheels.

Josiah and Mom get ready for the hike

Josiah pretends he is Tom Sawyer

Ibby celebrates her solo hike

Mom and Ibby make it to the top of the rock wall

Ibby and Josiah play chase in the field

Dad and Isabel practice their cartwheels

West Seattle Water Taxi

We decided to hit the water on Friday with some friends. We hopped the West Seattle Water Taxi, a cute passenger boat that runs in the summer from downtown to West Seattle. Once there we got on shuttle that took us to the beach. The kids had fun playing on in the sand and throwing rocks in the water. But the real adventure began when we missed the shuttle to get back to the water taxi and they only run once an hour. I was so worried about getting a ticket back in downtown, I got the kids on a bus and once downtown I ran with Josiah in a stroller and Isabel on my back over a mile to make it on time. I was half an hour late, but praise be to God no ticket. To make up of for the loss of riding the boat back, I put a few more quarters in the meter and took the kids to the pier for ice cream. A fun day, but I'm still recovering from that run.

In front of the water taxi

(Joaish looks a little worried with his sister pushing the stroller)

Isabel looks towards West Seattle

The kids getting excited about the boat starting

Now I Know My ABC's

Josiah is really into letters and has most of them now. This was seriously too cute though, last night he was actually working on singing the Alphabet song. I was a pretty proud mama. Here's a video of him getting caught in the action.

"R,S,T,U,V,W,X,(Z),Y,Z...Now"

Farm Season Has Begun

I discovered the South 47 Farm last year in the Fall and fell in love with it. It opened this week and I didn't want to wait until Fall to start going. They have a program from young children, which they change weekly, giving them a chance to make a farm craft, feed animals, ride in a hay ride, and pick a vegetable. This week's craft was making minature greenhouses with pole beans, we are looking forward to seeing them grow. We got to choose between picking spinach or bok choy. Isabel went with the bok choy and Josiah with the spinach, we plan to cook those up with dinner. Josiah was a bit unsure of the loud tractor pulling the hay ride, but after a few minutes he was laughing at all the bumpy turns. Feeding the animals was very special, especially the new hatched chickens. We can't wait to go back.

A future baby chick

Playing in the beans

Feeding the especially nice goats

Isabel and her beautiful bok choy

VIP treatment

As member's of the children's museum (thanks Grandma Kathi), we were recently invited to a member's only showing of the new permanat exhibit. It basically a real life version of favorite children's story books, including Frog and Toad, Aurthur, and more. Isabel was really excited to go, especially because Goldilocks and the Three Bears was part of it, currently her favorite story to act out. And Jason and I never pass up free food. Here are some pictures of the fun!

Papa Bear, Mama, Bear, and Baby Bear

(wow, Jason looks really big and scary, I'm glad I'm not goldilocks!)

Low Tide Part Two

We decided to visit low tide a second time over the weekend, this time with Jason. It's amazing to me how the beaches in Seattle are so different, yet only a few miles apart. This beach had a completely different kind of seaweed, rocks, and smell than the other beach. Josiah was much more brave this time and even touched a starfish. The real treat was the lighthouse Isabel spotted from the beach. We walked over and to our surprise we could actually go in. The kids can not climb to the top until they are 6, but when they can they will love the view.

A not so wise boater

Josiah enjoying puddles and the lighthouse view

The lighthouse and the view from the top

Low Tide

Today we got to experience the lowest tide in 4 years, according to the experts on hand in West Seattle at Lincoln Park. So though it felt like winter outside and the typical Seattle drizzle was out in force, we bundled up, put on our wellies and headed to the beach. It was actually really beautiful once we got there, thanks to my husband teaching me how to dress for the occasion. We were right near the ferry dock, so not only did we get to see amazing sea creatures, we got to watch the ferry in the background. And yes, these sea creatures were amazing! We saw starfish in many colors, sea cucumbers, moon snails as big as my hand, crabs, and giant sunflower starfish. I'm usually pretty scared of underwater creatures, but being a mom forces me to put a brave face on and experience things that are wonderful beyond words. Josiah was not too thrilled about having to walk on seaweed, so I carried him most of the time, but Isabel jumped right in. She was a bit timid about the crabs, but she warmed up to them too. We walked completely under the ferry dock and saw hundreds of starfish clinging to the posts. The best part for the kids was the natural river that the outflowing tide made in the sand. They played in that for a long while. Isabel wanted to be barefoot for that so she and her brother splashed around together. What a great day!

The view of low tide and the Vashon Island Ferry

Isabel gently saying hello to a starfish

A beautiful purple starfish

A Moon Snail

This crab was extremely friendly

Colorful starfish and a sunflower starfish under the ferry dock

Josiah splashing in the river

Isabel feeling the sand between her toes