Making Progress

Oliver eating a hard boiled egg, his favorite....(He can say egg!!!)

Today we woke up early and helped Daddy set off for his last day of work at Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. He had a good last day, and will miss everyone that he worked with.


After we waved Daddy bye-bye, Oliver and I played and ate breakfast and then went back to sleep. Then we went for a long run with Ranger and came home and did some packing and cleaning. We are making good progress, I got a little extra done when Oliver went over and played with our 12 year old neighbor and her friend for 1/2 an hour. They have a cool play set in their backyard that has a slide and steering wheel. He had fun.



In the evening we ate some yummy dinner and then I took Oliver to the mall to play in the playground for awhile. He is so cute, he had fun playing and looking at the flying eagles that hang from the sky over the playground. Then we went to Chuck E. Cheese for a few minutes, we found some tickets and tokens at home.....



He is sleeping peacefully now, dreaming of his aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas that he will soon get to see in San Diego.

BBQ at Linda's House

Oliver having fun in the backyard

My friends

Oliver getting his feet wet in the hot tub,
he is so cute!!!

Today was a good day, we helped Daddy get ready for work in the morning, and then Oliver and I got down to business! We cleaned a bunch of things, packed a bunch of things, and Oliver got to play on the deck for awhile! He even "taped" up a box for me!!! We are getting close to being all packed up! We even took Ranger around the block on my Rollerblades to get a little exercise! (That was fun for me!!!!) Tomorrow we will start packing up his cute little room....

In the afternoon we drove to Marysville, where my friend Linda held a BBQ with all my good friends from work. It was really nice to see everyone before we head off to California! Oliver had fun playing in her big backyard with Avery and McKenna. The food was yummy and her new hot tub was awesome!

On the way home, Oliver fell asleep for the evening...

Chuck E. Cheese Again

School Bus Driver with a passeger in the back

Oliver and Jill- He likes the tickets (Just like his Mama)

"Hello, this is Oliver...."

This morning Oliver, Ranger, and I went for a short run in the RAIN! I actually had to use the rain cover on the stroller to keep little baby dry! Then we got ready and went to the mall where Chuck E. Cheese is located, we met the Coes, Madison, and LuLu! We had a lot of fun, Oliver was running around, playing games, sliding down the slide, driving a school bus and tractor! There is so much to do there! It was our last time seeing the Coes before we leave for San Diego. We will miss them a lot!

When we got home, Oliver took a nice long nap, and then woke up and played on the deck! When Daddy came home, Oliver got to hang out with him for awhile and they rode their bike! Fun!

Choo-Choo

Playing a game...

Japanese Garden

Oliver creeping through the bamboo forest

The Japanese Garden with Mt. Blanchard in the background

Bird's Nest

We had a nice lazy morning, we packed some things, went for a long run with Ranger, made some "healthy" cookies and then took off through the farmland to go visit the Japanese Garden. I have always wanted to go there, so Oliver and I went. It was beautiful, there was a Koi Pond and bamboo plants, Oliver liked touching the wood. It was very peaceful. As we were leaving, we spotted a bird's nest, Oliver got very excited about the birdys head that was poking out of the nest!
After his afternoon nap, he had a good dinner, played on the deck, and then went for a bike ride with Daddy and Ranger. He is sleeping well now!

A Day in Victoria, B.C.

Boys at the Street Fair

The Gate of Happiness in Victoria's China Town

Little Traveler

One of Mike's beautiful pictures from the ferry ride

Today we left early to catch a ferry to Victoria in Canada. We had so much fun! Oliver loved the big boat ride, he played on the deck for a while and then slept in the car. We docked in Sydney and then drove about 15 miles to Victoria. We parked our car and walked around the lovely city. We went to a little artsy street fair, and let Oliver run around a bit for some exercise. Then we just strolled through the downtown area, we went through a little alley in China Town, saw the big gate of Happiness, spent some time in Totem Park by the Royal B.C. Museum, went to a Canadian Mall, enjoyed all of the historic buildings, bought some yummy fudge and neat souvenirs (Oliver dozed off in the Ergo while we shopped for cute little moccasins for his feet!), and just really enjoyed ourselves. On our way back to the ferry we drove around the small downtown area of Sydney, it was beachy and cute. We had a great time on the ferry ride back (Mike took a lot of pictures! The ride through Puget Sound is so amazing.) Oliver finally fell asleep for the night when we were in line for customs, he had a big day!

Running from Mama and Daddy near Totem Park

Playing Hide from Dadddy waiting in line for the ferry

Dancing to a little boy's bag pipe music

Getting things Done

Oliver playing on the deck. He could hear a neighbor kidbut couldn't see him, so you can see Oliver thinking and listening.

Today we had a busy day around the house. Mike and I were busy packing up our things, getting ready for our move to San Diego! Oliver likes to help! He likes to pull the packing tape, but then lets out a little scream when he hears the sound! He has also seen me write on a box, so he took a comb and wrote on the side of a box too! He is having fun packing up!!!

Oliver has been hiding behind chairs, tables, and pillows lately. If you hide behind the other side, he gets into a fit of giggles, he thinks it is so funny, and it is!

Food Poisoning and Cheesecake

Beautiful Yummies...

Mike and Oliver playing- notice the many
frisbees....guess who?

Oliver was very interested in Andrew's feet....

Last night that nice dinner Mike and I had turned into food poisoning. We were both sick all through the night, I feared that Oliver would get it too, but thankfully he did not. So most of our Friday was filled with laying around, watching Oliver play and letting him climb all over us!


Later in the day, I ran with Oliver and Ranger, but it was a very labored run, but the boys liked it! Daddy also took Oliver on a bike ride, while Mama got a massage, but that too was a very labored bike ride.


In the evening we went to our friends' house to taste test their cheesecake combinations for the upcoming wedding. They were all very yummy, and they had some good ideas behind their possible choices. Oliver had fun running around and playing with their many "toys." Despite being "poisoned" we had a good day.

Forest Park

Oliver and calf- He liked touching it!

Oliver kept going to Madison, when we were
having our picnic

Driving....

Cameron and Madison playing in the sprinklers!


Today Oliver and I went to Forest Park in Everett with the Coes, Madison and LuLu. We had a lot of fun. We went and looked at the animals at the petting zoo, then had a little picnic, and then the kids played on the playground and went in the sprinklers!!! It was fun! Oliver was so excited, he was laughing and bopping up and down when I carried him towards the play structure. There were kids everywhere on this nice summer day!

Oliver took a nice little cat nap on our way home, played on the deck for a while and talked to Patches and Na'Na and then ate dinner with Mama and Daddy. Then Mama and him went on a little walk to get him to wind down. He eventually did....

Playing on the Deck

Oliver and Patches

Oliver and Na'Na

Oliver and I had a good day. We went for a nice long run in the morning with Ranger. We saw the neighborhood kids at the end, and Oliver was very happy to chat with them. The kids also had fun finding Oliver's tickle spot.


Later, Oliver was playing on the deck out back and our other neighbor was playing in her yard. She loves Oliver, she loves talking to him, watching him, and showing him things. Oliver likes to wave to her and will stand at the bars and listen to her. It is very cute!!!


Everyone had a good day!

Chuck E. Cheeses and Pampered Chef

Blurry picture, but he is smiling trying to climb
up the slide!

School Bus Driver!

He already knows how to drive a stick shift!

Check out Oliver's new shoes!

We had another nice summer day! We went for a run with Ranger in the morning and then Oliver and I went to Chuck E. Cheeses and played on some games. He was everywhere! Testing out games and rides. It was so much fun taking him there! (It is not his first time going....and won't be his last, Mike and I have been known to go to Chucks before we even had a baby!)

Afterwards we walked around the mall a little, then went home and Oliver took a nice long nap. When he got up he played on the deck for awhile,he played with Daddy a little when he came home and then we went to our neighbors Pampered Chef party. It was a lot of fun, and Oliver had fun playing in the backyard with a bunch of girls! Later he came inside and sat on my lap and watched the chef lady use all her gadgets and make a salad. He was so serious, it was cute! Maybe we have a future gourmet chef in our midst!

Another Busy Day

Can you spot Oliver among his friends?

Today Oliver and I were lazy in the morning again. Daddy left early for work on the river, and Oliver and I slept in till 7:30! We hung around the house and then went to Marysville to play at Jill's house. We stayed for about an hour and then went to Becky's house. She made Mama a latte with her new espresso machine.


At home, Oliver played on the deck with flower pots and the watering can. Then he ate a yummo dinner, and then Daddy came home and played with Oliver. Oliver also helped Mama vaccum the house. And guess what, he said "MAMA!!!!!!!" YEA!!!!!! When he said it he looked at me and smiled and laughed!!!!! He kept saying it, he is so cute. When I heard him say that I cried! He is just so darn cute!

La Conner Again and the Berry Barn

Oliver happy to be exploring...

Eyeing Becky's coffee...(He says straw now!)

Pretty Berries

Today Oliver and I acted like lazy bugs around the house in the morning, while Daddy got up really early and went hiking with some of his friends. Oliver, Ranger, and I went running and then we went to La Conner with our friend Becky. She bought a beautiful bracelet that she has had her eye on for her wedding. We let Oliver play in a patio area of a neat little store that had a waterfall outside. Oliver had fun, and kept trying to drink Becky's coffee!!! After our walk in the small town, we went to the Berry Barn on our way home and we each got a 1/2 flat of locally grown berries. Yum-Yum.



(We enjoyed some strawberry shortcake tonite!)

Bivalve Bash and Mud Run

Cool Signs- note duct tape tent

Mike putting duct tape on his shoes-his tounge

sticking out, he does this when he is concentrating!

Mike telling his strategy to his friend Pete.

Can you see Mud Runner Mike?

My muddy husband

Washing off...

Dreaming of Bivalves and Mud

Today we went to the Taylor Shellfish Farms in Bow off the Chuckanut Highway to attend the Bivalve Bash.

Courtesy of Wikipedia: Bivalves are molluscs belonging to the class Bivalvia. They have two-part shells, and typically both valves are symmetrical along the hinge line. The class has 30,000 species, including scallops, clams, oysters and mussels.

We normally go there to buy a collection of yummy seafood, bring it home, cook it up, and eat it. But today they had a festival going on that benefited a lot of environmental agencies in the area. There was also a 250 yard mud run, that Mike ran! He started out so fast it was crazy, it was like he was flying, then he turned the corner and the mud and fatigue started to get to him. He crossed the finish line without getting stuck in the mud, and he got a really cool medal- a halve of an oyster shell painted gold! By the way, he ate 4 oysters beforehand to give him power and two after, I had one yummy raw oyster.

While Mike was running, I was trying to keep my eye on him, the runners all turned brown and started looking alike, I was giggling and having fun taking pictures, Oliver was in the Ergo and he finally fell asleep after a long while of him fighting sleep. (He seems to do that a lot!)

After the run, Mike cooled down, rinsed off, and then we walked around, educating ourselves about the different groups, looking at a tank full of sea creatures, and more. Oliver slept through all this!!! We took a shuttle bus back to our car and went home.

Mike rested up, while Oliver, Ranger and I went for a nice run and then Oliver and I went grocery shopping. We had a fun day!

Seattle

Avery and Oliver- Oliver is looking at McKenna

McKenna eating at the bagel shop-

Veggies and flowers at the market

Outside the market

Playing in the lobby...

Today was a busy day. Oliver, Ranger and I ran a nice long run in the morning. We then rushed to get ready and we drove to Marysville to pick up our friends Karin, Avery, and McKenna. We then drove to beautiful Seattle, where Mama got her haircut. Oliver waited with his girlfriends....


Afterwards we drove downtown, an adventure in itself, and went to a cool bagel store where we had a yummy lunch. Afterwards we walked around Pike's Market Place, which was busy on a nice summer day. We got to look at all the artisan's wares and see the pretty flowers. (I realized I have never been to Pike's Market in the summer when they have fresh live flowers, only in the winter when they have beautiful dry flowers.) After the Market, we walked down towards the waterfront, we went into a nice hotel, where we let the little ones (especially Oliver) play around before we got in the car for the drive home, and Karin and I sipped Lattes. Exercise is important for my little man.


We had a really fun day!

Small Town Walk and a dip in the Lake

Red Bridge in La Conner

Oliver and Mama

Oliver sleeping on the way home

Little Sienna sleeping

Today we had a nice day. Oliver and I played around the house and then at noon we met our friends Amy and baby Sienna in the small town of La Conner. We ate lunch where there was a view of the channel, walked along the main street and browsed in some of the shops. Oliver had fun looking at sleeping Sienna and eating his sweet potato fries. On the way home he slept. He loves his new ball cap, he takes it off and tries to put it on!

Later in the evening after his nice long nap. Mama went to get a nice massage and Daddy took Oliver swimming at Whistler Lake in Anacortes with some friends. Oliver just got his legs wet, but he had fun watching everyone swim and jump off rocks!

Laughing Baby

Little patooty in the air....

We had another fun, busy day. Oliver and I woke up early and helped Daddy get ready for work. Mama made breakfast for the boys, eggs and toast! Oliver gets a big smile on his face when I ask him if he wants eggs, and he says eggs!!!! After Daddy got out the door, we went for a short run with Ranger. Then we headed down to Marysville, Oliver got to hang out with the Coes and LuLu, while Mama spent some time on her own. (She can't spend too much time on her own, because she misses Oliver too much!) We hung out at the Coes for a little bit and then drove back to the valley.


We made a yummy dinner, Indian food, yum,yum! Then we all relaxed and played wrestle Daddy. That was fun, Oliver and I like to throw ourselves on to daddy. Oliver is sleeping like a baby now....

1st Dentist Appointment and Bellingham

On the trail.

Lake Padden

Today Oliver and I woke up early and went to Oliver's 1st dentist appointment. It was at 7:00 am in Bellingham, a beautiful 25 min drive. Oliver did great, he didn't open his mouth very wide, but it was just an introductory appointment to make him comfortable. Afterwards we went to a nearby Padden Lake and went for a nice long run. It was a beautiful day! Afterwards we went to the old part of Bellingham, called Fairhaven, and went to the book store and a couple other cute shops. Then we made our way home. We had a really nice day.

Lazy Day

Oliver and Ranger....

Today Oliver slept in until 7:30! Yeah!!! We relaxed around the house, did some errands, met Daddy at the COOP for lunch, relaxed more around the house, and after dinner we went for a nice walk around the block. Easy restful day.