Fort Nisqually

We recently took a trip down to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. We happen to like the Zoo down there MUCH better than the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, which is...Nice, but huge, you really can't get it all in sometimes, and the habitats are so huge as to make it difficult to see the animals sometimes. Point Defiance also is an Aquarium, and the walruses are just cool.  Anyway, this time, we didn't go to the zoo...though I definitely recommend it to everyone with small kids.

What we DID do this time was head over to Fort Nisqually. What is that you ask? Here's your answer (from their website...because I'm too lazy to type it all out...)  "Fort Nisqually, the first European settlement on Puget Sound, was a bustling center of trade that expanded into a large-scale agricultural enterprise." (website here)

At least that's what it WAS, back in 1855. NOW it's a living history museum. With some of the original buildings still intact and others rebuilt over the years..the staff dress in 1855 era costumes and tell you about how it would have been for them in that job in 1855.  They have special guests come different times of the year, it was a sailing master telling all about ships and sailing the day we were there. (With my extra active/young ones they weren't too interested in this) apparently we went the wrong weekend, the next week was going to be a cooking weekend, all about how they cooked in 1855 with cook offs and everything...my chef of a husband was a bit peeved to say the least...I mean, SAILING isn't nearly as interesting as a GIGANTIC fire in an outdoor oven... :)

Anyway, we split off while we were there...(and I haven't gotten my hands on Allan's photo's yet.) I had Bug, and he had Liam...while they climbed to the top of the turrets at the corner..something I just can't do. I walked around with Bug..who was FASCINATED with the blacksmiths shop...

Over all, unless you go on one of their bigger weekends, (like the food one with the cook off) while extremely interesting, it doesn't take a whole lot of time to go through. It was perfect for us, NO crowds and a lot of room for the kids to just run around while we read all the information and talked to some of the staff...and of course, we took plenty of pictures...I mean, it IS us, what else would you expect?

I didn't take a LOT because bug is now ALL OVER and it's hard to take time out when it's just her and I to take a lot of shots....but I was able to get a few nice ones, and a goofy one of her and her brother "wrestling" on the grass....

Fathers day!

Ahh, so it's been a while. Sorry for that. Life has gotten a bit crazy...But I will endeavor to post more often, I have a few adventures to share but we'll start with Yesterday's excursion to Snoqualmie. Last year, for our first Mothers day w/ Bug, we went on the Snoqualmie train...it's a 65 minute ride from Snoqualmie, to north bend, then up to see Snoqualmie falls and back. And on mothers day and fathers day the corresponding parent is free. So last year we went and it was a ton of fun...the sun was shining, everyone was in a good mood.
Yesterday, it was POURING down rain, and we weren't all in the greatest of moods, we (and in we I mean *I*) locked our keys in the car...BUT...when it was all said and done it was still fun. Kayleigh did well. We were a tad worried about containing our now running 15 month year old wild child...but she loved to just look out the grate that covered the floor to ceiling door in the cattle car... which, is way more comfy than the rest of the 'train seats" since they have nice deep wicker chairs in there...She also was able to stand on said chair and it was just the right height to look over...and chew on...the railing.

So without further ado...pictures!

I had to show this one first...this is us last year...same cattle car with a new baby (she was only 2 months old!)

And now my big kids...Bug's learning to make silly faces..(more of those later) and Liam's getting handsomer each day.  

This is one of those "if only it were in focus" ones...but I couldn't help sharing it...it's one of her new faces...

And yes, those lashes are 100% natural...(I actually had someone ask me that once)

Looking over the railing...

She likes wind....so this was perfect for her! 

Ha...she is chewing on the camera strap of the camera taking this picture...When you have a teething baby...everything becomes a teether.

Now, it was after all Fathers day. And this is a capture of my husband and daughter just playing around. He loves being a dad. It's what defines him. He also happens to be very good at it. His kids love him to bits, and I'm often second fiddle (third for the bug often because her brother also comes in above me) BUT, since so many kids now days don't seem to have present fathers, I'm not about to complain that my kids love theirs. I didn't have a daddy, my kids do, and I am thankful for, and love every moment of it.

See they are so sweet together...

And of course two seconds later... with little ones the sweet, tender moments can go by quick as a blink between the goofy, fun loving, antics..

 That was our fathers day...how did you celebrate yours?

All About BOYS!

It's JUNE! Time for the I Heart Faces "All About Boys" photo challenge...Having an immensely photogenic little boy I could offer up many a shot of his destined to breaks girls hearts grin, dimples and all...or shots that make even the most blessed girl jealous of his eyelashes... I could also show my so very handsome husband, who HATES it when I photograph him but recently posed for me. 

I figured I'd go a different route. This shot is from a wedding I shot a couple weeks ago. My son was also the ring bearer. This was one of those shots that I grabbed because of the fun they were having. And my son, with his attempt to "head spin" and break dance stole the show, and often on the dance floor. 

So, once you have a good laugh at the fellas boogying it up on the dance floor, head on over to I Heart Faces and check out all the other entries for this month!