Obligatory front porch Back to School pics, in order of departure…
Avery and Jacob heading out on Section J of the PCT, 75 miles from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass. The moms tried not to worry too much. 
They finished in three days!
Layla lucked out and got the best teacher, Mr. Harper!
Kieron, Silas & Layla participated in another season of summer swim. Unfortunately, Kieron fractured his arm right before competition started and then we had our Europe trip, so his season was pretty short, but once we returned he got a few meets in. Layla and Silas made a lot of progress this season. It was fun watching all of them grow and improve.
Look at her butterfly form!
Kieron’s relay team, Matthew, Owen & Josh
Jonathan in the parents relay
Silas turned thirteen this year so we now have a house full of teenage boys! We joke that Silas has become spicier as he inches closer toward teenhood, but he’ll always be our Sunny Si.
At thirteen, Silas is an incredibly hardworking student, and always up for trying new things. This year he did basketball, track, key club, debate club, band, piano and put in many hours on the mountain skiing and snowboarding. Jonathan and I are impressed with how on top of things Silas is. He gets up at 5:40am on his own each weekday morning, makes his bed and gets himself ready for school and out the door by 6:50am. He is truly a quintessential third child!
Happy birthday, Silas Tristan! We love you to the moon and back!
Silas always requests sausage balls on his birthday. We’re happy to comply!
Silas and his friends went to Seattle Escape Games to do an escape room for his birthday. They almost made it out, but not quite! Here he is with Mason, Ethan & Justin. 
Opening up his favorite gift – a 3d Printer! He was beyond excited and it’s a pretty cool and useful thing to have around!
The unboxing…
With his printer, and wearing his 2nd favorite gift – a WWU sweatshirt. He is so proud of his big brother! 
His first creation – a dragon!
Here’s what our family was up to in August. A walk on the North Lake Whatcom Trail.
The waterfall dried up, so we were able to climb up it. The boys loved it!
Playing chess downtown
This cradle once belonged to my childhood best friend, Aron, who passed away a few years ago. She was a few years older than me, so when she outgrew it, her mom passed it on to me. It’s been refurbished since then, but still always reminds me of her. I love seeing Layla play with it.
Layla playing Legos. Her brothers built her this home for her Lego animals. It’s so cute to see how she plays with the Legos differently. She definitely cares more about the people and animals than she does about he engineering!
Kennedy, Kambell, & Layla
Layla and Silas, watching Avery at sailing camp.
Layla & Clare, a tea party
Silas & Ethan, with trucks
Sprinkler fun!
Movie night at Caroline & Chad’s — The Greatest Showman
Walking to Swenson Park with the Maresca boys.
Ben & Layla
Silas was invited to a birthday party for a girl in his class
End of summer BBQ with the neighbors
Worst snow cone machine ever
At the pet shop
Target run
Our friends, Laura & Georgia, visited from Snoqualmie
I discovered a lizard on our living room floor. He ran under the couch…
…never to be seen again!
Floating the Bismarck
Feisty girl playing dress-up
Zonked out
The boys playing Dungeons & Dragons
Here is the rest of what we were up to in July:
On the North Lake Whatcom Trail with Kayden & Eli
Sleepy selfie with my little girl
Ice cream on the deck
Jonathan and his team did an axe throwing team building activity while he was in Salt Lake City. He came in an impressive 2nd.
Layla tired out on a walk, so Bjorn gave her a lift
And so did I
Dr. King
They came home with their faces painted at the end of camp
At Boundary
At the Silver Beach playground
I did a little painting project in the basement
When the lake is too far… cooling off on the deck
Dance party
Layla is fearless on the playgrounds. Ladders and two-story slides don’t intimidate this girl a bit.
At Waypoint Park
Layla loves Maui & Whidbey
Showing Grammy his ants
Found these two in the workshop one afternoon. Glad they’re being safe!
At the Pride parade.
Silas checking out the old RV at Nana’s barn before both were sold
Nana took Silas to OMSI. Here’s one of the robots they saw.
Back to Waypoint Park
Microwave s’mores
Avery, the smoothie chef
Layla checking out Avery’s ants
Root beers with Henry (they thought it was so funny to turn the bottles around).
Fishing
More fishing
This girl loves corn on the cob!
Relaxin’
When she plays Duplo, she’s all about the animals!
She can go in the field now!
Smiley girl
At one of our favorite parks in Snoqualmie
