Water buddies

What do you get when you mix seven smart, beautiful kids, hot weather, water, and moms who've been friends for 20 years? Bliss. This was one of the best days of our summer. What a cool lagoon. Thanks, Lochlin, Maggie, Charlie, Min, Romy, Zander, and Nicole. We can't wait for next year.

One of the daily summer activities: hiking and climbing in our beautiful forests and beaches, all within five minutes of our house. We spent the day at Bowman Bay with Zander, Romy, and Nicole, hiked out to an overlook to see Deception Pass Bridge, and then played with drift wood forever!

hanrahans and ahns

Before Logan and Zander could crawl, they've been thrust together because, damnit, their moms are the best of friends, and by God, they will be too. Troopers that they are, it's all worked out just duckie. These two boys were as cute a school girls... playing, giggling, hugging, never wanting the day's playing to end. And not to be upstaged by their older brothers, Romy and Michael held their own. We are blessed to have such great kids who actually enjoy playing together... every day for almost a month, once a year:)

old(?) friends

True friendship really does stand the test of time. For 20 years now, Deanna, Minna, Nicole, and I(and a few honored extras thrown in now and then) have managed to get together at least once a yaer, despite goegraphical hurdles. For many years, we'd gather with the husbands for a Christmas party. More recently, we'd meet with our families for a brunch/playdate.

Since the Gerhigs retired in Anacortes, it's easy for me to see Nicole and her family, but this year, the girls finally got to do an overnighter... without families. After much ado about, well, nothing, we loaded onto the ferry to Friday Harbor to spend the hottest day in the area's history shopping, biking, drinking, and being merry.

Other than a tiny snag(Minna hyperventilating on a steep hill of our bike ride) the entire trip went swimmingly.

ahhh, the lakes

Dunkel putting the finishing touches on Gramma's garden stones. These things will take over her garden soon, at four a year.

random fun at the party of kings, or kings of party

I have no idea what to write.

Thank you, Uncle Stan, for hours and hours of good ol' country fun!

And what's a night at the King's without games, drinks and snacks, and of course, the Porths.