Lois and Cassidy hangin' at the river near our campsite. They kept climbing out on this log looking for adventure!

I love this little girl from the top of her curly head to her sandy little cheezers!

After a small 1 1/2 mile hike through the woods we reached Third Beach.......gorgeous and sandy!

The 'shrooms are even gorgeous here!

We camped for a week at Mora campground in the Olympic National Park. It is in the heavy woods and on the river. Our site was so amazing that many people kept asking us when we were leaving so they could move in!!! It was very peaceful and relaxing!

Happy, sandy camper!

Forever climbing!!!! We camped for a week near this beach......Rialto Beach in the Olympic National Park. There are picnic tables scattered everywhere and many people come down and build fires and watch the sunset........

"I can do it! I'm a great climber!" is Cassidy's constant battle cry!

Don, Cassidy and I took a beautiful boat ride in Port Orchard Bay at his employee picnic. The Suquamish Tribe are breaking the casino norm and are really great people to work for.......go figure!

Don is working at the Clearwater Casino for the Suquamish Tribe. This is their lodge which is right on the water and surrounded by spectacular gardens! We went there for the annual employee picnic. I thought Caesar's Tahoe used to throw a great summer picnic but this one stole the show! Gorgeous property; boat rides; games and crafts galore for the children (and adults!); great food, cold drinks and root beer floats; live music & fireworks at night! Wow! I am SO impressed! They even had a veggie burger so I didn't have to whip mine out! Ha ha ha!!!!

Sassy-Sue is now on her two wheeler + training wheels and she is whizzing along fast when we take her to the Olympic Discovery Trail. The trail is now right across the street from our home and we are loving it! Cassidy loves this bike WAY more than she ever did a trike........too cool to watch!

Wheeeeeeee!!! Cassidy has nice guns like her daddy.......!!!

The perks of camping! Cassidy was on me for a week before our trip to open these marshmellows!!

***We sure wish our buddy John Molnar were here to enjoy this!!! Next year!!!

368 steep steps lead up to a great view of the crater and Spirit Lake. Fallen trees litter the mountain sides and resemble match sticks........
Nonnie and Little Bean are great hikers! I didn't have to carry either of them........ha ha!!!

This is Spirit Lake which is right below Mount St. Helens and the recipient of all the force that blew outta that crater! What you see floating on the lake are trees.........they have been there since the blast which caused all the water from the lake to rush up the surrounding mountains and pull the blasted trees back into the lake. The lake was also totally changed in size and depth from the explosion. Mt. Rainier is peeking out of the upper right corner......

Thar She Blows! It is really quite fascinating to visit Mount St. Helens. She blew back in 1980 leveling 230 square miles of forest in less than 10 minutes.........wow! This shot is of the crater and the surrounding area that hosts small trees once again.

TA-DAH!!! Mount St. Helens!

Our gorgeous campground, Iron Creek, near Mount St. Helens was a big climbing hit with Cassidy!

We love the woods!

Family hike!

Cassidy finds a scenic spot for lunch while on a hike with Don and I.

The hands down favorite part of every child's day...........

Sassafrass in the helicopter!

Cassidy is enjoying the summer session of Sequim Pre 3. It's a wonderful group of children and mommies who get together on Friday mornings to play; sing; learn and share. I met these gals at the park and we're so enjoying getting to know them! Big lover's of their children!!!! This day we had a field trip to the National Guard in Port Angeles.........we loved it!

Cassidy being serenaded by our favorite fiddle player, Geoffrey Castle, at Purple Haze Lavender Farm for the fest. Lois and I always end the fest weekend here listening to his awesome music and drinking a Lavender Margarita. This year we ran into some old friends here from my Caesar's Tahoe days........too cool! Hi Susan and Anje!

The girls at our favorite lavender farm: Purple Haze! Just gorgeous and SO fragrant is the air with lavender!

Cassidy at the 2009 Sequim Lavender Fest. The weather has been just wonderful.....sunny & warm! We went with Lois this afternoon and picked lavender; had lunch and listened to our favorite group: Deadwood Revival..........fun in the sun!

Vacation Bible School.......VBS.........for an entire week our church transformed into Rome as we taught children about the Bible. It was an amazing experience and a first for Cassidy and I. I helped out by teaching and Cassidy is still singing the songs we learned, making up her own and asking lots of great questions about Jesus.......cool stuff!