And we've been plenty busy. Boo Boo is growing by leaps and bounds. Her climbing skills have only improved, and she's getting faster every day. 
She figured out doorknobs this week. Fortunately for us, she's not tall enough to put any real pressure on them or open any doors. She gets into enough stuff without sneaking out of doors. 
She figured out doorknobs this week. Fortunately for us, she's not tall enough to put any real pressure on them or open any doors. She gets into enough stuff without sneaking out of doors. Seth is home for the summer, which means that we make the occasional day trip just for the fun of it. More often we just stay home. Boo Boo thinks home is more fun when Daddy is around. 
Our ladies' Bible study has decided it has had enough of the classroom and spends every Tuesday morning out and about in the parks of Kitsap County. This is Boo Boo with Pastor Dave, her new best friend, on the famous Clear Creek Trail. 
These are my little friends Keira and Shadyn looking for animals from the bridge at Clear Creek. Clear Creek is a salmon stream restoration project. The whole length of the creek as it passes through Silverdale is protected as a park and wetland. The park is about five miles long, and it runs directly through the town, right between businesses and parking lots. It's a great place to walk or have lunch. 
Our ladies' Bible study has decided it has had enough of the classroom and spends every Tuesday morning out and about in the parks of Kitsap County. This is Boo Boo with Pastor Dave, her new best friend, on the famous Clear Creek Trail. These are my little friends Keira and Shadyn looking for animals from the bridge at Clear Creek. Clear Creek is a salmon stream restoration project. The whole length of the creek as it passes through Silverdale is protected as a park and wetland. The park is about five miles long, and it runs directly through the town, right between businesses and parking lots. It's a great place to walk or have lunch. 
but we had to arrange a meeting with the calves one evening. They didn't know what to make of her, but she thought they were stupendous. 
We took her to the St. Paul fair and rodeo, and she went on her first carousel ride with mommy
and her first ferris wheel ride with Daddy and Aunty Lydia. Look at the expression of awe on her face. 
All in all, we've barely had time to draw breath, let alone seek out new contacts and friendships. The rest of the summer looks equally busy, so don't be surprised if my posts are long, few, and far between. See you later.
And when I say getting out, I don't mean in an RV or something like it. You may not bring your portable television, dvd player, or Internet. That's not camping. The whole point of getting out into nature is to get out into nature. Get dirty. 
Go hiking. 
Share your food with the animals. 
Get pineneedles in the morning pancakes and ashes on the evening hotdogs. 
Finish your evenings around the campfire.
Sit and talk to each other while you swat mosquitos. 
You know, go camping.
Seth has been aching to spend more time on the Peninsula ever since the ferry failed this spring and he had to drive all the way around Hood Canal to meet his submarine at Indian Island. We had several parks that we wanted to try, but we settled on Old Fort Townsend, which is built on the site of an old army fort from the 1800s. 
We bring regular food in coolers, and we indulge in the occasional camping knicknack, like an egg holder, a butane lighter, or a campfire toaster. We buy our firewood at the grocery store. In light of this, Old Fort Townsend suited us perfectly. The campground is close to Port Townsend, a cute little seaside town in the Victorian style, and full of nature trails that even Boo Boo could manage. 
Every time we turned around, she was going for the road. 
She had a blast on the nature trails, inspite of the roots and rocks. We thought we would need the stroller, but she much preferred to walk or ride on Daddy's arm. 
All in all, she proved that she is a child of the Great Northwest. The great outdoors suits her to a T.
She had lots of fun with the scrapbook stuff. 
She also had fun running the length of Pake and Nana's house, especially when Sailor the daschund was running too. She just loved showing off her new skills of locomotion. 
but she was lively enough when we got there. There's nothing she loves more than a big space to run. 
It's Memorial Day, the universal date for the onset of summerlike weather! Summerlike weather we have. The sun is out, the air is warm, and hats are becoming a must. Pity Boo Boo doesn't like hats. Sometimes we have to take drastic measures. 
Seth is out to sea again, so Boo Boo and I spent the past week at my parents' house on the dry side of Washington. I was a little worried that Boo Boo would be upset by the new surroundings. She's at that point where she wants to cling to me at the slightest provocation. But she went right in and made herself at home. I guess she's also at that point when she'll explore anything and everything. 
She decided that she liked Aunty Abby and Abby's boyfriend Jesse very much. Jesse is an expert peek-a-boo player and face maker, two talents Boo Boo greatly appreciates. As for Jesse, well, who doesn't appreciate my Boo Boo? She's adorable. 
She made herself familiar with the cat, and by the end of the week, the cat would actually come downstairs and be in the same room with Boo Boo. Moments like this only happened when Boo Boo climbed the stairs and caught kitty unaware. 
She investigated everything in the backyard. My parents have a lot of weird stuff in their yard. That's a ceramic baseball that she's holding. Doesn't she look all-American?
On Saturday, we went up to Mt Ranier, but the roads to the observatories were closed by logjams, so we hiked up to Silver Falls instead. Now I realize that there were other people on the hike besides Boo Boo, but I'm only posting pictures of her because arranging pictures on blogger has gotten really annoying lately. 
This is Boo Boo discovering that sitting in the snow will give you a wet pants. 
This is Boo Boo discovering that hemlock (state tree, not related to the ancient poison to the best of my knowledge) branches tickle. 
This is Boo Boo walking alongside Grandpa. 
This is Boo Boo navigating one of the trickier parts of the trail with Grandpa's assistance. There were trees down everywhere and snow on the trail. We ended up carrying both stroller and Boo Boo for most of the hike. She didn't seem to mind. 
We had lunch. 
Niki pushed the stroller around in the big open places. 
Very uncertain. I've no idea where the other mommas were. I know I was at the right place. I think I had the right time. I was even expecting to run into an old acquaintance or two. Oh well, maybe next time.
Then she wanted to help. By that point, I hadn't really processed that she was standing on a chair. I was thinking more about what she was doing to the papers on my table. 
This little pose shows exactly how fearless she is. 
Now I've started putting the chairs upside down when she's wandering around on her own. Next time she might manage to land on her head! As my mom says, "Kids. They'll give you grey hairs."
