Busy, busy summer

Earlier this summer, I joined a mommy's group because I thought that I would need help getting out and about. You know how many of those outings I've made? One in three months. We're just too busy. Who'd have thought that a mom of one could keep herself so busy with only church, family, and acquaintances, plus the usual elements of keeping up with life?

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.

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.

And of course, summer is also travel time. Now that Seth is home, we're making the rounds to all the relatives again. We went down and saw his folks for the 4th, and Boo Boo is finally big enough to get out and meet the animals. She discovered the horse and the llamas by herself (though she wasn't overly keen to approach them alone), 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.