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Good Stuff at the Beginning of Summer

This past week was full of good stuff. I don't know about y'all, but I really needed some time to breathe and focus on good stuff and good people. 

June 30 
Living 2 hours away from Emily means we get lots more time with our niece!! And Emily and Chris, of course :-) Our schedules worked out and we were fortunate to spend time with their whole family at the Tacoma Zoo. In this large aquarium live three walruses who love to play and sing. 

July 1

There are a lot of kids in our neighborhood, often outside playing, riding bikes, or running from one house to another. One of the girls in our neighborhood is in Savvy's class and had a birthday party at a gymnastics place. A great way to get their wiggles out for sure! 

July 3

There are days when I am the daycare. When the girls come to work with me they do book reports, worksheets, and coloring in addition to watching movies. 

July 3

And if they are lucky, they get to watch the World Cub and yell, "Goooaalll!"

July 3
We also take many outdoor breaks to run around.  

July 4

Fourth of July was a nice Wednesday off. Like many, we had lots of conflicting feelings about celebrating the independence of our country, a country going through some serious trials and tribulations and culture changes! So much to be thankful for and still so much to work on...

July 4

Good thing we did a workout at the park that morning. BBQ #1 was at a work colleague's home with his family. The dessert bar was soooo good! All homemade goodies :-)

July 4

BBQ #2 was at a friend's house in a tiny community named Gig Harbor on the water, across a treacherous bridge. (Matt would say I am exaggerating about the bridge...I disagree) The kids did fireworks about 8pmish and we got home by 9pmish. A great way to end the evening for sure, especially with work the next day. 


July 7

Work on Thursday and Friday post 4th of July flew by! Friday night we were invited to join friends at a lovely cabin on a river, 3 hours or so away. They were so nice to invite us! At some point over the weekend, their kids and our kids went to the pool, allowing me an hour to get through some work from this balcony perch overlooking the river. Doing work on a weekend isn't so bad when you have this setup!

July 7

The town closest to the cabin has a famous hardware store and market with fresh ice cream. Clearly we had to partake in that community tradition.

July 7

July 7

Rafting down the river was another must. Well worth the complicated logistics of dropping off cars, trailers, people, and collecting cars, trailers, people, and a raft! 

July 7

July 7

July 7

July 7

Dads teaching daughters how to build campfires...

July 8

About 30 minutes from the cabin, we took a quick side trip to see Leavenworth. This is the place people all over rave about because of the German attributes. If you google Christmastown in snow globe, you'll probably find it.  

July 9

This crab was not alive, but it did not die in vain. Oh no, a family of gulls were well fed and satisfied, as evidenced by the mile long crab debris on the sandy shores of Ocean Shores, WA. So. Many. Crabs. And so many birds, including a bald eagle spotting!, having a feast on crab and other fish. My own outdoor adventures continued post-cabin weekend with the perfect Monday: a staff retreat at a beach where there was a lot of retreating! Nine of us piled into a van, and drove 95 minutes to the coast. It was beautiful!!

July 9

July 9

Don't they just look like the best ad for some eco/family/budget friendly outdoor adventure company? I love my staff <3 p="">
We have so many changes happening all around us on campus, we often joke that our office is a bubble of happiness. I am so lucky I get to work with such competent, compassionate people. Let the changes come, we'll face them together. 



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