Lake Crescent

1 Mary and Doug are here with little Isabella! This is Saturday morning - they arrived around midnight Friday night after a long trip from NYC. Mom and Richard picked them up at the airport and managed to catch a ferry by the skin of their teeth (Isabella's pleas from the back seat may have helped there!). Doug is enjoying seeing the chickens after hearing all about Merlin and the girls.	2 Look what he brought for Sam!	3 And for Dave and me! Tooooo funny!	4 Another great breakfast by Dave! Thank you!
5 Mary cleaning bottles :)	6 Doug showing Ben how to put his pocket knife together. Ben really loves this wood pocket knife. It is very cool!	7 I think Mary may have a knack for solving this thing!	8
9 Little Isabella enjoying playing with Ben :)	10	11 Look at the cute socks!	12 Doug took a real interest in all of Sam's projects despite being sleep-deprived. What a nice uncle!
13 Benji-cakes!	14 Ben came up with this sign that Bill thinks means "quiet" - so Bill used it back with Ben when he was hollering about something. He thinks it works. He is the baby-whisperer and Ben-manager extraordinaire!	15 On the walkie-talkie with me (sister) on the way over to Lake Crescent!	16 Finally there! It's only 2 hours away, but we had to stop for beef jerky and bows/arrows for boys :)
17 The evening light settling on the lake and its visitors. I loved catching this light every night. That's Doug and Ben in the chairs, Dave is out kayaking.	18 I love this photo. Sam really got the knack of shooting very fast. Those $8 bows and arrows really made for some good fun! He has an archery class next weekend, too.	19	20 Dave enjoying a quiet paddle. It was a wild night in our house the night before - Dave was on the air bed in the living room and I was in the "nest" in the boys' room while Doug and Mary and Isabella took over our "suite" and Bill and Gail were in the guest room.
21 Love you, honey! Your paddles look great with the light coming through.	22 This is just the most serene and lovely place I think...	23 The lake was like glass that night. It can get pretty choppy if the wind is up, though, because it's 12 miles long.	24
25	26	27 What are they talking and laughing about?	28 We are in the little cabin behind this stump. You'll see more shots of the cabins and the Lodge in this series. The boys really enjoyed the big lawn.
29	30 Tito Pig showing the kids a monocular, to look out at the lake.	31 The view from our little porch, with the Lodge on the left and lake in the distance.	32 Running running running! They still have energy, although I think the grown-ups are wearing out!
33	34 Doug out for a paddle, too!	35	36 Doug and I managed to carry this huge SUP and beer all the way to the cabin without spilling a drop!
37 Little guy on the stump, doing some archery practice.	38 Love this shirt! That is bacon whiskers!	39 Look what is on the menu - Wild Boar!	40 Some shots from Bill's cell phone, mixed with my shots, and Mom and Richard's shots are throughout this series. I tried to get them all in order by date.
41 That evening light again!	42 Nana :)	43 Bill's shot of Dave out kayaking.	44 Was there time in the evening for fishing, too? Wow - that late sunset really affords a lot of evening outside time! It doesn't get dark here until 9:30pm right now.
45 This could easily be 8:30pm. Nana thought she saw a pegasus off in the distance, over her right shoulder. It was SO funny! That evening light again, making everything look magical!	46	47 Sunday morning - we're out on a walk through Moments in Time trail, then up to Marymere Falls.	48
49	50 Look at those rockin' shades!	51	52
53 The cameraman!	54 The trees are huge!	55 Doug worked for a long time stitching a panorama together - we'll have to check his blog to see how it came out!	56 The bouquet mom and I picked - here is how it looked before the hike - we kept adding to it!
57 The self-portrait stop at the falls :)	58 We always get funny shots when I put my camera on timer - these guys on the right saw us later at the Lodge and enjoyed laughing about "where's Ben?" who is always missing just as the timer starts counting down!	59 We were picking wildflowers along the way for Mom and Richard's wedding - it was so neat to see it take shape as everyone added flowers and native plants. We picked another fresh one the next day.	60 The boys love this stream!
61 Doug caught a huge fish!	62 Ben with his Godfather :) Doug is telling him the story of the three wolves and the brave Scott who killed the wolves to save the king while he was out wild boar hunting.	63 The walk to the wedding ceremony site!	64
65	66 Lots of great hiking snapshots and portraits captured by Richard along the way. Thank you so much for the surprises your camera presents when we offload the hundreds of pictures!	67 Magical woods, Mary thinks!	68
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101	102	103 Lunch time!	104
105	106 Back at the Lodge, it's time for some lake time! Dave and Bill hauled boats all weekend! Nana and PopPop popped a bunch of ibuprofen on this trip - I hope they've recovered some! Bill - you were SUCH a huge help, always there, Johnny-on-the-Spot to help me with trash, boats, ferrying stuff from cabin back to truck. Thank you!	107 Shakas from the brave brothers out in the chilly water! It is in the mid 50s in that water - can you believe it? SO refreshing, though!	108 Ok - off to get the dock jump out of the way! This is a family tradition - only mommy is always the one suckered into doing it, and MULTIPLE times as boys decide if they're going in or not. Sometimes they fake me out and don't jump after I've already taken the leap!
109 Benji thinking it over. He's ready!	110 Watching mommy go!	111 Whew!	112 Ben did it! I reached for his little paw right away while he was under water because it is so shockingly cold. I got him to the ladder quickly.
113	114 Now for Sam!	115 Off we go!	116
117	118 Again? Anyone?	119 Alright then! Mommy is swimming back to the beach!	120 It was so cold I couldn't get my breathing organized!
121 Doug is enjoying a swim, too!	122 Love you, Popr!	123 Oh Pig - so cute with your little girl!	124 Lots of deer around.
125	126 Look at Gramma with her grandchildren!	127 I think this was my favorite dinner - using the camping grill and my SUP as a long serving table.	128 Chilli dogs, salad and fruit - all for about $8 per person! That's the way to go! And with this view :)
129	130 These campfire marshmallows are HUGE!	131 Oh boy! I thought it was funny, but Ben didn't!	132
133 Pig you are SO funny!	134 These little boys were a lot of fun for ours to play with. They were shooting a can off the stump with the boys and arrows.	135	136
137 More fishing - I think that is the rest of the family out there on kayaks and the SUP, too - meaning Dave and I and the kids, and even Bill and Gail!	138	139 Look at the color of the water!	140
141	142 I loved this time together.	143	144
145	146 It's wedding time!	147 The arch wasn't decorated when we arrived, so we fixed that in a hurry wiht some beautiful flowers and ferns!	148
149 Popr almost got to do the proceedings because the minister was lost!	150 After the ceremony we took the opportunity to grab a bunch of pictures. Enjoy the series in all its permutations.	151	152
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161	162	163	164 At a lovely brunch - with the minister!
165 Cake time!	166	167	168
169	170 Now off to the other side of the lake for a hike along the Spruce Railroad trail - it was completed in 1918 to serve the timber needs of the WWI effort, but the war ended just before the railroad was finished. It was subsequently used for 30 years (or more) to haul timber.	171 This is a tunnel directly across from the Lodge. A bit spooky to see all the fallen rocks inside - we stepped in and thought about going through, then thought better of it.	172
173	174	175 I just love the big red madronas juxtaposed to that gorgeous water.	176 The other side of the tunnel.
177 Dave kayaked over here later in the day.	178	179 Can you see the Lodge from here? It's to the far right of the frame.	180 The tunnel...
181 Dave took this to show the scale of the cliff face behind us.	182 More vacation self-portraits :)	183	184
185 I may need this one on a canvas print...	186 Or this. I just love that water!	187	188 Looking at the cliff face from on the water.
189	190 I'm glad someone did some lounging amidst all the activity!	191 After the hike we zipped back to grab the rest of the party for Sol Duc Hot Springs.	192 It was cold outside, but warm in these pools!
193 Dave and Mary got a massage (Doug and I sneaked a short one in, too!).	194 Isabella loved the water!	195 Lots of people - many foreigners.	196 I'm freezing, but trying not to get too wet because I know the boys are going to drag me to the "cool pool" next - the chlorinated big pool which is only 80 degrees vs 100!
197	198	199 I love this one! Doug is so precious with his little girl.	200 He really knows how to play with her, and comfort her.
201 Takes me a while to get used to my brother being a Dad!	202 But I think I'm getting my mind around it :) She is SO cute!	203 More boat hauling - see how my Amazon husband manhandles boats?	204
205 The view from our cottage.	206 Ben offering everyone cans of Sprite. He got soda privileges this weekend and maximized them!	207 Aren't they cute? Almost like old Hawaii, plunked down in the Olympic National Park.	208 Enjoying a glass of wine from Mary's brother, Jesus and his wife Helena, from their collection. Isn't that sweet - they'd chosen three special bottles and sent one to us for our 10th anniversary, and two to mom and Richard for their big day.
209 On our way to dinner, Sam is showing Doug how to solve the Rubik's.	210 I love love the raccoon tail shadow!	211 Ok, Dave time for some fun! What're you going to do with me?	212 Uh oh!
213 I'm heavier than a kayak I think!	214 This is more our speed than a dip kiss! Ha ha! That was fun :)	215 A rare family skill being passed down - how to balance a salt shaker.	216 Dinner with Doug and Mary! We really loved catching up with you two and just wish there was even more time together!
217 The funniest breakfast ever - Ben showing us Mr Piggy Spoon Nose Clock! "Now it's eight oh nine o'clock and 59 degrees, West."	218 "Mom, I'm doing a PERFORM!" They were doing a jig on this log - Dave was sure they'd go in the drink!	219	220
221 Out on a walk with Popr through Bovee's Meadow.	222 Popr went out on the SUP - almost all the way across the lake to see Dave!	223 The boys built this tide pool and relaxed in it for hours!	224 Across to the right is the cliff face where the tunnel is.
225	226	227 Sam is like a monk seal, warming himself on the rocks.	228 Popr is finally back! Out on this frigid lake with no life preserver - we were thinking about how we'd get the Coast Guard out if we needed to!
229 Dave is thinking about jumping...	230 Oh my goodness! He did! He got me all jumbled up holding his stuff such that I couldn't get the camera going quick enough to catch his beautiful swan dive off the end!	231 Little Isabella! How cute you are little one. If we had more time together I know you'd like me, too. Dave says "If you are looking for a calming vibe, you don't go to Alli." Awwww...I tried!	232 Saying goodbye to the intrepid travelers :(
233 Off to the ferry and airport! Thanks to Richard and Mom for driving them! I really appreciated knowing they could relax a bit and just enjoy Isabella vs having to drive and navigate all over.	234 Another one of our favorite shots. The rest of us are enjoying 7 more hours at Lake Crescent after check-out. One of the most beautiful days there, of course.	235 I'm out with Ben on my SUP and Sam is learning to kayak on his own, with instruction from mom.	236 Daddy is back from the far side! Thanks for scampering up the bank, Bill, to catch this picture!
237	238 Ben pointing the way!	239	240 Sam did really well learning to manage in wind and currents. He kept getting spun around and washed on shore until he figured out how to hold water, back, and paddle. What a great time we all had! Sorry to see it end, but I've made reservations through 2015...at no small cost financially, but worth every penny! Who wants to come next year? Early August - 2, 3, 4 I think. Let me know if you're interested. A bunch of those Singer Taverns (the white cabins) are still open for reservations...
241 I love this photo. Sam really got the knack of shooting very fast. Those $8 bows and arrows really made for some good fun! He has an archery class next weekend, too.