Tiger Mountain Hike

Very arduous and fun annual hike up Tiger Mountain near Issaquah. Unfortunately Beth was feeling under the weather so just Merrick and Tiger Lily went this time. Wow! What a difference a Mom makes! Getting that pack off and on and carrying the baby and all the stuff without one is really tough! We won't do that again! Click here to see all 13 pictures at once or the picture below for a slideshow.

October Visit from Meema and Grandad

We had a wonderful visit and from Cecilia and Trobe at the end of October.  We went to a pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins for Halloween, went to music class, visited parks and ate a ton of seafood! Thank you both so much, and come again soon! Click here to see all 24 at once or the picture to see a slide show.

Kelsey Creek Farm Fall Festival with the Tofts

Rabbit!

Bouncy horse!

Leavenworth Marathon

This weekend we went to the east side of the Cascades so Merrick could run in the Leavenworth Marathon.  His goal is to run at least one a year for as long as he can.

This particular one had a uncertain start - he forgot his running shoes and only realized it at the motel in Cashmere 8:30 pm the night before the marathon.  He jumped in the car and got to a sporting goods store 15 minutes before it closed and bought the least painful pair (there wasn't a great selection), and ran the whole 26.2 miles the following day with no more than the usual scars.

Beth and Tiger Lily toured Wenatchee while Merrick was running and still had time to cheer him on at Leavenworth riverfront park and meet him at the finish line (he's not very fast ;)  ).

On the way home we stopped at Smallwood's Orchard outside Leavenworth which has just about every healthy outdoor diversion you could possibly imagine for a little kid.  A fantastic petting zoo, teepees, tractor rides, pumpkin cannon, orchard prop maze and on and on. We also picked up a box of fantastic apples and pears there. A perfect fall day.

On the west side of Tumwater Canyon we took a side road to look for Blue Elderberries.  Beth picked a bagful and made Elderberry syrup when we got home. Yum! Click here to see all 28 at once or the picture for a slide show.

Armbrust Family Reunion - Seattle

We had the great pleasure of seeing George, Louisa and Mike all at the same time here in Seattle.  Great times were had at Discovery Park, the Aquarium and visiting Louisa's friend who have recently moved to Seattle, Clare and Steve! Click here to see all 68 pictures at once or the picture below to see a slide show.

Mount Rainier Backpacking Trip with the Toft Family

Our 2nd annual backpacking trip to Sunrise Camp at Mount Rainier with the Toft family to celebrate Beth's birthday. Considerably more of a challenge then last year.  Tiger Lily and Rosie were of course a year older and significantly heavier.  Last year we got to the campsite in one trip - this time took two.  And Jodie, rock star that she is, did the whole thing 9+ months pregnant this year! Wow! We had a super fun time as we always do with the Tofts. Click here to see all 35 pictures at once or click the picture for a slideshow.

RSVP A 200+ Mile Bike Ride!

Beth and Merrick went on the Cascade Bicycle Club's annual Ride Seattle to Vancouver and Party ride with their friends Andy and Milo.  It's a 2 day ride; Seattle to Bellingham the first day, then Bellingham to Vancouver the second. Great weather and company.  And we love Vancouver! Granny Janny and Papa came up from Eugene to watch Tiger Lily and they had fun too.  Milo came in first on the second day of the ride!  He's a monster, that one. Click here to see 15 photos all at once or the picture below for a slide show.