Budding Photographer

Seth has discovered the camera!

Since he figured out how to turn on the camera and snap pictures just a couple of weeks ago, Seth has taken over 300 pictures. I've chosen my 25 favorites to share with you. Let me know which one is your personal favorite, and why.

#1 "The Mirror"

#2 "Daddy"

#3 "Perspective"

#4 "Chickens!"

#5 "Baby!"

#6 "Truck, Vroom"

#7 "Great-Grandpa"

#8 "Great-Grandma"

#9 "The Cute Redhead"

#10 "Lotsa Hosta"

#11 "Mommy"

#12 "Ellie's Foot"

#13 "Reversal"

#14 "First Steps"

#15 "Summer Shimmer"

#16 "I Pledge Allegiance"

#17 "Easter Lilies"

#18 "Foliage"

#19 "Canopy"

#20 "Temple Spire"

#21 "Big Wheels"

#22 "Hot Hot Hot"

#23 "Raspberry Blast"

#24 "Grass Between My Toes"

#25 "Toy Collage"

Cove 2

Alki Beach, Cove 2, Seattle

So how do you like that back drop for a dive?

The other day Joel, Janice, and Matt went for a dive over in West Seattle, one of their favorite places to go.

You can drive around over the West Seattle bridge

or come across from downtown on a water taxi that comes right to this dock at Cove 2.

Seth and Ellie and I came along for the ride. To help wile away the time in all this heat Seth decided to enjoy the outdoor shower. He started out with a t-shirt and swim shorts, but he likes the "less is more" approach.

A little jungle gym time helps with the wait.

Finally the divers resurface.

Seth is there to meet the under see explorers

ask how their dive went

and lead the way back up the beach.

In this heat and in all this black, thick rubber gear, these guys were more than happy to get into the cold refreshing Sound water.

And now to use the shower for what it is really intended- getting all the salt water off their gear.

Now to put Seth to work helping the divers.

Ellie is close at hand for moral support.

Appropriately wearing her mermaid shirt, of corse!

Girls Day Out

What do 4 girls, a nice day, and no immovable obligations equal?

Road Trip of corse!

A couple of Saturdays ago I was supposed to be at a Stake Pioneer Day activity and Janice and our friend Rachel were going scuba diving and then off to other appointments when it suddenly became apparent that we were long overdue for a girls day out. Naturally we dropped everything, told the fellas to hold down the respective forts and hit the road.

A girl is never to young to be indoctrinated in the art of a "Girls Day Out", so we invited Ellie along for the ride.

So through the woods,

and over the river,

and under the mountains, to Leavenworth we go!

I hope anyone who has ever been to or through Leavenworth, WA has taken the time to stop just west of town on hwy 2 at the best little candy shop there is called "the Alps". We have been stopping here for as many years as I can remember and enjoying the owners own recipes and creations as well as adopting the occasional pet rock. I would have taken a picture of the cute little shop, but sadly it burned to the ground this spring. They are getting ready to start rebuilding and in the meantime are operating out of 2 little trailers.

The New York Times flew in shortly after the fire and did a great little article about the shops history and its owner on April 6, 2009. Here's a link to the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/us/06land.html

Oh, and when you go there, and you will, you must try the Peanut Butter Crunch

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm!!!

Out of the car and onto the important things- like hitting the shops!

Leavenworth is a little town that recreated itself into an old (or maybe I should say "auld") time Bavarian town

full of colorful shops

colorful people (oops, thats Janice :P)

and lots and lots of colorful flowers! Everything was just gorgeous.

As is always the case, the day eventually came to a close and it was time to head back over the mountain to our families and appointments.

but if that smile is anything to go by, I think we have another true convert!