Diane and Arnold have a farm...

Our last summer home I had the last few days at Arnold and Diane's house booked for William and I.  Every time we went, William was hot to do chicken chores.  Aunt Diane let him help with milking, and slopping the pigs with Anna was fun.  He sure loves his chores!  I picked that raspberry patch several times.  I enjoy the easy chores of a farm!  :)  The eating chores, even better.  :) 

Arnold, au naturelle.  His hay business keeps him busy. 

Their farm house is always a warm, wonderful place to stay. 

This year, I got Evan's room.  William was in James' top bunk, and shared with James for a short time.    Of course, the kitties are missing Evan, so they were a bit miffed it was me in their room.  Diane has wifi, which is something we all love.

I was a little sad leaving.  It will probably be the last time I stay at Diane's place.  While we've been coming home summers, we've been able to stay with them, and be a part of the family.  Chores, leisure and getting to know the cousins.  It is all good. 

Thank you, Arnold and Diane, for being our wonderful host and hostess.  

Anna Lisa's Baby Shower

My niece, Anna Lisa, had her baby shower when I was home.  It was fun to be there for the event.  Usually I am too far away.

The baby's name Marigold, and was born September 30th.

One of the clients of where she works is a cake decorator, so she got a wonderful cake.

Muriel, Jan and Diane.  Cousin, Aunt, Aunt.

I am pretending to steal the gifts.  

Jason's great-aunt, grandmother and mother.

It was a pink lemonade cake, which was wonderful.  Nice and lemony!

Wild Waves Day

We have William in an orthodontic devise to help his overbite, and get ready for braces, once he starts the big grow at about 14.  Aidan, Thayer and Anna are all currently in braces.

His orthodontist, Dr. Naumann, does a Wild Waves Water Park free for his patients every other year.  William got a free ticket, and I bought the other 3 for a reduced price.  Anna's was free, too, as she goes there, as well.

They chose to do the water park first.

It was FREEZING!  These folks looked so cold!  But that meant most people were riding rides in the morning, and were going to do the water park in the afternoon.  So, they had shorter lines.

There was a seal show.  I caught them kissing.

There was also a 'Where's Waldo' contest.  I didn't win anything.

Diane and I kept each other company.

Riita, Dr. Naumann's wife is the only person I know who speaks Finn.

Aidan showing off his braces when I bought them dots ice cream.

They all had a blast, and I was glad we went.  Fun cousin time, and they all hung together!

Pacific Science Center and COUSINS

Pacific Science Center (under the Space Needle) has camps for kids.  The counselors had advanced degrees from impressive Universities.  We signed up William for the Amusement Park rides camp.

I was envisioning that they'd ride a roller coaster and make one.  But they did more with other types of rides.  I did feel sorry for them.  They had said, "Tomorrow, you get to make your own ride!"  William made plans to make a Tower of Terror type of ride, and was really disappointed when they made them do a merry-go-round type of one with a small motor.  So, the camp gets a D on creativity, a C for food,  a B on demonstrating real-life physics to children, and an A for counselors.

Every day we had to do the commute downtown.  It wasn't too bad, because we could use the commuter lane.  But coming home at night, getting out of north Seattle was a nightmare.  I finally found a route that was less-time, but not after we spent quality time in a traffic bottle-neck.  I have heard it has gotten worse, and the stations in Seattle have been reporting on it.

Uncle Noel was so cool.  He'd ask William about his day and be so interested.  We'd just gotten home in this pic, and Uncle Noel said, "Come into my office."  He was sitting in the back of the Yoder, having a beer, so up William hopped! 

William LOVES his cousins.  I think he wanted more time with them.  They are all ready to go to an Eagle Scout Court of Honor in this pic.

Aiden and Thayer got William hooked on Mine Craft.  This is the game that never ends...  

William is obsessed with playing in peaceful mode and building all the fun things he can get the basic products for.  At one point, when we just got home, he called Aidan to figure something out.  It was neat to see the cousin connection.