Cuteness

Mary helped unpack after our trip to Mount St. Helens.

Mount St. Helens

 We went on a day trip Saturday up to Mount St. Helens and met up with the Starbucks for a little adventure.

 It was awe-inspiring to learn about the eruption of 1980 and the amazing forces that it produced. It took just 90 seconds for the lateral blast to travel from the volcano to the ridge we were standing on.

It was also incredible to see a mountain with the top and a whole chunk of the middle just missing, blown off.

The trees were shattered by the blast.

After a picnic lunch and checking out the volcano, the Starbucks headed home. We took a quick walk before doing the same. This lake was created by the eruption.

Drivers Training

Mary got behind the wheel of a car for the first time and handled it like a pro.

Welcome to the Upright World, Mary

Mary's progress toward walking was slow and steady. By her birthday in May she was taking a couple steps between Joshua and I if we sat on the floor with her and would walk if someone was holding both her hands. She spent the summer building her coordination and confidence, but this weekend made a big breakthrough and started walking on her own from one part of the house to another. Once she did that a few times, she was off and spent about half her time walking. 

We celebrated her success with a little treat on Sunday afternoon.

By now, she walks most of the time and only crawls when she wants to get somewhere quickly. The time she spent preparing for this transition is obvious since she is quite steady and rarely falls.

Vacuum Fun

Mary loves a good breeze.

Quinoa Bowls

I've been trying to expand our collection of easy summer dinners. These quinoa bowls were recommended by my sisters; they certainly fit the bill.

Summer Canning

I haven't done much canning this summer, but did manage to squeeze in some essentials: jam, pickled green beans, and salsa. It feels good to be resupplied.

Mary's Quilt

I finally finished Mary's quilt. I made the squares while I was pregnant and almost finished assembling and quilting it last summer, but it's obviously taken me awhile to do the last bit of quilting and add the binding. It's done now, though, and she seems to like it.

Little Helper

Mary loves working on projects around the house with us, including the weekly cleaning. She gets her own little rag and follows me around dusting things. Her favorite part, though, is vacuuming. She sticks her face over the canister and the air blows her hair around.

Invisible Guests

Dave and Uncle Jimmy came up to stay at the coast for a week, and Tuesday they spent the day with us. They arrived mid-morning with a bag full of freshly picked blueberries, which we enjoyed snacking on as we visited. It was good to see them and have a chance to talk for awhile. In the late afternoon, we drove up Skinner Butte to look at the city, then went to Tacovore for dinner. It was delicious, as always. Somehow, we ended up with a picture of just the three of us without our guests, but they were there too and a good time was had by all.

Around the House

Photo: Heather

Sunday we stuck close to home and kept things a little more low key. After pancakes for breakfast, we went out to harvest in the garden.

Photo: Heather

There was lots of good time for reading.

Photo: Heather

Heather, Ezra, and I put more of the blackberries to good use by making jam.

Photo: Michelle

We walked to the park in the afternoon for some playground fun. We had another good dinner, complete with biscuits and fresh blackberry jam.

Everyone left early Monday morning, but we found notes hidden around the house for the next few days, thanks to Natalie and Emery.

Then to the Beach

Saturday we had an easy breakfast, then got ready for a day trip to the coast.

Photo: Michelle

 The morning dish crew, hard at work.

Photo: Michelle

 We arrived in time for a picnic lunch by the dunes, then walked down to the beach.

Photo: Heather

 The walk ended up being longer than we expected, but it was a beautiful day.

Mary enjoyed playing in the sand and crawling around.

 There was lots of fun down by, and in, the water.

Photo: Michelle

Photo: Heather

Cousins at the beach.

Photo: Michelle

 The walk back felt even longer, but we made it and worked up an appetite.

Photo: Heather

 Thankfully, our next stop was Mo's, and it wasn't far away.

Photo: Heather

 Nothing like a little seafood to complete a day at the coast.

Photo: Heather