We got a sudden sun break, and decided to take full advantage. The forecast lately has been rain: sprinkles all the way to monsoon-like showers! This day was made for jumping in "mud puggles" as Lucy dubbed them.
I love the composition here: school bus, jungle gym, sunburst, happy toddler!
"Lucy so mussy... Wash hands?" My girl can stomp a puddle with the best of them, right until she realizes she's getting dirty.
We came home and put Lucy in the bath. It was pretty chilly out, so I thought some hot cocoa was in order. My mistake was calling it HOT cocoa. Once we convinced her it was only warm and just like chocolate milk, she was game to try it. I think it's safe to say she enjoyed it!
We wanted to make the most of Isaac having time off and since Lucy is old enough to enjoy the park, we've made lots of trips there! She loves to ride in the stroller, watching for birds and dogs, and also climbing up and down the stairs about 100 times each.
One of our favorite local parks is Seahurst Park in Burien. It has a nice walking path, a rocky beach great for hunting crabs and sifting rocks, and a cute playground area.
Carly took Lucy to the slide -- and then Lucy decided to be a stinker and refuse to go down! ha
The McPhee brothers having a Sound-side chat
On a walk around Lake Washington (Gene Coulon Park), we saw a goose just sitting on the path. It let us get pretty close, and Lucy was all for going right up to touch it. A couple minutes later, it got up, so we gave it some space. It then proceeded toward us at an alarmingly increasing pace -- aaand that's what Isaac scooped up the baby, I snagged the stroller and we ran for it! There's just something about being chased by a large bird that's quite unnerving!
We happened upon a mama and daddy duck letting their littles play in the water! It was so fun to watch these still downy ducklings trying out their swimming skills, then quickly waddling up to mama to tuck in and get warm!
Lucy has a love-hate relationship with swings. This particular day it was fun as long as mama was swinging right alongside her!
Ultimately she decided that she'd rather be on mama's lap than swinging solo! I'll take snuggles however they come to me!
Isaac said we should visit Chambers Bay one more time before they close it down for the US Open Golf Tournament. It was a hot day and we couldn't decide which would be worse: an atypical (hot!) Washington day for the tournament or true Washington golf conditions: cold, wet, and windy! This course will be a unique challenge with only one tree on the course, crazy bunkers and a challenging setup! We will happily be watching it from the comfort of our couch at home! It's truly a beautiful site, and I'm nostalgic for it since it was where my cousin (and childhood best friend) had her wedding pictures and reception!
There's so much work that goes into setting up for a PGA tournament! We had no idea!!
This girl is fascinated by stairs! She loves exercising her independence by going up and down, up and down, up and down!
The park will make a girl so thirsty!
Isaac took us up to Kayak Point outside of Tulalip, where he always spent Father's Day as a boy. There was the coolest park for ages 5-12 -- they mean 5-12 at heart, right? As soon as I saw this climbing structure I knew I had to give it a go! Isaac beat me to the punch and away he went. His nimble climbing got some pre-teen boys to make a second attempt to reach the top. Later, and not to be outdone once again, I gave it a go. I'll be honest: there was a point at which I felt that familiar "heights lurch" in my stomach and I wondered if I was about to dissolve into a panicky puddle of tears or swallow my fear and reach the top. I was very proud of myself as I crossed the very large open gap to reach the last few handholds and reach the top!
My little daredevil was not to be outdone by any big kids and wanted to try out all the big kid toys!
Oh, teeter-totters! You are so fun and so fickle! Lucy and daddy were having a great time until she slid off her side. Despite having tight springs to keep the toy fairly level, it bounced up enough to do the double chin bump and leave her a crying mess! Upon calming her tears she told me "ba bye" and I thought she wanted to leave the park -- I was wrong. She just wanted to leave that bad toy behind! hahaha! I love her!!
Walks and park visits are pretty much a guarantee of a good nap to follow!
Home, home on the range! Where the deer and the antelope play!
Okay, well actually we went to see bison at the Bison Range, but it feels like the song fits. We did actually see some antelope (I think they're technically Pronghorn, but colloquially Antelope). Anyway, it's a huge preserve and the herd of bison roam free. It was really cool to be driving along and suddenly see bison, big horn sheep (as dots on the horizon), antelope, deer, etc.
She was excited to get to sit up front with mom!
Immediately upon starting through the preserve, we saw several bison up close!
Poor kid needed to nap, but naturally she wouldn't give in!
At the top of the overlook
Hey mama, I found a rock!
Yes, she is actually in control of the wheel; and no, she's not ready for her learner's permit!
The Bitterroot Mountains were out in all their majesty!
Isaac had never (NEVER!) been to Snoqualmie Falls despite being a native of Western Washington. What?! He felt we needed to get out today, so off to the Falls we went. :)
She takes after her daddy -- fearless!
MY stomach was continually doing somersaults!
The falls were just beautiful today, and the weather was incredibly accommodating for April! It's been a crazy weather weekend -- sunny one minute, then windy with rain pelting us the next, and everything in between. When I bent down to ask Lucy what she thought of the falls she signed "bath" -- yep, she's mine! I was once convinced that all waterfalls (even those that were actually fountains) were showers. Mom knew I'd been away from civilization for too long!
Climbing up, up, up!
Look how high I climbed, daddy!
Heartbroken that daddy wouldn't let her climb down the stairs
