getting away

we took a little mini vacation last week and headed north into washington.  we had heard good things about a campground on the lewis river and boy were they right. what a wonderful little spot of outdoor goodness. it is amazingly beautiful, with gorgeous river and falls.

our friends went with us for the first night and the kids played together in the river (which was too cold for my tastes....but somehow kids don't seem to mind)

....we did a little hike, decorated ourselves with maiden hair, and had some boat races

and there is a great trail that goes right by the campground so we brought bikes and got in some mtn biking and trail running.  riley and todd did a long bike ride together which riley was pretty psyched about (he finally was able to get some good time on his new bike now that the cast is off).

....while the boys were off biking, lucy and i were chilling out in the hammock reading and eating snacks

we did a day trip up to mt. st. helens.  she blew her top in 1980 and its amazing both how much regrowth there is and how much destruction remains. it was very cool (and educational) to visit.

the following is a shot of the kids in front of spirit lake at the base of the mountain, a car crushed in the blast, the mountain herself, and us in front of her (and next to a placard showing the blast).

we did another day trip to the "ape caves" near st. helens. these are huge underground lava tubes which the kids thought was pretty cool.

now we are back home... doing a little of this and that around the house....trying to stay out of the heat...and getting myself ready to go back to work tomorrow.

hope you are enjoying your hot august days as well!