From Sea to Shining Sea

These images are from the last week.

Atlantic:

Pacific:

Childhood Memories

I grew up with woods like this in front and behind my house. We used to run on the trails, dirt bike, find animals, and have all kinds of fun.

A few years ago, they cut down most of the woods behind my house and it now looks like this. It makes me kind of sad.
At least it is full of butterflies though (and oak saplings!).

Fun Times with Uncle D

Note: No children were harmed in the making of this blog post.

Around the Shop

One of our favorite activities in the East is visiting my uncle's motorcycle/watercraft shop. There are always some fun hi jinx and often it involves jet ski testing.

Eliza helps Big Al with customers.

Uncle D backs in a ski for testing.

D and Big Al test the ski before taking it out.

Success! All fixed!

Note: Testing a jet ski on open water is actually quite necessary. Tanks don't provide necessary acceleration to assure that water is getting fully into the pumps.

If you are in Maryland and need something fixed. Stop by and see Big Al. He does great work:

Pleasanton Cycle and Watercraft

Main Street, Cecilton, MD

(410) 275-2775

Sunrise Over the Atlantic

Reason #1

Reason #1 that Eliza thinks Uncle D is tops-- He does things Mom never would. Exhibit A: Uncle D teaches 3 year old Eliza how to drive a jet ski (and actually she was amazing!).

Mimi's Big Green Truck

One of Eliza's favorite parts about coming to the East Coast is riding in "Mimi's Big Green Truck." I'm not sure why she loves it so much. It might be that it has the diesel roar. It might be that it has a DVD player. But, most likely it is because it always has Skittles!

The Muse

Here he is on Melinda's blog:

Here he is on Amanda B's blog:
And of course, I have my very own view on him:

A Trip to Paris

Paris, IDAHO that is. We went for a wagon ride and dutch oven dinner. The kids loved the animals.

The Beach at Bear Lake

The beach at Bear Lake far surpassed my expectations. The water was clear and refreshing and the color was just so lovely. The sand (which I think was trucked in) was nice. The kids played in the sand, napped under the umbrellas, played on the tube. On Weds, Aaron & Emily rented a paddle boat. The kids had lots of fun paddling around. But the best was the jet skis. We rented jet skis two days. Even Doug and Julie rode. In fact, the talk of the reunion was when Doug pitched Andrew off of the back (completely accidentally, but none the less funny!). Also, I took Stephanie's son, Ryan, riding and he did a complete 360 nose dive! I was really impressed.

Andrew pulls a tube of girls

Lauren and Rachel play in the sand

Ian enjoys a nap on Grandma

Grandma and Andrew jetski (Lauren keeps them from the shallows)

The girls paddle boat

See, I was there. Amanda M. is behind me. You can see her arms.