The 4 1/2 Miler

Yesterday we ventured into the Boise National Forest near Lowman, and did a hike. I found the hike on the internet, and on several sites it was ranked as an easy hike and great for kids. I would have ranked it as moderate, and not necessarily for kids as young as ours. Nevertheless, it was great, everyone made it, and had fun.

We basically climbed a mountain. We followed Clear Creek most of the way up, and forded it a couple of times. We saw all kinds of wildflowers and trees, and a couple of chipmunks and birds. The kids did surprisingly well. There were no tears until the final tenth of a mile to the top. We were excited to finally summit (we climbed 1300 feet at least), especially because we knew the way back to the car was all downhill! Hayes remarked to me that he likes hiking, but he never wants to do this particular hike again. Fair enough.

MIA Blogger

We have been in the process of moving for the last month or so. The kids and I left Joe in Seattle for three weeks to take Step 1 of the med school board exams while we moved into our new place in Boise.

We are finally (mostly) settled, Joe is here, and we are loving it. It feels like real summer here, and it is sunny! I think I made up all my missing vitamin D in the first day.

We have been busy enjoying the season. We have had visitors: various aunts and uncles, and of course Liz to keep us company. We have been going on little hikes, swimming in our new pool, riding bikes and scooters, and staying up way too late. Here are some shots from the 4th of July. We did fireworks at my uncle's house where the kids decided they needed to use a little hearing protection. We seriously had a great time with the fireworks, and it is so fun to have so many friends and relatives here.

Joe is doing his first rotation in Family Medicine and is enjoying finally getting to work with actual patients. And, no homework when he comes home at night! I wish it could be summer all the time!

Dear Metropolitan Market,

As we are packing up to leave Seattle I am pondering the things that I will miss the most. I have enjoyed the new friends I have made. I love your parks, each one is seriously amazing. I also love all of your restaurants and shopping. And Burke-Gilman Trail we had some good times. But, let's be honest, Metropolitan Market, I will miss you the most!

I will miss the overflowing flowers arranged in color groupings by the door. I will miss the beautiful and glossy produce section that makes vegetables look appetizing. I will miss your glorious deli with my favorite sandwiches and other treats. I will miss your free and exotic cheese samples. Camembert! Aged Cheddar! Gouda! And dessert section, I am starting to well up as I think I leaving you behind. Cookies, pies, cakes, sold in individual portions, calling out to me. You are one minute away from my house and open for a casual visit 24 hours a day. I will miss visiting you every time I forget just one thing for dinner, or have a late-night-craving, or a weird ingredient the other stores don't sell.

I thinks it is time for the MM to branch out and start some stores in Boise.

Love, LauriAnn

So Doctor-y

Tonight Joe had his white coat ceremony signifying the end of his second year of med school and the beginning of the third when they do their clinical rotations. He is done with school now, and is studying for the board exams (major test that helps determine what type of residencies you can apply for) and the kids and I are moving next weekend! Joe's family came and we had a fun time. Joe celebrated this momentous occasion this morning by riding his bike around Lake Washington with his friends Dale and Matt. It is an at least fifty mile loop with more hills than they anticipated, but they did it!

Memorial Day Weekend Road Trip

For Memorial Day we did a scenic road trip called the Cascade Loop that circles the North Cascade Mountains in Washington. We stopped in Leavenworth, a little Bavarian town, and played some miniature golf. The kids loved it, but mostly just picked up their balls and moved them to the edge of the cup, and then hit them in. After a round of golf, we rode into town and got some ice cream and saw a German band. They were awesome! We stayed the night in Wenatchee in a sketchy little hotel.

The next day we drove by the Columbia River and and Lake Chelan. It is amazing how sunny and warm things are as soon as you get on the eastern side of the cascades. You are welcome Eastern Washington from us Western Washingtonians for absorbing all the rain and clouds. We visited a little Western-themed town called Winthrop that was pretty cute. There we saw a glass blower in action, that was fascinating! We drove through the North Cascades National Park and went sledding at the summit. We did a little bit of hiking and saw all kinds of water falls, rivers, and lakes.

That night we stayed in Bellingham near the Canadian border. The kids were thrilled to be in a hotel that had a pool. The next day we did a scenic drive called Chuckanut that followed the coast down, and it was pretty. I think everyone had a good time; Joe and I are always up for a road trip as long as we have the DVD players for the kids.

Madison's Graduation

Tonight was Madison's graduation from ECEAP (preschool) at UW (also not her first university, she did some work at Boise State last summer). It was cute/sad. Madison LOVES school and has learned so much and has so many friends and great teachers I just felt sad for her sake that tomorrow was her last day!

All the kids were wearing little caps and gowns and they sang us a couple of songs. The teachers had a video montage of pictures from the school year that was really good. Then the kids graduated and got their certificates. I do not think that there were that many cameras at my high school graduation (500+ grads). These parents and relatives were excited, and as a result I had a hard time seeing most of the program because they were all standing up and taking an obscene amount of pictures. But who can blame them, preschoolers in caps and gowns are pretty cute.

Afterward we had a buffet dinner and not one, but two kinds of cake (for the last week this has been emphasized at our home every day after school, one white, one chocolate). Madison introduced us to her BFFs that we have heard about all year: Mariam, Delisia, Leah, and Yuenah. What a fun night! Kindergarten here we come! Although after ECEAP kindergarten might be anti-climactic.

Joe has his last final tomorrow and I have been packing and cleaning so we haven't been up to anything terribly exciting, but here are some highlights.

Madison lost her first tooth, and the other one is practically already in. She was eating some goldfish crackers, it came out, and she totally didn't realize. Joe noticed and asked her where her tooth went, and she had no idea! We think the most likely scenario is that she swallowed it. She already has another loose tooth. She is getting so old!

Joe gave Hayes a haircut and we tried to give him a mohawk, but he did not like it. I thought he looked cute, like Puck from Glee, but apparently this hairstyle was not fancy enough for him and he made us shave it off.

Hayes has also decided he doesn't like to sleep alone. Saturday I went to go get something in my room and found him asleep in my bed with his blankets and stuffed animals. Sunday night Joe found him in Madison's room with his pillow, blankets, and bear. We never even heard any talking or anything. It was pretty funny.