Tour de Whidbey

On Saturday we headed over to Whidbey Island to participate in the Tour de Whidbey bike ride. Last year we did the 40 mile loop while towing the kids. This year we decided to tackle the 60 miles loop. Olivia had a soccer game so she stayed behind with some friends for the day. I was very sad that she was not able to join us and that I was not going to have anyone to tow.

Caedan enjoyed the snacks at the break stops.

The third break area had a fantastic view where Caedan enjoyed more snacks.
Caedan said that this was his rock and he wanted us to take it home. He even asked Robert to try and pick it up. Sadly, there was not enough room in the trailer or else I am sure that Robert would have gladly carried this rock for the remaining 22 miles!At the end of the 60 miles we enjoyed a nice chili lunch and Caedan made some new friends. It didn't take long before he had chased all of the ducks back into the pond. It was a beautiful day for a bike ride on Whidbey. Who knows which route we will choose next year. The only longer route left is the century...

Saturdays

It is almost fall which means that it is soccer season. The City of Kirkland started a tot league so we signed Caedan up for soccer this year. He is so excited to have his own team and uniform. Unfortunately, most of his games conflict with Olivia's games so we have to split up for the games.

Caedan is the youngest kid on his team. He is playing on a 3-4 year old team and the season will be half over before he turns 3. That didn't stop him from scoring his team's only two goals last Saturday. Happily for Caedan and the Sea Turtles, they don't stop play for handballs in his league.

Wall of defense!

Caedan showing off his right foot.

Olivia jumped from U6 to U8 this year and the pace of play has dramatically increased.

Olivia taking possession and starting out on a counter attack.

So if you are looking for us on a Saturday morning for the next several weeks you will find us at a soccer field cheering on the Sea Turtles and the Red Wings.

Mountain Climbing

What better way to spend a rainy Sunday than to go for a hike. We headed up to Snoqualmie Pass so that Caedan could climb his first mountain. For his first summit we decided on Mt. Catherine.

Mt. Catherine is 1.5 miles to the summit

and the elevation gain is 1300 feet.

We finally made it to the top for lunch.

Someone was very tired on the way down. He slept all the way to the car.

Soccer Season

Today was the beginning of the soccer season for Olivia. She played in her first jamboree and her team played three games in a row. At least they were only 10 minute halves.

Olivia scores her first goal.

Sometimes you have to find ways to entertain yourself.

7th Birthday - a little late!

Olivia turned 7 on 8-9-10.

We celebrated with a tea party at a Tea Room with 5 of her friends.

The girls had scones and petit fours.

Olivia and her friends at the tea party.

After the tea party we headed home for a BBQ with the family.
There were presents.

She got new skis and bindings. It is never to early to prepare for the ski season.

We had cupcakes.

For Olivia's present from us we got her ears pierced. She has wanted to get them pierced for the last year so we decided to let her get them done. We had both ears done at the same time and she did not even flinch which surprised both of us.

Happy 7th Birthday Olivia

Remember this post when I said that my goal was to sit in the Diamond Club?

http://connorclanblog.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

You know the Diamond Club located right behind home plate?

On Wednesday I was lucky enough to get tickets and a parking pass to the game. Everything is included in the Diamond club. There is an all you can eat dinner buffett, dessert bar and stadium snacks.

This is the view from the second row of the Diamond Club.

We were so close to the players!

Robert enjoying the Signature Dessert of the Diamond Club.

If given the tickets again I would definitely go to another game.

How do you improve on seats in the Diamond club?

Mariners dugout, here I come!

Road Trip

Once upon a time a family decided that it would be fun to take a road trip for a week. So they loaded their gear into the car and attached the bikes to the back and headed off for a week of camping in Oregon.

They slept in a tent.

They spent some time in Hood River watching the kite boarders and wind surfers.

One of them learend how to eat cherries without eating the pits (well most of the time without eating the pits).

After an exhasting bike ride there was a nap.

They cooked their dinner over the campfire.

They played a very intense round of glow in the dark mini golf.

Golf is a little difficult for some players.

Two of them were able to ride in the bumper cars.

They cheered on riders in a leg of a bike race.

The Cascade Cycling Classic is a six day bike ride centered around Bend, Oregon.

The walked around the top of Lava Butte.

The children happily possed for all of the pictures that their parents wanted to take.

They went hiking in the lava tubes.

While the outside temperature was in the high 90's the temperature in the cave was a cool 42 degrees.

They made new friends.

On the last day of their trip they spent 9.5 hours driving to get home. Possibly they did not choose the fastest route home.

When they finally made it home and unpacked their bags they were left with a huge pile of laundry as a reminder of all of the fun that they had over the past week.
They were also very happy to sleep in their own beds again. They are now thinking of taking a camping trip to Yellowstone next year.

The end.