Zoya Does Some Ranting

We were driving back from hiking on Saturday and Dylan and Zoya were bickering in the backseat. After we settled the argument (or so I thought) everything was quiet for a bit, until Zoya handed this up to us:

Translation:

"Dylan is the F word"

"Dylan is the I word"

"Dylan is the H word"

"Dylan is the B word"

"Dylan is the S word"

"Dylan is the SH word"

I am very proud of a few of things here:

First, her handwriting is EXCELLENT!

Second, so is her spelling.

Third, for having such a potty-mouthed mother, she does NOT know what those words are - yet - so she has to resort to using initials!

(When she asks what the "b-word," or "s-word," is, we've been telling her things like, "brain, bottle, belly button," and "sandwich, snack, sunflower")

Sunshine, how I love thee

Spring is definitely upon us in the great NW, and summer weather keeps trying to sneak in from time to time too. Last weekend it was in the mid-70's and Zoya decided to set up a lemonade stand on the corner. She ended up making over $10! At 25 cents a cup, that's a lot of lemonade!

Brother helped a little too (for a small fee) :)

A few weeks ago the weather was nice enough that we were able to go on our first hiking trip of the year - we went up to the Boulder River waterfall. It was so beautiful and lush, and the smell of the spring forest was so yummy! It was about 4 miles round trip, and the fact that Zoya made it without whining gives me hope that we might be able to do some real camping this summer (you know, the kind where you hike into an alpine lake and stay for a week. Well, maybe not a week, but at least a few days)

This area is one of few remaining low elevation old-growth forests in the Cascades. Some of these trees are as old as 750 yrs!

Dylan contemplating life's mysteries at the smaller waterfall

An attempt at sibling affection

It's hard to see in the small version of this picture, but you may note that Dylan is, in fact, taller than his Dad.

This tree was so cool - its roots are wrapped around a nurse-log (stump, actually)

Here they are at the end of the trail. They NEVER cooperate with a good pose for these pictures!