Glacier National Park - August 2011 Part 1

At Pappy Bobby's

Mid point in the most scenic hike that I have ever been on.

Hidden Lake

We saw lots of Mountain Goats, including one that almost attacked  us.

Lucy and her Pappy Bobby

Happy Family

Notice all of the spawning trout. Lucy walked through freezing cold water with ice in it to get to this rock!

Just gorgeous

What a girl!

Last August, after seeing Phish in Central Washington, we drove up to Northern Idaho, picked up Marc's Dad Bob, and headed out for a Montanan Adventure. We spent several days in Glacier National Park, and all I can say is Wow! This really is one of the most beautiful, stunning places in the world. Here I have included photos from a hike  from Logans Pass down to Hidden Lake. Every last second of this hike was gorgeous. Six miles of amazement. There were lots of other people, but it didn't really matter. We saw wildlife at every turn, and wildflowers were everywhere. Lucy was a champ with the hiking. It is so much fun to share such beautiful places with her.

Phish at the Gorge 2011

Too Cool!

Never enough sunglasses photos!

Happy Birthday Marc!

Matt, Stephanie and Mason

Loving life!

We are so lucky!

On the dance floor

Phish

To kick of our vacation this year we traveled up to central Washington's Gorge Amphitheater. Phish played a two night stand at the scenic venue, and many of our close friends were there. Matt, Stephanie and Mason came down and it was great having family with us. Lucy loves her cousin Mason! We had a wonderful time camping and celebrating! Lucy enjoyed dancing, the music and people watching. The second night was Marc's birthday! She wanted to go down to the dance floor, and though I was hesitant, there was actually tons of space way off to the side. There she danced with some other kids. It was great! We have a great group of friends who went with us, which makes the experience so much fuller. These were Lucy's 8th and 9th Phish shows. Wow! Don't worry, she wears earplugs. :) The shows were top notch. Phish really is my favorite. Some of their songs are fabulous, dynamic, strange, creative masterpieces. I just love dancing to them. We were treated to some intense jamming and crazy light show on Friday, and Saturday I was glad to hear Reba, a song I have wanted them to play for several shows now. At first listen you notice these odd lyrics, but the song has some parts that are just beautiful. In the last month I have asked Lucy who was playing when I put Phish on and she immediately answered "Phish."  I also pointed to a photo of Phish, and she knew it was them. Last week I asked what album she wanted to dance to. She said, "Not Phish." However, after a 30 minute dance party to the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack (whew!), she then asked for Phish! Crisis averted! I am sure someday she will reject her parents music, but for now we're OK! This was a great start to our summer vacation.

Timothy Lake

I couldn't resist including this photo of Uliei with a bib on. Wonder who put it on him?

Girls night!

"I'm balancing!"

Lucy and Samantha

Evan

 Lucy, Rose and Sarah and I. This is the life!

Lucy and Sophia

Kids table!

Lucy with a crawdad. She said, "It's not real." She had checked them out when they were alive...didn't stop her from eating several! I did tell her that it was definitely real.

Casey, with the toad I spotted, and Robin caught. We let it go soon after. Fun times around the campfire!

Lucy and Mommy. 

Last weekend Lucy and I went camping with several friends. Marc stayed home to work on his master's thesis. (He is almost done with a rough draft!!! Yes!!!)  Rose, Lucy and I headed out early on Thursday to get a good spot at Timothy Lake. We loaded everything onto her boat, and crossed the lake. We found a great spot and had a fun night together. As the weekend progressed, several friends joined us. The weather was gorgeous, and we spent most of each day in the water. The boys put out crawdad pots, and Saturday night we had a feast. Timothy Lake is awesome! Lucy had fun with her floatie, and playing with her friends. I am greatful that we have so many wonderful people in our lives. When I was packing up inside the tent on Sunday morning, Lucy began to get very clingy. I finally asked her if she was sad that we were leaving and she said yes. She wanted to keep on camping. I am so glad that she enjoys it just as I do!

String Summit 2011

Lucy really enjoyed Marc's camel back. 

Hanging out!

The happy family!

Lucy LOVES both her puppy and strapping him into her stroller. Buckles are a favorite of hers.

John and Lucy

Zoe and Lucy, ready for a wagon ride to the ampitheater.

Todd, Marc and Jim

That's a little puppy painted on her face.

On Sunday many people wore pink, in honor of Lilli, one of my patients who recently died. An intersection of my personal and professional life.  It was beautiful to see how many of the 5000 people there dressed up, and I really felt the love. 

Katie Lee, Kurt, Tiffany and me. Good friends!!!

I had a wonderful time at the 10th String Summit, a festival that is held near Portland by the Yonder Mountain String Band. We have not missed a single year. Thinking back, it is amazing how many changes there have been in my life, but yet we have always had this weekend to hang out at Horning's Hideout with some good friends and get back to the basics of what I discovered so long ago when I saw the Grateful Dead. While the music is what brought me there, I think that the overall experience is what makes it for me. The shows by Yonder are always solid, the other bands are fun, the dancing is fabulous, there are so many colorful people, so many old friends and several days to just hang out and party! Now getting to share it as a family is even more fulfilling. The other day I asked Lucy what she liked about the String Summit, and she said "music....dancing...peacocks!" Two and a half years old and she summed it up perfectly. (There are peacocks that roam the property).

Lucy really enjoyed all of her friends that were there, including Zoe, Miles and John. She got her face painted with a little puppy (her choice!), and had fun dancing. On the last day, Lucy started spinning up on the hill. If anyone has seen me dance, then you know I love to spin around, and of course Lucy has learned her moves from me.  While I was trying to deflect her from tumbling down the hill, she grabbed my hand and started running for the dance floor and then just started boogieing down! She done me proud! The folks around us were tickled with her dancing enthusiasm.


It was a great family weekend!

Loving life

Wahclella  Falls

A tiny cave. Lucy said, "bears in there?"

Crossing a bridge!

Enjoying the sun at Wachlella Falls

Soda Creek Falls on our rainy camp trip

Boating on the Clackamas with our best friends

Santiam River, Lucy and Sophia

The last several weeks have brought me many reminders of how important it is to enjoy the present, because nothing is guaranteed. It has been a difficult stretch at my work, and many special, special children have lost their battles. It doesn't make sense, and makes me so sad for our families that have had to say goodbye to their cherished children.  Being reminded of the frailty of life so often can be hard, but I think that in my relationship with Lucy and Marc it keeps me present. I think that Lucy is so amazing, and that every moment there is the potential for something special. She constantly makes me think, "Wow!" I am blessed to have this time to spend with her, making memories, building traditions, enjoying and loving her. 

Right now she is hard at work on a new art creation. She works in multi-media, combining paint, stickers, paper, markers and tape. :) She is so much fun to watch while she creates. I give her a lot of space and freedom, and she often has a clear idea of what it is she wants to add to her picture. We have been singing together often, which is really fun for me to see how many songs she remembers the lyrics to. We have been spending time hiking in the Gorge, and she can handle a two mile trip with only a little help along the way. She loves to play outside, and we have spent the last two weekends camping and are preparing for another trip today. It was a downpour for our Cascadia camp trip, but we still enjoyed the Santiam river a bit, a nice hike, and the company of good friends. Marc has been working on his Masters, so Lucy and I have been going together. It is so much fun, although we miss Marc. We are lucky to have my friend Rose, we have a lot of fun together, and I am so grateful to have her support!

Much love!

East Lake 2011

Getting bigger! I have been taking this shot since Lucy was 5 months old.

There was still a lot of snow this year, and Lucy loved playing in it.

Marc and Lucy

My girl!

Gracie Girl

Lucy Kathryn

On the boat

Catching fish

We saw a "Sun-Bow" which is a rainbow around the sun.

Our private paradise

Home sweet home.

Once again for our anniversary we headed to Central Oregon and the wonder that is the Newberry Caldera. We love this place and discover new things each and every year. It is amazing! Hot Springs, gorgeous views, fishing, relaxing, hiking...this place is an outdoor wonderland. Lucy really enjoyed fishing, the snow and the hot springs. We went on an amazing hike along Paulina Creek, and found a pool with a small waterfall just for ourselves. There was a rainbow around the sun which I felt was very special, and unusual phenomenon. We are so lucky to have had this time together as a family, and celebrate our lives together.