Port Angeles

Last week we were able to visit Michelle and her family up in Port Angeles while Trevor was away at Scout Camp. It was a fun trip, because Michelle always has good stuff planned to do, and because Melody likes the cool, wet weather so much, and because we have the cutest grand kids in the world!

The twins mug for the camera

On Monday (the only truly sunny day the whole week we were there) we drove over to La Push to go boogie boarding. It was a beautiful day and the water was warm. Below, Atticus wears my sunglasses. There aren't too may good photos of the Atti-gator, mostly because it's hard to get a four year old boy to sit still for very long. But I had him captive in his car seat for this one.

A self portrait of me on the driftwood jetty, with the beautiful scenery behind.

Can you tell I'm taking the picture?

The warning light at the end of the jetty, and a fishing boat leaving the harbor. It was really close.

The tide was coming in all morning, and we really had some good waves to ride. Michelle rented us a couple of wet suits and she and I had a blast. And the water was really warn. (Did I say that already?)

It was pretty cool at the beach at La Push, because it's an Indian Reservation so you can build fires on the beach and cook hot dogs and stuff (which we did). Everybody was pretty beat on the way home. I stayed up front to keep Michelle awake by telling her funny stories.

Another morning we drove over to Salt Creek Rec Area (Tongue Point to be exact), but the weather was not as nice. Well, okay, it was nice for Washington, but not what you'd hope for for an outing. The tide was way out and we walked around the tide pools

The neighborhood where Trevor and Michelle live has a heated swimming pool and the kids like to go down there, But really, only Jane likes getting in. That's Atticus, Jane and Lizzie in the right hand photo.

Then, as sort of a grand finale, we went to the Wild Animal Park. This is kind of a retirement home for animals that have been performers in movies, and other exotic animals that need a good home. It was pretty fun to feed them bread (only wheat bread allowed), and many of them would stick their heads right in your car to get at it. You see Michelle pushing away the incredibly foul smelling water buffalo.

Michelle and the zebra got along well. Lizzie likes feeding the reindeer.

Big eyed bison looking to me for a handout.

The bears really were the best though. Most of them would smile and wave. We even got one to sit up and wave goodbye to us as we drove off. It really was fun, and the kids just had a great time. Of, course, it didn't hurt any that we took them to McDonalds afterward. That made me happy too.    :  )

One final shot. I took the twins on a walk the last day we were there (Cause they were being fussy). It's always fun to see them stop, squat, and look at the slugs (which are as plentiful as raindrops). I say it's funny because looking is fine, but touching is not. Lizzie nearly had a cow when she thought she had closed her hand around a caterpillar. When we finally got her hand opened and she saw there was nothing in there, then the drama was over. But the world came apart for her while she considered the possibility that she might actually be holding a bug!