Ranier

I love to explore during the summer.  I like to feel like I am sucking all of the marrow out of life and carpe diem and other dead poets society type stuff.  I like it when "the days are just packed!" (Calvin and Hobbes)

But saturdays are special days.  They are not just the day to prepare for Sunday, they are the day for special family outings to locations that don't fall within a 10 mile radius.  Locations like Mount Rainier, which on a clear day you can see from any good vantage point in Seattle.  We wanted to go up close.

Richard and I are also not campers.  Not  because we haven't tried, its because we haven't tried well.  We have one 4 man tent, a few sleeping bags, no mattresses, and probably 2 freeze dried meals from 2007.  So when we have camped its been dirty, uncomfortable, no-sleep camping.  Add a couple of kids and its dirty, uncomfortable, no sleep camping with screaming in the background.  So we go on day trips and then come home to our beds!

We had only been to Mount Rainier once before in May when everything was closed and still snowy and we had a great time.  But this time we went in August at the peak of its season when the beauty of the mountains was only matched by the amount of foot and vehicle traffic.

Even though it took us a good 2 1/2 hours to get there and someone was really grumpy and hungry and impatient (okay it was me), the view at the top was astounding and totally worth all the tourists and slow travel.  It was like every beautiful calendar picture you have ever seen.

We saw deer and marmots along the way

And at the top we got to see a real glacier up close.  It was awesome to be out and about on such a hot day and playing with snow.

Anna got to have a snowball fight with her dad and ask the question "do you want to build a snowman" and have the answer be a resounding "yes!"

I couldn't get over the fields of wildflowers blooming near the top.  The area where we hiked was called "paradise" (I'm glad we decided against the "devil's armpit" hike...)

These are my happiest moments-- hiking with my family in a beautiful place with a PBJ in my backpack. Pure bliss.

I always enjoy seeing Richard with the kids.  He is such a good father.  In defiance of every sitcom on families I have ever seen, Richard prefers to spend time with wife and kids.

I love the picture below because Richard and Benjamin have exactly the same gait.  Benjamin is so much his father's son.  I wouldn't want it any other way.

I think what I love the most about these saturday outings with our kids is that we are making memories and traditions for them.  They will remember saturdays not for saturday morning t.v., but for hikes and beach days and museums and parks and picnics as a family.

See you next year Rainier!  love you lots!