S is for Summer

SUMMER...
Hair gets lighter
Skin gets darker (or red if your name is Scott, Grace or Samuel)
Water gets warmer
Drinks get colder
Music gets louder
Nights get longer
Life gets better!

That's pretty much the Templin motto these days. Here is how we define summer time:

1) Frequent trips to the park

2) Frequent trips to the water parks

3) Frequent trips to the new backyard park, you get the idea.

4) Eat the freshest fish you can find

5) Grilled corn on the cob

6) Dinners on the deck, either ours or Grandmuhie's

7) Drinking the best summertime beer: Abita. (Thanks for bringing it home for us Travis)

8) Fresh flowers, these peonies are from our garden. Farmers market flowers are a close runner up

9) Walks on the beach

10) Better yet, ice cream sandwiches at the beach

11) Scooter rides

12) Numerous hangouts with the best neighbors in the world

Here's to more summer memories!

Sarah's First Half Marathon

Yeah, that's right. I always said I'd never do it. But a friend talked me into it...thanks Beth. I started my training at the end of January, deciding on the Jeff Galloway method of run/walking. I slowly worked my way up in distance and did pretty good on race day. I ran the Capital City race in Olympia.

Our wonderful friend and neighbor, Jessie, brought the kids to her house a week before the event and supplied posters and paint for the kids to decorate signs for me. It was all a secret! Although Grace did mention something about making posters but I didn't see them until race day. There was nothing better than seeing those two kids midway through the race proudly holding up their signs yelling, "GO MOMMY". Scott and I both had wet eyes it was so adorable. 

I ran the race in about 2 hours and 33 minutes. I finished and I'm really proud of myself! Scott and I are registered for my next race in November, Disney's Wine and Dine half marathon in Orlando. Nothing like mixing a race with good wine and food, in addition to a visit with the family.

Fort Flagler 2014

Okay so we've been a bit behind with the blog posting...so sorry. Now it's catch up time. I'll start with our trip to Fort Flagler just east of Port Townsend about a month ago. We packed the SUV full, took off mid week and had amazing May weather just like we did last year!

With such great weather, the kids helped daddy fly kites.

New to the area was a couple tetherball courts and swing set which were perfect for the kids. It was hilarious watching the two of them endlessly chase the tetherball around the pole. Wish we got that on video!

One of the best things about this place are the extensive underground batteries and bike/walking trails that connect them throughout the park. We loaded the kids in the bike trailer and set off to explore and geocache (or treasure hunt according to Sam and Grace). We found a total of 12 geocaches in the park and the kids ended up with a nice collection of trinkets.

The kids explored the underground tunnels...later showing off their bravery and muscles after walking through the pitch black darkness.

 

Here's a great pic of the two of them eating snacks at the beach after collecting rocks. They have become pretty good buddies.

Cant beat ice cream cones. Sam's first by the way. At one point I turned around and realized he had bitten a huge chunk from the bottom of the cone before licking all the ice cream from the top. Rookie! It turned into a dripping mess :)

A short drive from the fort is Finnriver Farm and Cidery. As Mom and Dad tasted a plethora of yummy drinks the kids played around the farm and colored in the tasting room. We explored the grounds, catching lizards and saying hello to the chickens and pigs. If you ever go, their black currant wine with brandy is to die for.

 

We hope to make this trip a yearly tradition, who wants to join us next year?

Summer Solstice Weekend

We are loving the long days of summer. Today we checked out the new spray park in South Tacoma, complete with a Farmers market on Sunday. Two thumbs up for fresh golden raspberries, Rainer cherries and snap peas while playing at the park. Doesn't get much better than this!