Working Mom -Day One

We survived!
The boys had an AMAZING time at the spontaneously formed Hilltop Summer Camp, and are happily shouting for MORE FUN TOMORROW!












Drake is absolutely thrilled to learn that Mommy has UNDERWATER ROBOTS at work, and Ewan, of course, only wants to hear about the nearby TRAIN TRACKS!!



Many thanks to Mima (the super early shift), Connie (the chauffeur), Emily (the car pool lane buddy and happy hour host), Dad'n (the dinner shift chef), and the Amazing Lisa (who kept two very special little maniacs sooooo happy, well fed, and entertained all day long!)
Wow, it really takes a village for a Mom to go back to work!!

Plot Twist

I read somewhere that when things change unexpectedly in life, you're supposed to yell "PLOT TWIST!" and keep on moving forward.

Big changes are coming for the Stewarts next week, when Captain Mommy starts her New Job!





Our amazing friend and neighbor, Lisa jumped at the opportunity to fill up her new minivan with more kids, so the boys will spend the rest of the summer playing with good buddies Finley and Xavier.



Let the new adventure begin!

Genetics

This morning I was gently reminded that there are people out there wondering what on earth the Tacoma Stewarts are up to, and that some of them may start to worry during an absence of proof of fabulous adventures (sorry Pope).

We spent last weekend at the Goat Farm visiting with all of the regulars, plus bonus visitors "Uncle Deff and Ducky" who were visiting from California. We had so much fun that we forgot to take photos.




In other interesting news, we recently received a package in the mail from a distant Stewart relative, who did a mind-boggling amount of genetic research, and collected it all in an impressive book.






It is absolutely full of homesteading, homemade campers, and other interesting adventures.


Some things are clearly genetic, and it is not at all surprising that Dad'n turns out to be a Crowley.

Solo

Dad'n took off to do some of HIS style camping this past weekend - that means the kind without a van full of diapers, bikes, helmets, trains, books, bubbles, frisbees, rice crackers, balloons, stuffed animals, marshmallows, tables, chairs, and the kitchen sink:















Just a man, his ukulele, a McGuyver style homemade ultra-lightweight plastic tent, and a hungry field mouse.

Danicktravel

We spent the last week and a half dragging visitors, Dana and Nick all over Washington on an epic family camping adventure.




We've climbed mountains, paddled kayaks, pushed broken down cars, lit explosives, broken some boat parts, and watched the funniest little 4th of July parade in the state.










There have been sailing lessons, typing lessons, water filtration lessons, accordion lessons, and a large-scale food dehydration project.
















Now we're sending them off to continue their adventures, tired and dirty but relatively well fed and armed with a large can of bear spray and TONS of dehydrated fruit.




Bon voyage, kids!
Get that blog up and running, so we can follow along!

Olympic National Forest

Camp fire cuddles

We just finished a fantastic weekend in the Olympic National Forest with Cousin Dana and her partner in crime, Nick.

Accordion practice

A lesson in water filtration

Atop Tull Canyon

Looking for bugs