Hope Lake

We hiked up to Hope Lake for our 3rd hike of the Summer. The kids even swam! Here is a picture before we started down.

Evergreen Mt Lookout

Evergreen Mt Lookout was our 2nd hike this Summer. The trailhead is quite a ways in on a dirt road - thankful we drove the truck - but the views were spectacular. Probably the best overall view hike we've been on!

Wallace Falls

We kicked off our Summer hiking with one of our favorites - Wallace Falls.

Cian & Jovon

Cian and Colin started tap lessons with Jovon Miller at PacWest in Snohomish back in April. Here is Cian doing a routine with Jovon at yesterday's practice.

Outdoor School 2012b

From May 17-19 we went to Outdoor School and I had a blast. One of my favorite things we did was going to the Ape Caves--it was amazing. Inside the mile-long cave, it was mostly downhill except for the rock falls. There was a glittering slime/goop on the walls that would shine if you shone your flashlight on it. I also enjoyed the trip on Mt St Helens. We got to go to a museum. I learned lots of stuff I didn't know, like how the sound waves went up and above the mountain so people right around it didn't hear it explode. We also we went to an Observatory where it had very beautiful views. Inside, there was a full scale model of blown-up Mt St Helens, a “make your own earthquake” exhibit, and a theater. Here are pictures of the ape caves and Mt St Helens!  -Colin :)

Outdoor School 2012c

The Brenchley family joined the Academy Northwest/Family Academy Outdoor School's trip to Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens on May 17th - 19th. Here is what the kids want to say about the trip:

"Hi, this is Rilla (8). This is me next to Mt. Saint Helens. This is what it looks like after the big boom. The stuff in the middle, that's the lava dome rising. When it is too huge it boom's out black mud & ash."

At the tree mold tunnel at the Trail of Two Forests on the South side of Mt. St. Helens..."It was fun except it was dark...but we did it." Cian (7)

New Boys Join the Family

Our other first for the day was that we had two handsome steers delivered to the Wards' property, which will be mowing for them and making future beef for us. Here they are, numbers 51 and 75: