CGC Terrapin

Yesterday the CGC (Coast Guard Cutter) Terrapin was docked at the port of Olympia and offering tours.  The Terrapin is a 87' cutter based in Bellingham, WA and spends most of her time rescuing boaters and enforcing maritime regulations.  For some reason the crew wouldn't let us shoot at anything as part of the tour but all in all it was a good time.

The Terrapin docked in Olympia

Chuck and Cathy with a Terrapin sailor.

Another shot of the Terrapin

After the tour Cathy was nice enough to help us with another shot at a family picture.  We had some success, Lilly almost sitting still once or twice during the process...

The Tornado never stops...

The stillest she's been in weeks...

Me trying to be artsy

Handy Lilly

Last weekend Lilly and I took a shot at bird house construction.  I figured we had a better shot at actually constructing a bird house if the guy in charge of measuring and cutting was only responsible for straight, rectangular pieces, hence our unique, flat roof design.

Lilly proved be a very apt holder of stuff in place, well, at least until she spotted a butterfly or something else slightly more interesting then holding pieces of boards together.

Dancing with the boards was obviously much more exciting then holding them in place.

I'm not sure, but I think I heard Camille chuckle each time Lilly got distracted and let go of a piece right as I was ready to nail it in place.

Eventually, we had a box-like structure with a hole in it!  A birdhouse like no other.

Everybody knows that the best place to show of a new bird house is on top of a parental figures head...

Pictures at the Beach

Last week I took advantage of us all being at the beach on a sunny day and went for a photo of my girls.  The final result is below (I'll remove the boat emerging from Camille's ear later via Photoshop when I'm feeling a bit more industrious).

Here is take one.  In this image Lilly is unsuccessfully attempting negotiate her way out of her temporary state of captivity.  Either that or she's become a gangsta rapper and is mid flow.

In take two Camille has grown a little bored of sitting still and looking pleasant and has found something to keep her little hands occupied.

In take three Camille has given her new toy a sturdy tug.  Notice that her sister is now slightly less amused with the situation then Camille herself.

Lilly and myself, well out of reach of the her sister's tiny but powerful clutches.

Lilly doing some beach running.

Oh, and earlier that day we got to pet goats, which is probably my 5th favorite thing to do.

The mighty Mima Mounds

Today we decided to take advantage of my day off from work and headed over to the 5th most famous piles of dirt in the Pacific Northwest, the Mima Mounds.  Having been created by the digestive process of giant earthworms over 5 billion years ago, the Mima Mounds are currently very grassy and flowery due to their being made primarily of worm excrement.  Now with the science lesson over, here are the details of our visit.

First off, as Kori smashed her pinky toe this morning and wasn't up for a long walk, our plans for taking the 3 mile loop trail around the park were swapped for Kori and Camille hanging out on the observation platform while Lilly and I did laps around the .5 mile interpretative trail.  All in all, anytime we visit a place where Lilly can run laps is a good time for us so a fun time was had by all.

The most famous mounds near Tumwater, WA, the Mima Mounds

Lilly dutifully inspecting my lens for debris

Lilly enjoying an interpretive marker

Interpretive markers need hugs too

Lilly doing an interpretive dance near an interpretive marker

Off to find something else to interpretivate

Kori limping her way along the trail to the observation deck.

Lilly rounding a corner

and hitting the straightaway

Lilly enjoying the moundiness of the mounds

Kori and Camille also enjoying the abundance of moundiness

Once last shot of the mighty Mima Mounds.

Family Pics

This evening we took a shot a some quick family pictures after dinner.  They're not perfect but not bad either considering the fiestyness level the chillins were displaying.



All of us

Lilly and Mom

Kori and Camille

Lilly being Lilly between shots

Not related to family pictures at all, but it was on the same memory card.

Still Having Fun in the Snow

The snow decided to stick around so we hit the slopes again this morning.  This time Papa Fankhauser was able to join the fun.

Papa providing rope tow services

Its easier then it looks.

This sledding stuff is dangerous, at least if you're providing the boost.

Lilly was having a good time though.

Papa's turn.

Mom supervising



Playing in the Snow, February Edition

The family and I took advantage of the wintery weather this evening and hit the little sledding hill in our neighborhood.  Once Lilly discovered she had a new means of achieving maximum velocity she had a new favorite thing ever.

The girls, ready for some snow action.

 

 Lilly and Mom hitting the slopes.

Camille and Kori

Kitties

This will make you watch behind your back next time you're out hiking in Eastern Washington.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014261221_cougars18m.html

Dum dum dum dum da dum, dum da dum.

My personal favorite superbowl commercial.

Lil and Cam Cam

I was goofing around with the camera tonight while the chillins were goofing around with each other and got these shots.

Camille and the blur who is her sister

 

 Camille up close