September 16 - 19, 2016 - 2 years 2 months

Every evening when I pick him up from daycare, Kadin begs for a snack and then falls asleep in the car,  snack in hand (and usually all over the carseat too).

My friend Heather couldn't use her cabin reservation at Byer's Lake and asked if Kadin and I would like to go instead… I certainly was in the mood to escape life for a bit so I took her up on the offer…
 Yay!  A few phone calls later, appointments were re-arranged, and I threw a bunch of gear into the car and off we went.  Kadin is ready to go!

Here's our rig - a packraft set up with my backpack strapped down in front, the sleeping pad in the back, and the two of us squished in the middle.  Kadin enjoys it for the most part, but starts to get antsy after a bit.  Then we stop, look for feathers and leaves floating on the water, or have a snack, and all is good again.

Exploring and hiking around the cabin in the evening.  Kadin took a sudden liking to the ferns along the trail and I showed him how to put them behind his ear… like a cute little forest elf.

Kadin found a loon's feather down by the lake.  So pretty!  And we could see the loons on the lake, doing their crazy calls.  

Short trip, just one night, and back into the raft and on the lake 

It was a misty, drizzly day, giving the lake a completely different mood than yesterday.

The rain didn't stop Kadin from having a good time! 

July 13, 2016 - July 15, 2016 - 2 YEARS OLD!!! A 3-DAY CELEBRATION...

Happy 2nd Birthday, mi amor!!!

We had a mini party for him on the 13th… with carrot cake and paper airplanes, a bunch of kiddos and a baby pool.  Fun, Fun, Fun.

The morning of his actual birthday, the 14th, we enjoyed a mellow morning with leftover cake for breakfast and silly antics with balloons.  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time!!  

(you have to see the video to really get the silliness)

He received a cute card that sang out "Happy Birthdaaaaaayyy" and within minutes, my little engineer had taken it apart and found the battery and circuit board.

We then packed up the car and headed to Byer's Lake, for two nights of camping, pack rafting in the warm water, and enjoying the long summer days.  

Kadin's friend Farah came up with her mom Rachel to help celebrate!

This is Kadin's new "smile for the camera" face...

Kadin had found a speck of pollen and carried it all the way to the lake.  He'd drop it and miraculously, we'd look around and find it every time!

Making friends with a random doggie...

Kadin's first marshmellow roasting!

Here's the link to the video if you can't see it on the blog: https://youtu.be/QfnUmQ-IrMk

Here's the link to the video if you can't see it on the blog:  https://youtu.be/nufSkr2ZHAE

And of course, don't forget about our tadpoles… who now have hindlegs!!

May 25, 2016 - May 31, 2016 - 22 months and 2 weeks

Crazy busy and active and fun week!  Lots of pictures, which is just fine by me, especially since I'm finally caught up.

They are still alive and growing bigger and bigger!! 

We took my packraft down to my little pond to explore it a bit… 

Splash in the water, grab lily pads, watch the water strider bugs...

But as exciting as it was, when it's nap time, it's nap time! 

Exciting times for the Woodpecker clinic… running water, utility tub, and a washer and dryer!  Crazy. 

Finally warm enough for the baby pool!  Plus, with our hot water heater, I was able to add just a bit of hot water to take the icy edge off of it.

My new secretary in training!  I guess I still need to get him a uniform, huh?

Kadin wanted his own hammer and nails to play with… toy tools are just too dull.

On Tuesday, we hopped in the plane and headed out looking for a new patch of tundra.  Flew over some amazingly beautiful areas but ended up hiking in the Peters Hills, where we've been many times.  No less beautiful for being familiar though.

August 4 - August 11, 2015 - 1 year and 4 weeks

Fun trip to Pigot Bay Cabin on Prince William's Sound.  Beautiful weather and lots of rocks and blueberries and jellyfish to play with!