We did another in-city hike, but I was actually pretty impressed with it. I kind of had no idea that this huge park full of meadows, bluffs, and beach was only 15 minutes from my house. I mean, I had been to the park before, but that was when Rose was two and we went on some tree planting adventure where she insisted I carry her the entire hike. Not an incentive to go back.

This time I didn't have to carry anyone. The kids even carried their own backpacks and we ended up doing 4 miles.

We went with my childhood friend Elizabeth, her family, my sister and family, and my mom. The weather was gorgeous. It's been cold and miserable the entire summer. (And it's been sweltering and miserable everywhere else in the States, so I am not complaining.) Today was clear, sunny, not too hot, and stupendous views of Puget Sound, Vashion Island, and the Olympics. We really live in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Despite the occasional car driving by and the regular stream of joggers, I did feel like I was in nature. Especially when we got down to the beach. The kids went crazy for a driftwood fort, and we ate lunch and played there an hour.

David certainly started to lose his behavior on the way back, but, frankly, his behavior had been rotten that morning, so I can't completely blame in on overexertion. I had been thinking we had to keep the hikes to three miles or under. Now, I'm thinking we could try 5 miles.