Redondo Sunset

"Sunset at Redondo Beach"

WA, July 2012

Jared really wanted us to see the sunset at Redondo Beach.  It was well worth it, a beautiful sunset.  The tide was in, so not much beach, but the boardwalk along the waterfront was peaceful.  We had a lot of fun, as the pictures will show.  Thanks Jared!

Redondo Beach:  Jared, Jeremy, Anna-Marie



Jared, Anna-Marie

Laura, Jeremy

 

         

Jeremy's poor back, carrying

Jared and Anna-Marie

  



"Balancing"

Jeremy and Anna-Marie

 


Jared, Mom, Jeremy

 








 Laura she finally got it.



Laura defying gravity.



Lake Meridian, WA

Earlier in the day we went to the lake, floating, diving, relaxing.  Jared joined us after a day of work.  A lot of fun in the sun.

 

"Superman", Laura

 

Anna-Marie, "Cartwheel" off Jared's hand.



 

 

Jeremy, "Side Dive"

 

Jared, getting assistance, having a blast.





Twin Falls

"Twin Falls"

By North Bend, WA

July 2012

On our Dirty Dash weekend, we went to Twin Falls with Jared, Karl & Victoria.  This waterfall is a 10++ on our waterfall scale.  Not only huge, beautiful, but with a cave, and a deep pool to swim in.  Even though the water was icy cold we still got in and swam to the base of the falls.  In the book it says its a 135' to 150' plummet.  Also is known as the Upper Snoqualmie Falls.  There are two more falls above (Upper and Middle Twin Falls) that we didn't see, but some day I'm going back to see them.  On the day that we went I think it was the hottest day of the summer for that area and humid.  Jared said it was only a mile and a very easy walk.  In reality I thought it was a continuous uphill climb.  Oh -- Jared you little deceiver!  From the look-out view we followed a deer trail down to the river and traversed ourselves over boulders, wading up the river to the base of the falls.  It was well worth the trip.

Anna-Marie, Twin Falls



Twin Falls with a cave, and a bridge at the top,
that leads to the upper falls.



Jared beginning his decent down the river,

with Anna-Marie & Jeremy looking on.

Jared counsels others, "Do not attempt this!"



Is Anna-Marie really lifting Jeremy?

That stick must be really strong.



Anna-Marie buried in the water, Jeremy

looking on.



Jeremy following his siblings.  But his
"bottom" finds the one rock.



Jared has more pictures with his water-proof camera, of us at the base of the falls.  I wish I had them.  These were good times.

Dirty Dash

"Dirty Dash"

July 2012

Jared put together a group of friends and family to run in the Tacoma Dirty Dash.  He tried to get Mom (Sonja) to run also.  But I decided I'd rather be a spectator and take pictures.  We all had a blast, and boy did they get dirty and stinky.  Our team decided to be the pirates, each with a special name on their t-shirts.  No major injuries, just a few scratches.  Jared had his water-proof camera attached to his head and video taped most of it, that is hilarious to watch.  They talk about doing it again, maybe Clifton will join them next time.  Missed you Clifton.





"Bones" Jeremy

"Peg Leg" Jared



 

 

"Bones" giving a sister a ride.

          

"Cranky" Laura, "Goldie" Anna-Marie



"Peg Leg" about to fly.







"Cranky" inflatable sword in mouth, (yucky!)



     

"Goldie" being attacked by
 "Cranky's" sword.



"Cranky" end of race snack.







Sibling bonding time.

"Bones", "PegLeg", "Cranky", "Goldie"

Wrong Road

"Wrong Road"

Waterfall Adventure with Jeremy
Summer 2012

An overcast day with threatening rain showers, Jeremy and I (Sonja) headed out for an adventure.  First on the list was to find Marble Creek Falls in Stephen County, up north from us.  We followed directions from the computer, finding a road that we thought was "thee road".  We kept going and going and no waterfall, tried another dirt, rutted road, at a fork, beautiful country up in the wooded mountains.  So as we traveled we came to a stop, for there was a fallen tree crossing the road.  We decided to go by foot up the road, no sounds of a river close by, it was a little steep, so Jeremy went a little higher, long story short, "NO" waterfall.  We headed back to the car.  Since the road was narrow, I had to "back down" the mountain, no turn arounds, and as I am looking down the road, it looks like another fallen tree in the road.  But I'm thinking its probably a turn in the road and its really off to the side of the road.  Well--- not so! As we were searching for our waterfall, another tree fell across The Road.  Thank goodness Jeremy was with me, I could not have moved that tree by myself.  I would have been stuck between two fallen trees.  Coming down the mountain we found a little waterfall by the road.  Laughing we thought maybe this is it.  Oh --but not so...., we were on the "WRONG ROAD".  Have not yet seen Marble Creek Falls, we had bad directions, or more likelymisinterpreted them.


The tree may be smaller, but as soon as you let go of it, it
sprung back into the road.  He had to hold it while I drove by.



"Wrong Road Waterfall"
(Named by the Johnson's)

 Next we headed for Mill Creek Falls.  We had rain showers, that made the dirt roads muddy and slippery.  But on we went, and came to the bridge over Mill Creek.  Going under the bridge and bushwacking through the woods was fun.  The falls were pretty, not big, but found a fun swimming hole by some boulders.  With campgrounds near by this would be a great area to cool off on a hot summer day.  Don't know how deep it may be, to cold for us on this rainy summer day, to test it out.



Slippery rocks under the bridge.



Jeremy at Mill Creek Falls, WA

Last stop for the day was Douglas Falls.  This place was beautiful.  Still the day was with sporadic rain showers, with steam coming off the roads, it was cool looking.  Douglas Falls has camping grounds near- by, it also has a great area at the base of the falls to play in the water on a hot day.  About a 60 foot waterfall.  I think I read somewhere that there is a small cave under the falls on the left side.  I'll have to research that more.  I need to go camping more so I can stay longer at these beautiful sites.


Cool steam coming off the road.

 

Overview picture of Douglas Falls, WA.





Can you see Jeremy attempting to climb up
the side of the falls?   It is a straight- up climb.



Sonja at Douglas Falls.  Wish it was warm, to jump in.



Aliens

Aliens

"Where did these Creatures come from???"
Scary!!!

Riverfront, Karin

"Riverfront Park with Karin"

June 2012

A fun little excursion to downtown Spokane, to see the Spokane Upper and Lower Waterfalls.  On our way we stopped at Wolfie's, for the burgers, fries and the best milkshakes ever. Yumm!!

  


Anna-Marie & Jeremy in background, then Karin & Mom



 

 

Jeremy and Mom (Sonja)



Totem Pole on Canada Island

Karin, Jeremy, Mom, Anna-Marie



Spokane Upper Falls

 



Spokane Lower Falls

 


   

Karin taking in the mist of the Spokane Lower Falls

 

Leavenworth 2012

"Leavenworth, WA"

June 2012

Leavenworth is a Bavarian village up in the mountains (Alps) of Washington.  A trip that I have wanted to take all these years of living in Washington.  Finally I made it.  Mom, Karin and I, had a girls weekend trip.  And it just happened to be when they were having the "International Folk Dance Festival".  Beautiful flowers on balconies and hanging baskets everywhere.  German food available, which we did not try, I guess we are to Americanized.  All kinds of little shops.  They are known for their Nutcracker store.  I thought mom would like to see all these shops, but not so.  She enjoyed watching all the different international dances.  That was the high-light of the trip, for all of us.  I do wish I had taken more pictures of mountains and the lush green landscape.  The weather was overcast and rain, with occassional rays of sunlight.  The rain (for Sonja) was enjoyable, it didn't dampen our spirits.

Leavenworth is nestled in a mountain valley.

International Dancers

  

Mom, Karin, Sonja

                            

 

Dancing in a rainstorm.



Dancing with bottles on their head.