Dan & Nate, both with birthdays on June 23.

Nate turned 2 on Thursday. No extravagant birthday parties, no 20 friends invading the house. Just Mom's chocolate cake at home, cup cakes at the Martins, and a crown at preschool. And cards. And presents, lots of presents.

Nate's first day at Montecito playschool. I took the morning off from work and took a few pictures as Gina held Julie. It was my first time seeing Nate in a "social" situation, and he seemed to like the drawing, play dough, snacks, bike rides and of course visiting Cocoa Puff the pet rabbit.

Trip home, exhausted boy.

Mount Baker from Dawson family house.

Issaquah park, complete with toy & real railcars.

Last day with Grandma.

Great food, as always.

Ladybug in garden (for Nate).

Everett's Children's Museum & Nate's favorite display.

The Eyerman twins in Issaquah.

Jumping spider!

Dave's new John Deere & two guest riders.

Dave & Chris' gorgeous new home.

Snack time or play time?

Northwest Trip - Spring 2005

Nate & Julie's first plane ride up to Portland was a combination family visit, trial flight, week vacation, and reacquaint with Seattle area. After a quick flight from San Jose, we rented a car in Portland airport and drove to Prairie Brush to visit Katherine & family. Nate still talks about the "Old MacDonald tractor" and seemed unconcerned about the large jumping spider in the sand. We drove to Christian and Kelly's house to meet their new twins and found we really liked the Mirrormont area underneath Tiger Mountain. We then drove the two already over-stimulated babies to Grandpa & Grandma's house in Snohomish just in time to see a REAL tractor in action mowing the front yard. The food and company was wonderful (thanks for everything mom & dad!) We then headed back down to Portland; Nate & Julie slept the entire trip the Oregon border. Even a hotel that couldn't get us a crib or an airline that mangled our seat reservations couldn't stop us from enjoying a much-needed trip to the northwest.

Oh no! One last night in the basinette before Julie started sleeping in Nate's room. So far so good...

Art shot.

On Saturday we went to the Tilden Park Steam Trains again (our second trip), so Nate could get his fill of riding trains. It must have been the start of summer celebration: there was a band, two trains running simulanteously, and the lower-tracks hobby engines running full...uh...steam.