Camping with cousins = lots of fun!

It has been a very busy summer for me...I'm sorta waiting for a summer when I don't say that at the end of August!  Between family, work, and friends I have felt like I'm don't know whether I'm coming or going.  But, all is starting to calm down and this morning I have a couple minutes before the kids wake up to catch up on some things.

I am about 1 month behind in posting all the fun things we did this summer.  Back on the last weekend of July we (me, Anderson, and Adeline) went camping with Jane, my dad, and Jen + kids on Bainbridge Island.  It was so beautiful and fun for the kids to spend time with cousins and Grandpa Tracy.  I was pretty impressed with myself and Jen...tackling camping without our husbands.

Thanks to Jane for the invite...looking forward to it again next year...when the kids are a little older and they can all sleep in Maggie with you two...haha!!  We wouldn't do that do you!

Kids playing at the beach

Super-cheese!!

Anderson wanted to take a picture of us...pretty good!

This one kinda cracks me up...

This might be the only picture of all 4 kids together from the entire 2.5 weeks there were out here....at least all of them are there and eyes are open!

Pretty amazing!  Adeline loved the sand.

See Mt. Rainier in the backdrop??  Such a cool picture.

Little Gray-man in deep thought...

At the campfire...Jane and Grandpa Tracy cooked up some pretty awesome meals!  

And just like that...

Anderson is riding a two-wheeler!  Pretty awesome!

Who wants to run 200 miles over 28 hours with 12 people?? We do, we do!!

In July, we ran in the Northwest Passage - Ragnar.  It was the second time for me and Brad's third go round.  As it's been in the past, it was the most fun we've had doing a race.  This year we recruited my sister, Jen, for the second time and one of my closest friends, Ashley.  Nothing like spending 36 hours in a sweaty SUV with close friends and family!

Here's how it works...there is a 12 person team.  The team breaks into 6 person vehicles.  Each person on the team runs 3 legs in the relay.  The people in each vehicle run one leg then meet up with the other vehicle so that each of those runners can run a leg.  So it's a good amount of running, a lot of cheering on teammates, and a little sleep!

Here are some pictures from the race...enjoy!  Also, a big thank you to Grandma Suanne for watching the little munchkins while we race across part of the state!  Love you!

Camping with 14 kids under 7...whoa!

In July we went camping with our friends at Skokomish Park on Lake Cushman.  It was so beautiful...and, if I'm being honest, a little like herding cats.  Ha!  Between nap times, snack times, play times, meal times, and bed times we somehow got in a bit of time to reconnect with friends.  The highlight of the weekend was watching all the kids play, so hard, all weekend with sticks...no toys, no TV...just sticks.  With all the herding going on, I barely had a chance to whip out the old iPhone and snap pictures...so, this is the best I have.  We love you Roach family, Willis family, Judy family, McClure family, Horner family, and Vaughn family!!  Thanks for sharing your lives with us!

Hiking along the beautiful Lake Cushman.  I think Anderson is a bit scared about falling into the water...oh boy! 

Tag...who's it?!?!

Mmmmmmmm...smores!

The best "group" shot I got...ha!

The best playground ever!!!

At the Talley Table

Before I get into the Talley Table fun, I have to talk about our fun 4th of July.  We had a fabulous block party in the afternoon with a kids parade, water balloon toss, and piñata.  Then we BBQ'd in our back yard with Alyson and Rob.  We put the kids to bed at normal time then woke them up for the fireworks show at Gasworks Park.  We parked the cars at UW then hit the Burke trail and walked with the kids in the stroller.  Anderson said "Mom, this is the best fireworks show I've ever seen!"  Adeline didn't take her eyes off of the show for the entire 20 minutes (minus watching the obnoxiously drunk man behind us sining, really screaming, "American the Beautiful").  Very fun and really easy!  And really great people watching...

Now, on with the post...Anderson and Adeline have really started interacting and playing more with each other.  Anderson asks regularly "when is Adeline going to wake up so that we can play together."  So fun to watch the brotherly and sisterly love.  Here are some cute videos from the two of them at the table.  Enjoy!

Colorado Trip - June 2013

Some highlights from our trip to Colorado...enjoy!

Flew into Denver and got to spend the weekend with Tony, Renee, and their kids.  Anderson calls Reece and Ava his "first friends"...miss this wonderful family but so thankful for the time we get to spend with them.  Also got to see my cousin, Bobby, and meet his sweet little baby...Cooper!  

Then up to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort!!  This was our forth time with this group...8 of the 14 DG 2010 residents and their families were able to make the trip to Princeton.  When we started our residency journey there was one child and now almost everyone has children.  We filled 4 cabins!  Great trip and great memories!

An annual tradition...dinner at Laughing Ladies in Salida.

Started as residents in 2006, now all attending EM physicians...from left: Zach, Ben, Brad, Elijah, Andy, Nate, Matt.  

Moms enjoyed a morning of pampering at the spa and adult pool while the dads took the kiddos to the pool...so awesome!  

Dads enjoyed a few bike rides in the Colorado Rockies.

Isabel falling into her role as the "oldest" very well!!

So fun to watch all the kids play together.  From left: Tyler, Adeline, Addison, Torch, Anderson.

After a few days at Mt Princeton, we headed to Aspen/Snowmass.  It was our first time and sooooo pretty!   It was really great to have some family time too.  We went on a great hike (all the pictures are on Brad's phone) and some long walks, had a nice family dinner at Pyramid Bistro, shopped in Aspen, and played at a few parks.  

Anderson thought this was pretty cool!

Pool time with Adeline and Daddy where we stayed at the Viceroy - Snowmass.  When we turned the TV on in our condo it said "Welcome Dr. Brad Talley"...that's pretty cool!  Super fancy place that we would love to go back to...without the little ones!  ;)

He looks enthused?!?!  Snowmass ski area.

What's on the docket in the Talley house today...Happy Birthday Shannon!

Brad just left for a 4 hour bike ride with friends (after about 5 hours of sleep)...I know, he's crazy!  But I'm so happy he gets to spend time doing what he loves and with friends!  I, on the other hand, am still lounging around with the kids...doing nothing physically active.  I have a weird pain in my right hip that started on Thursday at the end of a pretty easy 6 mile run.  I'm so extremely paranoid about a major injury that I've decided to take the whole weekend off.  It's really hard to take time off.  No fun...for me!

Meanwhile, the kids and I are headed to the zoo with the Jacoby family for Shannon's birthday!  Shannon and I have been friends since 7th grade.  Her friendship has truly been a gift...from the first few weeks when I desperately needed a reason to feel happy and included (after moving out here abruptly from South Dakota) to the past few years as we have entered a new role in life...mommys!  Shannon you are a beautiful person and perfect life long friend.  Thank you for always being there!!  XOXO!