echo lake

happy july!

on a sticky, summer day, we ventured over to palmer to walk around echo lake.  

sometimes the idea is better than the outing.

we only walked for 20 minutes before being succumbed by mosquitos.  at first, it helped to walk a little faster.  that meant dyl riding on my hip.  i knew we wouldn't last another minute when i looked down at her, 2 mosquitos on her forehead and 3 more going to town on her arm. jack was already scratching at 2 on the back of his neck.  so, i did what any mama bear would do, and i grabbed my two cubs into my arms and took off in a mild (pathetic) sprint.

we will have to take another journey over that way in the fall.  the views were gorgeous, even with the cloud cover.  ben has told me the lake is bright blue, so i'm eager to visit echo lake another time.

 

forrest gump, comes to mind...

siblings.  love.  the bond they're creating is worth more than their current prized possessions:  yogurt-covered raisins, any truck or excavator, even winnie the pooh!  (and, that's saying a lot when it comes to 2 and 4.5 year olds.)  they've been fighting like mad these days, but oh, when they're lovey?  it's grand.  i love listening to their conversations.  jb is so eager to inform dylan, and she so trusting and agreeable.  duey, you want dis big rock right here?  fro dis one, duey!  YEP, ok, DACK!    

new favorite of my brood.

how beautiful is the sitka rose?!  i feel so special having the yard flocked with these beauties.  their fragrance is delicate, but often times, i can smell them even over the freshly cut grass.

coffee!  perkup makes the best coffee in ak.  hands down.  dare i say it better than a certain caribou coffee so far away from here???  it IS.  because it's consistently delicious.  never burnt or lacking in flavor.  and, it doesn't matter what barista is working, you'll get a tasty one every time.  so there - my ode to perkup.    

 the sunshine(s) of my life!

because echo lake turned out to be a bust, we headed back over to wasilla lake.  this was a place i frequented during jack's first summer.  he was, like, 7-8 months when we first started going.  i'd lay out a large quilt, throw out some teether toys and stackable cups, and that wee one would play while i caught some much needed vitamin d.  

but, then he started crawling.  eventually, walking.  and, before i knew it, i was getting in a workout that i didn't sign up for.  so, we stopped going to the lake.  the following summer was just as torturous.  it only took 1 visit before i realized that i didn't want to be fishing out my tiny tot from the ice cold lake.  and then, well, it was easy to not go for so long because it just wasn't fun.  but yay!  another enjoyable place to visit now.

they dipped their toes in the lake, threw some rocks - both pebbles and large ones that go PLOOP! when they hit the surface.  getting more comfortable, they both waded out further and started splashing.  before i knew it, dylan was nearly soaked head to toe.  but, i can still hear them giggling.  next time, we'll bring swimsuits.

 future-organized-mama