Height check

She claims she was wincing because he was pushing her down. They look so much alike here!

Community Builder

My boss asked if my sons name is Mason. He is on a board with a guy who volunteers at Clark. He knows Mason and says he's the "coolest kid he's ever met." My boss asked if I knew that Mason petitioned the principal. The way he heard it was that Mason felt like the school could get to know more kids if they could sit at lunch at whatever table they wanted instead of just with their class. He got teacher and kids signatures and presented it as a community building gesture of good will. This guy loves Mason and raved about him to my boss.

I am fairly certain that it is not coincidental that Mason would get to sit next to Wil at lunch. 

Friends birthday party

Tonight Mason took five of his friends to Red Robin and then to Yummy Yogurt. They loaded up with french fries, caffeine and sugar, then sent them to the park to run it off. They played tag and chased the birthday boy for an impromptu round of spanks before we returned them home on this Sunday evening.

Ding and Dong

Arturo and Mason

Bolam's Family Reunion!

This is the fourth annual family reunion that we have every five years. (Last weekend in August) We started out having it in Montana and then have picked different places the last couple of reunions. This year it was supposed to be in Winthrop. The two older kids had soccer tournaments so we had to split up. Julie took our soccer players and Ermias and I were going to head to the reunion. Due to the terrible fires in Eastern Washington our location had to change. Cousin Rick and Darlene hosted and we all had such a great time. Because it was close the rest of the family could join us after the soccer tournament ended early. We as a family were able to go on Sunday. Most of the pictures were taken on Saturday so you do not see all of us together. Overall it was a great time! 

Nail trimmings by sister

Scoot to town

He's hooked

Mason was out the door at 7:30 this morning, pole in hand. He caught 2 rock fish and one ling cod before I came to bring him home at 2. He hadn't had anything to eat or drink, and wasn't ready to come home. Catch and release today!

Last crab weekend

Sarah came up this weekend and we had an awesome weekend in Port Townsend. Even with a dire lack of planning we had a nice turnout to go on our first full-fledged weekend of crabbing. Our first pull we landed 14 keepers in one pot, and netted 42 Dungeness over the three days. We ate crab and gave a lot away. It was the perfect way to end the season. 

 

Sunset

First fish

Mason went with just his pole to the point and came back with this! He made new friends too with the people in the house at the point. They bagged and iced his fish and sent me a nice note about what a great kid he was.  His grandpa would be so proud!

Beckett Point Crab!

We dropped our first crab pot and got our first haul. Three crabs in two days. We have to get a better system for the execution because Cindy's hatchet is too small to make it quick and clean. Enough about that. We steamed it in salt water for 15 minutes, then set it in cold water, rinsed it off, then gave it another cold salt water bath until it was cool. Delicious.

The SS Collioure

We were finally able to operate our new little boat on our own. Mike put a stronger set of wheels on it and we hauled it to the beach. We have it out all weekend!

Cobbler with love

The boys picked blackberries tonight then sent us upstairs while they concocted a surprise for us. Closing our eyes, Cindy and I came downstairs to a loving card that thanks us for "letting me see the earth," and a homemade blackberry cobbler displayed on a bed of Cracker Jacks, with two sprigs of dill.