Nature, baseball (& more baseball), last day of school, summer camp, & (you guessed it) baseball...

Playing catch-up with these first few photos -- Michael and Clare hiked up to Fragrance Lake a couple weeks ago while I took Xander to an out-of-town tournament.

Michael also tagged along for a class field trip with Xander one afternoon.

Xander and I headed to Wenatchee for a tournament last weekend. First stop: Five Guys.

Travel baseball tournaments = pool time with friends.

We stayed up too late, but it was worth it.

Clare waking up Daddy bright and early the next morning...

...while we prepared for X's first game of the day.

My friend Marci took this one. Love it. "We are fired up!"

More pool time after a long day of baseball.

And then, even though they'd played baseball all day long, they created a game near our barbecue site that involved using flips flops for bat and ball.

The Players' Table the next morning -- enormous quantities of bacon were consumed.

Who's on first? (Waiting to see who's out on an infield-fly-ball ruling.)

"One out!"

Playing first and blowing bubbles...

He makes it look easy.

One of the best things about this summer season has been watching Xander and Olin become fast friends.

Clinching third place in the tourney.

While we were in Wenatchee, Michael and Clare had their own adventures. Here, they're up at Artist's Point on Mount Baker.

And on Father's Day, they went down to the water (and maybe had some Rocket Donuts, too).

Morning before the last day of school!

Last day of 4th and 1st grades.

Off they go...

I snuck into their classrooms for one last visit before the final bell rang.

Clare was so excited to be Helper of the Day on the last day of school.

Xander was so fortunate to have Mr. Z for both third and fourth grade.

Xander celebrated the last day of school by heading home with a friend who lives on the lake and having a sleepover.

Clare lost another tooth!

Dropping Anya and Clare off for their first day of Wild Whatcom camp.

It was a huge hit, and now Clare has all kinds of new outdoor places to take us for exploring.

At Xander's baseball game tonight.

Like mother, like daughter...

Clare and Jenna hanging out under the tent while we watched the game.

Total hams.

Won this one 24-0. Ouch. Tomorrow's games will not be so easy...