Pacific Northwest Trip 2026- part 2

It is tradition when we are in Washington to visit Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Sometimes it's just a few of us. Sometimes it's the whole family.

This year, Grandma, Grandpa, all my kids, and I headed there. We enjoyed the wooded area.

Nichole got some awesome pictures. We left the birding camera with Jeremy so he could get some pictures in California.

I got some juggling pictures and videos.

My in-laws let us continue on to the looooong boardwalk without them. We saw some snakes along the way.

When we got to the boardwalk, Lucky wasn't feeling the best so he and I headed back to the parking lot while Nichole, Jr., Jr. Jr., and Jet continued on to the end and back.

Nichole was happy to inform me that the bald eagle from last time we made the trip was hanging out at its usual spot. 

When Lucky and I got back to the van and explained the situation to my in-laws, we got him some food and he took a nap while I started a book I needed to read for another online book club.

Lucky felt better after his nap.

Nichole took so many good pictures of so many things. I really had to limit what to put on this post. 

When she and the other boys got back, we ate lunch, chilled for a while, then headed out. Jet fell asleep on the short drive.

After Nisqually, we went to visit more in-laws: Jeremy's brother, sister-in-law, with their kids. Jeremy's sister came with one of her kids that day as well. More family time!

Jeremy's brother's family has ducks and a couple of geese. Jet had fun feeding the ducks last time we visited. This time, he did so again (and helped collect eggs) and this time he got to feed the geese. 

One of the geese is very protective of the other goose and will chase away ducks. It, however, got so comfortable with Jet that at one point, Jet was sitting on a blanket and the goose waddled up to him while making contented noises then sat right next to Jet so Jet could pet him.

So cute.

I had a good time chatting with family.   

Nature and family. I love them.

We Made It to the End of September

September 29 was Happy Goose Day. Dad made us ham dinner (that would make a goose happy) so I could take a long nap. My hero.

September 30 was National Mud Pack Day. We celebrated it observed the next day with Dirt flavored Oreos. Get it? Mud? Dirt? Not like Bertie Bott's dirt flavored jelly beans. Dessert named Dirt with gummy worm bits on top.

My opinion: They weren't spectacular. They tasted like chocolate Oreos.

Birding Weekend

So much catching up to do. Wish me luck.

 

Before Jeremy and I went on our "date" on Saturday the 17th, the kids and I went along a portion of the Provo River Trail to look for birds. 

I think the highlight was the rooster who was hanging out by the bank of the river overseeing the ducks swimming around. That and the cows that were mooing. They got Jet mooing, too.

Sunday, we all went for a drive to look at birds. We went to several spots. The highlight: the domestic geese with their cute little fuzzy goslings. So adorable. The kids all wanted to take pictures with the camera (except Jet). Their favorites:

Nichole

Jr. Jr.

 Lucky

 

Jr. told me to pick my favorite of his pictures. I love this one.

 

While we were in the van, we snacked on Animal Crackers. Why? Because April 18 was National Animal Crackers Day, of course. It was also Velociraptor Awareness Day so while the kids were watching the goslings, I was watching a cormorant swimming around. I've often thought cormorants look like dinosaurs. 

Here's a picture from 2016 since I can't find a picture on my blog. Dinosaur, right?

 

That evening the kids made dinner. Nichole made jalapeno pasta. Jr. made baguettes for everyone. Jr. Jr. made chocolate covered bananas. Lucky provided broccoli and blueberries (but not together).

Monday, Jet and I went for a walk in the same area along the Provo River Trail again. This time we had fun listening to the little goats bleat. Jet was baaing back at them. That was the highlight for me. I enjoyed hanging out with my little guy on Hanging Out Day, April 19.

So that was our birding weekend.

There's so much more to catch up on but you know... May is about trying to survive the last month of school and other activities so bear with me.

Wild Goose Chase

January 5 is National Bird Day.  Jeremy and I went out on a wild goose chase.  We went to find a greater white fronted-goose.  We went to where it was reportedly seen.  We didn't see it there.  Then we went to a nearby place where it was possible it could be.  We didn't see it there.  Then we tried one more place.  We didn't see it there, either.  So our wild goose chase was a wild goose chase.

We did see Canada geese, though.  They are wild.  So we did see wild geese.
We also saw chickadees and scrub jays and sparrows.  Oh my.

Then tonight we got together with Jeremy's sister and her oldest daughter and went to eat at the Brick Oven.  Ah, family time. That was nice.

Happy Goose Day 2014

For Family Home Evening, we celebrated Happy Goose Day, September 29th.  We went to a park and one of our activities was playing "Duck Duck Goose."

It was fun and Lucky's first experience with the game.  He got a kick out of it.  Everyone was a happy goose.