We finally got to see some good views of Mt. Rainier our last day there. We drove up to Sunrise, the highest place you can drive to in Mt. Rainier park, to see it. It was strange that the mountain that we look at so often on clear days from our back porch turned out to be so difficult to see up close. Between the mountains that are around it (which we never imagined were there from what we've seen from our place and from Seattle), and the clouds consistently socking it in, we weren't sure we'd see it at all. It's pretty formidible up close.

 
Not a bad photo of Mt. Rainier that Andy took from the road.

Border Days 2009

Last year we attended our first Border Days in Grangeville, Idaho with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Larry. This year we decided to continue the tradition, and we had SUCH a good time. We attended two parades, ate scones (which are really pippens) and strawberry shortcake, attended the cowboy breakfast, and of course participated in the egg toss. We also got some good quality time in with Auntie K and Uncle Larry.

 
On the way to Grangeville we stopped at a really cool park in Kennewick, WA. It had all kinds of antique tractors and farm implements, AND, it was in a beautiful location. The perfect place for a picnic!

 
Farmer Carolyn.

 
Farmer Abbie.

 
The girls meet a ferret.

 
Abbie cleaning up at the toy scramble.

 
Abbie enjoying a scone.

 
Abbie loved waving at everyone in the parade.

 

 
So loud!

 

 
My cowgirls and their loot after the first parade we attended (which was actually the 2nd of 3).

 
Sherlock acted as though he merely tolerated the girls... But I secretly think he enjoyed their company.... mostly.

 
Carolyn and Uncle Larry on the way to the cowboy breakfast.

 

 
The girls and I after our egg toss defeat. For the record, tossing an egg under your leg while wearing a skirt and policing two children with a raw egg of their own is not easy. And I DID it. Dear Husband SHOULD have received it, don't you think? ;) (He blames me... doesn't seem fair.)

 
Hundreds of eggs lofted into mid-air at once. Really. Click on this one and blow it up full size.

 
Ewww! Egg! Touch it!

 
Auntie K, Me, Uncle Larry, and Abber-doo.

 
The end of the parade is all antique tractors. Andy was in heaven.

 
The fire department did their part to make sure no one in the parade over-heated.