Yaki-Blaa

 That title sounds pretty negative, doesn't it?  I actually don't think Yakima is that bad, it's just that we did some reminiscing this week and I got to missing some of the other places we have lived.  A day or two ago the boys and I were sitting on a blanket in the front yard eating grapes and I thought, man I would love to be doing this on a beach.  Preferably, at Sandbridge while visiting my parents in VA.  I'm really bummed we can't go out there this summer, like we have every summer for the past 8 years!

Another day that had me missing the East/South/or anywhere with greenery was when we went on a hike to a supposed waterfall and pretty much ate hot dust the whole way.  I guess it has been a dry year because the waterfall was actually a water-trickle. I think the day was doomed from the start because we had to make a few stops before driving out to the hike, and then got lost for about 45 minutes, and then ended up starting at the hottest part of the day during 2 of our kids nap time.  Luke pretty much looked like this during the entire hike, latched onto the side of the baby carrier, blue eyes completely zoned. 

There is a highlight to this outing, however.  Actually two.  To start the hike you have to cross a fast moving river and the only way to cross it is on a creaky wooden bridge.  (Don't worry mom, the bridge had been fortified by metal poles and rope).  That was really cool.  The second highlight was that one part of the hike also went right next to railway tracks.  Upon seeing the tracks, Tate was adamant about seeing a train and asked about every 45 seconds during the hike when we were going to see a train.  Well, we hiked out and back and never heard a train.  By the time we got back to the van, Tate was screaming and crying because he wasn't able to see the train (he was one of the two who missed a nap).  We were all buckled in the van, ready to pull out when we heard the train whistle.  Wanting to end this adventure on a positive note, Ryan and the boys unbuckled as fast as they could and ran the first part of the hike to the train tracks.  They made it in time to watch the entire train go by, right next to the tracks.  Tate and Grant loved it and we were able to drive home with slightly less grumpy boys.