We took our summer vacation this year in sunny Seattle with Grandma and Grandpa Mandel.

The weather was glorious throughout the entire trip so Emma and Henry had a great time in Grandpa’s huge backyard.

They spent the week doing the kinds of things you imagine kids outside during summer ought to do: roll in the grass, run, scream, “Oooh!” and “Ahhh!” at the banana slugs, gather pine cones and the like.

We went to Kirkland for the 4th of July, first playing at the lake (getting thoroughly wet in the process) and later watching the parade. The parade was a first for Emma and Henry and both really got a kick out of it. They loved waving at everyone as they passed by.