With the exception of his Mama, Max loves dogs more than anything in the world. He likes books on doggies. He reads a counting book with 50 doggies on facing pages. These facing pages stick together because he finds it necessary to drool-kiss all 50. He picked out a stuffed doggie friend at the toy store and he and Will named it Annie (Hela is Will's doggie, for she has lighter hair). When Max sees a dog he points and says "daaggeeee." When you ask him "what does a doggie say?" he replies "ew ew ew." We are having his hearing checked.

This past weekend, on Saturday we went for a local hike in the Washington Park Arboretum. Will says he likes hiking. Max likes to ride in the backpack. This hike had a lot of variety: ducks, bridges, fishermen, walking sticks, platforms, crazy docks, islands, mazes, and snack time next to the lillypads. Dad didn't take pictures of any of that, but he did get a shot of Will in front of some freeway overpasses. These overpasses are cool because the concrete columns that support them rise right up out of the water. Will likes these columns because they are made out of the same material as the walls in his backyard. Will also appreciates the strange merger of the man made and the natural that this freeway-in-a-lagoon exhibits. On Sunday we went to the Ballard Locks. Max saw the salmon running for the first time. He drooled.

Dad hiked Mt Adams with 6 friends. The goal was to summit the 12,200 foot mountain, and all was going well until 5 inches of snow fell overnight as we camped at 9,200 feet. The next day was a white-out and we were unable to go the last leg and reach the summit. It was a great experience and the scenery was beautiful. Maybe next year we will try again.

In mid-August we camped at Deception Pass north of Seattle. Will and Max and their friend Leza build rivers and buildings in the sand, and Will explored under some logs and driftwood along the beaches of the Strait of Jaun de Fuca. In addition, Will and Max goofed off. The last of the 4 photos is Will's favorite because, he says, "Max is making a funny face and his mouth is a circle while i suck on his hair."

Will likes to wear pajamas on his head.

Max and Will like to create artistic masterpieces in tandem as well as solo.

Max got his hair cut last week. He used to have curls and get food clots in his hair, now not so much. He looks older, but we aren't sure he looks cuter.