Visiting Camille in Dupont

Adelyn and Eliza were nearly inseparable during the days we spent in Dupont with Camille. They wore each others' clothes and pajamas, slept in a bunk bed together, and made a hut in Eliza room where they disappeared for most of the day. They made puppets and put on a puppet show, put on make-up and did each others' hair, danced around the living room, and rode bikes together. They love each other so much.

We took these pictures at a park near Camille's house. There are parks every couple blocks in Dupont. This park has running and walking trails going in every direction and awesome spinning toys we've never seen before.

This is American Lake. It is a beautiful lake on the Lewis-McChord Army Base. That mountain is Mount Rainier, which is an active volcano two hours southeast of Dupont. Apparently it has its own weather patterns and is covered in a thick fog half the days of the year. When the skies are clear like this, they say "the mountain is out."

It think this is the first time my kids have swam in a lake. It was warmer than the ocean, but not by much. They ran in a few times, but mostly they just made sand castles on the beach and covered each other in sand.

Our littlest sand monster, Annalise. The kids also loved the huge play ground near the lake. But my niece, Camry, broke her leg going down a slide so we had to cut the day a bit short. Poor little thing.

On the Fourth of July, we enjoyed a French toast breakfast, then went to the parade. This huge army tanker and the army band were my two favorite things in the parade.

Then we went to the Dupont Carnival. All the rides were free and the kids had a blast. They had bounce houses, pony rides, train rides, art booths, and lots more.

This was Annalise's first time riding on a pony. She did a good job, but wanted off early. (Then of course, she regretted it and wanted back on.)

Camry got to ride a pony, even with a broken leg! She is so cute. She reminds me of Shirley Temple. She and Preston loved playing trains and cars together back at the house.

Preston makes a handsome little army dude. That afternoon we had a yummy barbecue, then went and saw an amazing fire-work show on the Army Base that night.

We enjoyed one hot day after another, which I am told is not typical of Washington. But we took advantage of it and sent the kids out to play in the water several times.

Adelyn was in heaven.

This is my newest niece (Camille's fourth child), Sadie Jo. She was only five weeks-old. She was so pleasant and sweet. I love babies and couldn't help wanting one just like her for myself.

Isaac, Camry, Eliza, and Addie just before we left to go home. It was sad for our kids to be leaving their sweet, fun cousins and me to leave my sister. But sadly all vacations must come to an end. We felt so blessed to spend the time we did with our wonderful family and friends. It had been a perfect family vacation.