Sam and Max's big summer update

Welp, I fell off the bandwagon and stopped posting for a while, but activity certainly didn't stop for Sam and Max. They've been on lots of trips and have done lots of things. Here's big catch-up post covering the whole summer! I like to start with a family photo first, since the first photo from the post sets the preview image:

Mom, Dad, Sam and Max at Lake Chelan

Early in the summer I happened to have the boys for a Tuesday afternoon (Amanda was working and the nanny called in sick), so I decided to take them to the Space Needle. It was the first time I'd been there in about a decade, and the first (and so far, only) time Sam and Max have actually been up there. Since it was early in the season and an off day, there were no lines, and we had a nice time.

Max, Dad and Sam on top of the Space Needle

In early June we went on a big family trip to Whidbey Island, similar to a trip we did in 2023. We wound up doing a lot of the same things; playing at the beach, and going for a walk at Meerkerk Gardens, but it was still a nice time. This little getaway was also a celebration for Amanda and Uncle Nick's birthdays.

The view on Whidbey Island from our AirBNB rental

Sam leads the way at Meerkerk Gardens

Sam, Cousin Levi, and Max sitting with Grandma

Navigator Sam looking cool with his red glasses

Side anecdote: thankfully these kid sunglasses come in big packs, because we've lost approximately ten pairs over the summer.

Sam, Max, Cousin Levi, Grandma and Baba

(behind) Mom, Dad, Baba, Uncle Nick
(front) Max, Sam, Grandma, Aunt Sarah, Cousin Levi, Charlie

Max and Sam digging and throwing sand at the beach

Cousin Levi, Sam and Max reading with Baba

Similar to last year, we made our annual pilgrimage to Sequim out on the Olympic Peninsula to visit our friends Marta and Steve, and their two boys, Kenny and Joey.

Mom, Sam and Max enjoy the ferry ride

Max digs for popcorn with Dad

Max looking over the fence

Sam is excited to feed the cows again, just like last year

Max feeding the cows

Sam really liked dropping hay on the cows' heads

Mom, Dad, Sam and Max

Max really enjoys ice-cream (Sam doesn't like it nearly as much)

Max, Kenny and Sam pretend to be bears

Max and Sam in a play train at the Olympic Game Farm

Max petting a goat while Sam watches

Max and Sam petting a smaller goat

And last but not least, we had an awesome time at Lake Chelan this year.

Sam and Max playing at a lakeside park

Baba, Sam and Max wrestling

Mom on our annual hike (sans kids) at Lake Chelan

Dad celebrating a moment of freedom

Bambi

Mom and Dad sneak off for our 7th anniversary dinner (also sans kids!)

The view from the winery at our anniversary dinner

Max flying through the air!

Sam and Max ready for dessert, even though we haven't even had dinner yet

Ice cream!

Baba, Grandma, Sam and Max

Phew, ok those are all the photos for now. I'll try not to fall so far behind in posting again, but, y'know life's pretty busy with these guys. Sam and Max had a great summer, and we hope you all did, too! Cheers.