Wild Things

It's bear and cougar season in the Okanagan and I've been a little wary when we've been out tromping through the woods (note: usually I'm a little skeptical of the danger of these things but my friend was over a couple of weeks ago when her husband called to tell her that there was a bear walking down the street. She then nicely asked him to please meet their son at the school bus. Last year, a cougar had to be "dispatched" not far from our house. This year, I've decided to take the sightings more seriously).  Luckily, I have in my possession the best bear scare out there: she's blond, she talks non-stop, and she lacks volume control. Well, if I thought one small girl was good to get the critters out of our way... triple that threat and there won't be a wild animal for miles around. Thankfully, the cuteness factor of cousins is more than the sum of its parts and we got to enjoy three giggling girls this weekend -- I loved it. The Seattlites crossed the border and came to visit us and the weather gods served up one of the nicest days we've seen in the past couple of weeks. It was a great way to kick off our visiting season out here and Molly was absolutely ready to pounce on Eric, Mary, Katy, and Emmy as soon as they pulled into the driveway. Little kids are so funny because their sense of time is a little wacky (everything in our house happened "last night") and they live for the moment; these girls just fall into rhythm with one another as soon as they are together. It was a great visit, too short as always, but we love having people come out!

Jack was happy to have another man around the house... and then he realized that Uncle Eric is outnumbered three to one and was in awe.

Monkey see, monkey do... the little monkeys/animal repellents all ganged up on moms and dads to do the work of walking for them. 

Jack just chilled out in the courtesy shuttle. 

Cousins prove, once again, to be so super fun. But, could Molly's shorts ride any higher and look any more uncomfortable? Yikes. 

Thanks for the pictures, guys! And thanks for the iPad preview... so jealous.