On Aug 19, Nancy flew out for a visit/cruise. We started with the requesit tour of the Ballard Locks.

We saw the smaller lock in operation. The large salmon filled the fish ladder and we got a great view. Stay tuned for an update from our Alaska Cruise aboard the Norwegian Jewel.

If you have not been following the 1077 pictures on Smugmug, here are the boys.

Click each thumbnail for a larger picture.

This morning I dropped the boys off. They catch a luxury bus in Shoreline and get a ride to the ferry and Orcas Island.

This was the only smile. the rest of the time they barely acknowledged their surroundings. Watch Smugmug for photo updates!

Smugmug is live. Here are the boys in their camp groups. Étienne is in the front row far left in the Hoh Cabin photo, and Carlton is front row second from left in San Juan Cabin. We are tracking their shirts and watch everyday for new/clean shirts.

Veronica rehearsed the past two weeks for the roll of Sir John Falstaff in William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. This is her second class with the Taproot Theater. The staff specifically asked her to play Falstaff. Not her first choice, she jumped in with both feet and embraced the large greasy womanizer character. This production set the town of Windsor in Las Vegas...

On the warm stage, she complained of wearing the large heavy costume. My 14 year old daughter with five o'clock shadow proved quite the shock. She learned the lines early on and concentrated on the intonation and staging.

Be sure to ask Veronica about the adventures of hiding in a laundry basket! Great show Veronica, thank you.

Here is her opening scene:

Last night Kazuya helped cook dinner. We threw together a pie crust and harvested rhubarb from the back yard.

Kazuya helped pick the rhubarb and make the pie. With his help, this was one of the best rhubarb pies we ever made. Thank you Kazuya.

While the pie baked, we built a shed. The pieces were labeled and all we had to do was get them together in the proper order. Without instructions, the boys did a great job. Thank you Kazuya

Later Saturday we (Kazuya) grilled ribeye and tenderloin steaks. Veronica, my cross country runner, fell in love with grilled tenderloin with clarified butter at Ruth's Chris Steak house. Something about that tender beef smothered in butter hits the right spot. We also served beautiful tomatoes with blue cheese to round out the meal. Thank you Kazuya

Today Kazuya helped cook for 80 at a homeless shelter. We chopped fruit salad, cooked sloppy joes, and served the residents. This is Veronica, Nich, and Kazuya serving. Thank you Kazuya.