The RySu DoJo

Bones opens his presents

2010-04-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

Just like Ryley and Josie, Bones makes no bones about wanting presents on his birthday.

Bones in action.

We wrapped doggie treats with his presents to see if that would entice him to open them.

and it worked. He opened his presents very quickly to get to those doggie biscuits.

Guess who's birthday it is?

2010-04-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

While he enjoys the bone Ryley got him as a birthday present,

Josie bakes Bones a birthday cake.

yum, looks delicious.

In proper Boyles tradition, Bones got the chance to lick the bowl.

Josie and mom decorate the cake with "bacon" sprinkles.

Bones watches his cake baking through the oven window.

Bones turns One

2010-04-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

We decided Bones' birthday should also be on April 9th, for easy remembering.

Bones looks ready to eat the cake, but first...

we lit the candle and sang happy birthday.

a slice of his cake started out in his dish, but...

he snatched it out of the bowl, to eat in privacy.

2010-04-12T08:30:00.001-07:00

ryley got three baby teeth pulled this morning

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RYSUDOJO 2.0

2009-09-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

WE NOW HAVE A NEW WEBSITE (since we've completely filled up all of our free space on this blog)!

Please bookmark our new site...

http://rysudojo2.blogspot.com/

Blog update

2009-09-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

Wow...we finally did it, we cannot upload anymore photos to our blog because we have exceeded our maximum photo storage allowance. Since we do not want to delete any of our posts, we are considering a new blog adress...or purchasing more storage space...probably the former.

More later!

street hockey

2009-08-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

After a long trip back to VA from Ocean City, we don't relax...we play street hockey and make cupcakes.

2009-08-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

Licking the beaters the wrong way...

and the right way.

frosting the cupcakes.

Making cupcakes

2009-08-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

On the step stool, Josie is only slightly taller than Nana.

Cracking open the egg.

No shells.

Oil next.

Two lost Ocean City Pics

2009-08-31T18:40:00.000-07:00

2009-08-24T11:54:00.001-07:00

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2009-08-24T11:53:00.001-07:00

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2009-08-24T11:52:00.001-07:00

Old fashioned playground, modern kids. They were climbing inside 'The Griffidor Common Room'

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2009-08-24T11:40:00.001-07:00

Playing 'Farmer Brown'

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2009-08-24T11:03:00.001-07:00

Goofing with the camera phone at the park. Crooked glasses strike again.

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2009-08-24T10:53:00.001-07:00

She was scared Ry was going to get off while she was up in the air. Smart girl.

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2009-08-24T10:51:00.001-07:00

Ry on the see-saw. He was on it just long enough for me to get a picture.

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Hiking!...again!

2009-08-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

As you can see...there were mixed feelings about this hike.

But when we saw the cougar...that was pretty awesome!

The wolf was cool too...but he stole Josie's sandwich...which was a little rude.

Just Kidding!

2009-08-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

We were hiking at Northwest Trek! They have a nice "Nature Trail" that we hiking on for a couple hours, then we visited the animal portion of the park.

First Aid

2009-08-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Josie touched a lot of plants at the start of the trip and her fingers got very itchy.

Sue remembered hearing on a past trip to NW Trek that slug slime is a good remedy for itchy plants...so we tried it out.

It actually worked! Josie's fingers felt better after. Now what's the cure for gross slug slime hand?

Slug City

2009-08-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

We saw a ton of slugs, and we stopped to look at almost all of them. Josie would tickle each one with a leaf and then put the leaf on top of it to give it shade.

This slug had a shell. We named it Gary after Spongebob's pet snail. Meow!

Smaller black slug

Very large brown slug (that's Josie's hand).

After our hike...

2009-08-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed the animals at NW Trek.

Ry read this sign, though by the time I got the camera out he was inspecting his trail mix.

Josie was checking out a bug until Ry and his trail mix showed up.

Even this porcupine wanted to know what was in that trail mix. FYI, it was pretzel sticks, rice chex, combos, sunflower seeds and sixlets.

Two kid photos

2009-08-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

2009-08-21T16:18:00.001-07:00

Not your usual school supplies...

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2009-08-20T08:14:00.001-07:00

Almost all healed after Sunday's bike crash!

2009-08-17T13:31:00.001-07:00

You should see the pavement. She deserves her nap today.

2009-08-16T15:53:00.001-07:00

Outrageous Oreo ice cream at Baskin Robbins.

Ocean City, from four cameras

2009-08-14T15:17:00.001-07:00

Making sure that dolphin in the ocean is actually a dolphin before we go back out to swim.

Ry is feeling the chill.

2009-08-14T15:09:00.001-07:00

Medieval golf

at the Boardwalk...

sand sculpture guy still there making sand sculptures outside the plim plaza hotel.

I'm thinking of having stocks installed at home. I think this may make time-outs more effective.

2009-08-14T15:03:00.001-07:00

Not even the beach can keep us away from a bookstore for long.

well, somebody had to use the spa-tub.

worn out.

2009-08-14T14:56:00.001-07:00

Vacation=lots of soda

more mini golf--dragons this time.

getting buried in the sand.

2009-08-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

Aw Yeah, Candy Kitchen!

Family game night.

Assateague Adventure begins.

Hermit crab Doug found on Assateague Island.

2009-08-14T14:42:00.001-07:00

Ry's turn for a nap

Ry maybe be getting tall, but he's still way shorter than the world's tallest man.

Josie and her souvenir.

2009-08-14T14:35:00.001-07:00

Josie gave Bubba a break from riding bikes because he was getting tired. I'm sure he appreciated that.

At one end of the boardwalk.

And at the other end.

2009-08-14T14:24:00.001-07:00

I can't pass up a game of Dance Dance Revolution at the boardwalk arcades.

The only thunderstorm during our visit to the east coast. I enjoyed it.

Tired girl.

Taking leisure time seriously.

The first (of many) visit to Candy Kitchen.

2009-08-14T14:14:00.001-07:00

Gibson is taking his Uncle job seriously.

Josie is "unleashing" her wedgie.

Official scorekeeper of all Boyles mini-golf functions.

2009-08-13T19:55:00.001-07:00

Josie enjoyed blowing bubbles so much, she said "Life is Good!!!!"

2009-08-13T19:47:00.001-07:00

2009-08-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

The only time all four of us were in the ocean at the same time.

2009-08-13T17:58:00.001-07:00

Ry, on one of his rare ocean adventures.

On Assateague Island.

common sight in our family--Ryley loves reading, and always has his nose stuck in a book.

2009-08-13T17:51:00.001-07:00

2009-08-13T17:46:00.001-07:00

Doug, checking in on the kids between bouts of ocean swimming.

flying kites.

Reading the second Harry Potter book.

2009-08-13T17:33:00.001-07:00

Shells we collected all week long.

Looking at the firemen putting out a car fire from our balcony.

riding the bus in O.C.

2009-08-13T17:25:00.001-07:00

Mornings at the beach house. This picture just about sums them up.

Nach-oooooooooooooos!

2009-08-12T16:01:00.001-07:00

@ the airport--thanks for a great vacation.

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2009-08-12T15:50:00.001-07:00

Josie's new nose ring.

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2009-08-12T11:54:00.001-07:00

Ry, Jo, & ice cream...these are a few of my favorite things...

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2009-08-12T11:22:00.001-07:00

@ Baltimore's inner harbor.

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2009-08-11T13:58:00.001-07:00

Best theatre ever.

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2009-08-11T08:47:00.001-07:00

Justin's got game @ Chuck e Cheese

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2009-08-08T08:07:00.001-07:00

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More OC

2009-08-07T11:23:00.001-07:00

Doug's "artsy" shot of his dad at sunrise.

Interesting way to hold your coffee cup.

Ry, being chased by waves.

Morning, day two, we took the kids for a bike ride on the board walk.

This strange guy was hanging around, biking with us.

6am day one, OC MD

2009-08-07T11:17:00.001-07:00

The first of many sand sculptures that Ryley and Josie made this week.

Tracy soakin' up some sun(rise).

Just chillin' on the beach.

Coffee on the beach--could life get any better than this?

Doug's parents enjoying the sunrise.

Sunrise in Ocean City, MD

2009-08-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

Our first morning in Ocean City, we woke up at 5:30am, in time to see the sun rise. Unfortunately, it was a really overcast day, so it wasn't as spectacular as it could have been, but it was still beautiful.

We're Here!

2009-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

Josie was super excited about her bunk bed in Ocean City.

The huge balcony that belongs to our condo.

Dinner at the Dough Roller.

Fun in elevators.

2009-08-06T16:12:00.001-07:00

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2009-08-02T17:05:00.001-07:00

Taking the tram-rainy night on the boardwalk.

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2009-08-01T12:26:00.001-07:00

Almost at OC

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2009-08-01T12:23:00.001-07:00

Almost at Ocean City

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one last great picture

2009-07-31T21:46:00.001-07:00

Of Ryley and his cousin Justin. Two days of vacation in Virginia down, many more to go. Its been great so far.

dinner with mom

2009-07-31T21:41:00.001-07:00

mom with her daughters

posing for pictures

2009-07-31T21:37:00.001-07:00

me & my sisters

just the girls

just the boys

grandkids & grandparents

ice cream

2009-07-31T21:34:00.001-07:00

this was a "small" ice cream cone.

Roller Skating

2009-07-31T21:21:00.001-07:00

Ry was pretty good, and Josie got better as the day went on. She got pretty good at the end, though she was never graceful.

We had quite the air hockey tournament at the end of the day.

Nighttime in Basye

2009-07-31T21:10:00.001-07:00

Katie & me

bedtime stories

more swimming

2009-07-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

Doug was a monster--he wrestled the kids for an hour and a half straight.

Who knows what Jo is doing here....

One awesome husband/dad/uncle

swimming

2009-07-31T20:52:00.001-07:00

Swimsuit models

2009-07-31T20:45:00.001-07:00

Ry & Justin got along just fine.

Austin.

Josie

Ryley

Justin

more Basye day one

2009-07-31T20:38:00.001-07:00

Justin gives Josie a ride.

Doug thinks over the possibilities.

all of us at lunch.

nice shot of Grandma Linda.

Austin giving Flash a hug.

ski life (sorry about the small pics)

2009-07-31T20:28:00.001-07:00

A fun 10 minute ride up the mountain. Can't beat it at 2 for $5.

It was fun to pass by each other as we started going down while others were still coming up.

I love my kids, and sometimes they love me. :-)

Austin can't get enough of Josie. The feeling is mutual.

2009-07-31T17:34:00.001-07:00

Josie & Justin

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2009-07-31T17:24:00.001-07:00

Katie & mom

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2009-07-31T17:20:00.001-07:00

Mom & Doug

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2009-07-31T16:51:00.001-07:00

Justin & me

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2009-07-31T13:44:00.001-07:00

Austin, w/Puff & poo

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more of our day in Basye

2009-07-30T16:10:00.001-07:00

The four cousins really enjoyed hanging out.

Katie & I doing some quality bonding--dual facebook style.

Mountain tubing, which was superfun. We made lots of trains going down the slides. Josie said it was "off the hook."

Austin & Josie--BFFs

VA trip, day one

2009-07-30T16:01:00.001-07:00

Ry on the flight

Jo on the flight

Austin, Justin, Ryley (and Josie joined later) wrestling.

Katie and me.

Austin luuuuuuuuuvvvsss Josie

2009-07-30T09:18:00.001-07:00

On the ski lift @ Bryce

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2009-07-26T16:16:00.001-07:00

A little excited to be at Dairy Queen

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2009-07-21T15:41:00.001-07:00

No cavities both Ry & Jo

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2009-07-21T15:11:00.001-07:00

Ready for the dentist

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One last picture...

2009-07-18T18:42:00.001-07:00

Or really one very cute first picture to start you off with, since I've posted this trip in the usual reverse order. Here is Josie at the ranger station, before we got back in the car and drove home. What ranger station you ask...well, we went to the Carbon River entrance of Mount Rainier today to celebrate a Fee Free weekend, even though we have a year-pass and wouldn't have paid anyways. Read on, to see the whole adventure in reverse order.

Get back to the car.

2009-07-18T18:35:00.001-07:00

Even knowing how far back we have to walk, the kids are still in a good mood. They were so awesome. It was such a long hike, and they hardly complained at all (though they were bribed the whole time with a visit to "the junk food store" (a.k.a. the gas station candy section) if they didn't whine too much.)

We think this small waterfall across the river from our trail/road was the elusive Chenuis Falls. But, we'll never know for sure.

Beautiful! Wish you were here!

The kids stopped for a breather on the walk back to the car.

The kids liked this sawn-off tree stump in the path. They said if reminded them of Jesus being crucified on the cross. They really payed attention at VBS, I guess.

2009-07-18T18:31:00.001-07:00

The kids spotted this ladybug, just hanging out in the riverbed.

Doug spotted these animal prints in the mud.

Time to head back to the car.

Doug spotted this pile of rocks another hiker left, so...

he made his own.

Exploring

2009-07-18T18:26:00.001-07:00

Me.

Doug unleashed his inner Hulk, so he could move this tree trunk over the river for us to cross and finish the trail. Turns out, his inner Hulk is not nearly as strong as the comic book Hulk.

So, he decided to take a nap on the tree instead.

The kids would have been content to explore this area for hours.

2009-07-18T18:19:00.001-07:00

Sorry, forgot to rotate this one. But now you know, RySuDoJo strikes again.

Jo was excited to be on her "own personal island!"

Doug tests out the temperature of the water to determine if the source of this river really is a glacier. Yep, it was cold.

So, if Mount Rainier really did erupt (though, its not likely to), the biggest danger would not be the eruption, but the lahar, which is a huge mudslide that would happen when the glaciers all melted during the eruption. The lahar would barrel down this river straight towards the town of Orting, which is why they have regular lahar drills. FYI mom, We don't need to worry where we live.

Ryley poking around in the dried up parts of the river bed.

Chenuis Falls....maybe...

2009-07-18T18:13:00.001-07:00

Here we are on the trail to Chenuis Falls

Doug & I liked this one super-tall, spindly looking tree, standing out from the crowd.

And...here's where the trail ends. Ok, maybe park signs and park rangers DO know what they are talking about.

Well, we're here, so we'll be having some fun anyways. Since we can't continue the trail, we just hung out in the Carbon River bed. Doug surveys the area.

We *think* (but we are so not sure) that the snowy peak in the background is the summit of Mount Rainier. We were getting a slightly different view from normal, so it was a bit hard to tell for sure.

We arrive at our final destination

2009-07-18T18:06:00.001-07:00

We are almost at Chenuis Falls trail, the .2 mile trail we were heading toward this whole time.

Here is reason #2 why cars are no longer allowed on this road. I am standing on the road, taking a picture of where the road should be, and you can see where it picks up again. Doug & kids are staring at what is now riverbed, but used to be road. They made a foot path around where the trees had fallen over.

Here's the parking area for the Chenuis Falls trail. As you can see, nobody has parked here recently.

Ah, so the park ranger was right, the trail is closed. Well, maybe the park ranger, and the sign CAN be wrong. We're going to check it out anyways.

Doug & Ry lead the way across the...bridge?

Almost there

2009-07-18T18:00:00.001-07:00

The first trail you come to is for Green Lake, and we opted not to do this one, because it was an additional 6 miles on top of the 3 miles we had just walked (and would have to walk back.) We did find the sign, coupled with the bikes parked in the trees amusing. Bikes were pretty popular on the trail. It would be an easy trail to bike, considering most of it is gravel (former) road.

Of course, the scenery the kids like the most were the man-made parts, like this huge pipe for the mountain streams to flow through.

Here's an example of why the road is closed to cars now. Part of the road close to Ryley's feet is just gone.

Doug & the kids--keepin' up.

Self-portrait.

The riverbed

2009-07-18T17:53:00.001-07:00

The water from Carbon River comes from the Carbon Glacier on Mount Rainier.

Doug & kids looking at the river bed.

The river is a braid river, meaning that it has several streams that weave back and forth joining and splitting. The river carries a lot of sediment with it (there was a lot of sand in various parts of the trail), which can change the path of the braids of the river fairly frequently. Here you can see where the Carbon River is meeting up with a different mountain stream, and the sediments are mixing with the clearer water of the stream.

Doug is such a great dad. He hung back with the kids, while I charged ahead a lot of the time.

About halfway up the trail, all of a sudden there was a pretty sheer rock lining the trail on the side opposite the river.

Moving along

2009-07-18T17:48:00.001-07:00

Ryley pretending he's a zombie going faster than 25 MPH.

Josie, getting the first ride of the day. They really walked almost all of the hike, which, getting there and back ended up being about 7 miles total. Whew.

Time to stop for a lunch break.

Doug & I were fascinated by all the signs that proved that our hiking trail once was a road.

More of the rainforest

2009-07-18T17:42:00.001-07:00

I tried to capture a sense of how tall these trees are, but you just can't get it in a picture. The trees are hugely tall, and all the branches are just dripping moss. Its really an incredible sight. We really do live in a beautiful world.

This tree with a little hidey-hole was a spy of mine.

Ryley tries to count the rings on this tree to see how old it is. All along the old road, you would see trees that had fallen onto the road, and were sawed off to remove the tree from the trail.

I love seeing trees that just tip over, exposing the underside of all their roots. This tree must have been enormous, because I've never seen tree roots this large, and with river rocks still stuck to the underside of the roots.

To give you a sens of how enormous this was, here's Doug & I in front of it.

The start of the big hike, at Carbon River

2009-07-18T17:36:00.001-07:00

There used to be a 5 mile road that went from the Carbon River entrance to some campgrounds. In 2006, the river had a massive flood and washed away parts of the road. Now you can only hike and bike the road to get to the hiking trails and campgrounds.

They really don't want you driving here, and in some later pictures, you'll see why. FYI, Carbon river is on the northern side of Mount Rainier, only took about an hour & 20 minutes to get to, and isn't so far away from Orting, WA.

We played a game of "I spy something cool", and Ryley got the first spy of the hike with this super cool split tree.

He also got the 2nd cool "spy" with this tree stump that looks like a horse head (to us).

Josie got the first "live animal spy" with this banana slug (which was enormous for a slug.)

Trip to Carbon River, Mount Rainier

2009-07-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

Ryley thought this tree formation looked like a fossil of a dinosaur.

Go ahead, make her day.

Cool trail, made almost entirely of bridges.

We started off our Carbon River trip with a super short, easy trail, that explained all about how this part of Mount Rainier was a temperate rainforest.

Where did our car take us today?

2009-07-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

Well, wherever it is...Josie and Puff were happy to get out and stretch their legs.

After 7 years in WA...

2009-07-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

we finally made it to Mount St. Helens! First stop, the Forrest Disvoery Center.

Doug tries to carry Ry off using an Eagle's claw, while giving Josie a boost (note his foot).

Forced March

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End of the road

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Wow...we must've walked far.

Smooching

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Happy hikers

2009-07-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Josie shows off her tounge muscles.