Meet the newest Nelson: Jazlyn Leilani Nelson, born just this a.m. at 5:41 PST. 7 lbs 4oz… perfect, healthy and happy in every regard! Enjoy some pics! Countless more — with tales — to follow!

Shame on us! When we booked our tickets for Oahu for a bit of sun, sand and warmth in the middle of typical cold, wet Pacific NW winter, we just assumed it’d be 7 days of bluebird skies, 80F-temps, long, lazy paddles with Hayden spotting sea turtles and going through bottle after bottle of sunscreen. [...]

This summer has marked Hayden’s entry into the world of racing, from riding shotgun on Mama’s SUP board around Lake Padden, to sharing the bow with her on the Wednesday night races on Lake Whatcom. And now he’s added his first SoundRower’s blue ribbon to his wall of fame. Yesterday, paddling our trusty tandem Double [...]

I didn’t know it at the time, but, back in the early 70′s my destiny as a paddler was sealed with summers on Lake Tahoe paddling the Wee - 4. Today, Hayden was all smiles as he took his maiden voyage in the historic Christensen family canoe. Although, I am pretty sure his fate as a paddler [...]

It is never too early to start training for the Yukon River Quest 2024!!! Keep Charging! Heather, Brandon and Hayden

Before I have even opened my eyes most mornings, Hayden climbs on top of me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed demanding adventure. “I hike in the woods!” “Woodpecker – peck peck!” “Deer poop!” (that’s my little tracker – loves searching for deer poop!) And, the ones that warm my heart, “I paddle Double Joy?” or “I paddle [...]

Today, under a big blue sky, warm sun and cool breeze we celebrated the coming of the first day of spring with a family paddle and picnic on Lake Padden in Bellingham. Hayden did most of the paddling, while I coached him on his wing paddle technique. A picture of Brandon, our motor in the [...]

In Bellingham, if you find yourself wearing a goofy, green costume while running elbow-to-elbow in a half-mile-long river of cheering runners, or jumping into arctic-cold Lake Padden in nothing but your swimsuit in mid-winter while surrounded by 100′s of other ridiculously enthusiastic people doing the exact same thing — chances are, City of Bellingham Parks [...]

A year and a half ago, when we were shopping for our current Sudden Valley home, we visited house after house. Then, we found ‘THE ONE’. The first time I sat on the perfectly staged couch in the living and looked out into the 100′s of acres of protected forest across the street that backs [...]

According to our great friends, the Burnett’s, we have GOT to take Hayden to Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park. Camping right on a long sandy beach in the middle of one of the world’s most beautiful natural playgrounds sounded good to me! So, I did a little reading. The Burnett girls on a [...]