Birch Bay 2011 - Lyra and Grandpa Jerry

Lyra's favorite time to visit Birch Bay is when her Grandpa Jerry (technically her great-grandfather) is in residence. For so many reasons!

"As god is my witness, I'll never eat Costco salmon again!" said Lyra after her first taste of grilled Birch Bay salmon. You won't have to, kid -- Grandpa Jerry goes fishing off Vancouver Island every summer with Nana, Uncle Doug, and Tim Adderson and brings home enough salmon that it's on the menu several times a week at Birch Bay. Barbecued salmon, smoked salmon, salmon salad, salmon cakes: no matter how you slice, it's still salmon, and it's all a-okay by Baby Lyra, a salmon superfan from way back. Ever the gracious baby (need we remind you she was born a Southern belle?), she always remembers to thank her Grandpa for the delicious fish.

Lyra chats with Grandpa Jerry about the salmon situation this year. "A hundred pounds of salmon on your first trip? Fan-tastic! But what will the rest of the family eat?"

Grandpa's house has many toys, but it is not always easy to find them. Good thing Lyra knows where to look!

Do you see the bronze-colored trunk behind Lyra? That's Grandpa's secret weapon, filled with toys old and new.

        Lyra strikes a Jordanesque pose after putting together some Tinkertoy axles. To celebrate, she calls for a song. Pattycake, anyone?

Lyra likes sitting on Grandpa's lap.

...especially when reading her favorite book, filled with pictures of snakes and other friendly reptiles.

"What does a snake say?" asks Grandpa. "Sssssssssssssss!" answers the ever-helpful Baby Lyra.

Lyra has other thoughts in her mind, and Grandpa wants to know what they are.

"What else is Grandpa hiding in this house?" Lyra wonders. In response, Grandpa gives her a secret smile.

"Grandpa, I see something over there!" Nice try, Baby Lyra. Grandpa wasn't born yesterday.

"I guess I need to come back tomorrow," sighs Lyra. Does she have a plan? Lyra always has a plan!