By mistake! I got some pictures on the blog! Scroll all the way down!

I finally got to see them!!!

SO, almost a whole week ago...

Last Sunday we went over to San Juan Island to go to church. We had to get up @ about 5:00am, to be dressed & at the ferry landing by 7:00. Church started @ 9:oo, and the kids got to go to primary, & have the welcome song sung to them.(Kennedy & Clayton loved it, CLAIRE not so much) I ended up teaching sunbeams & Bill had an allergy attack! Connor got to enjoy his 1st young mens! There primary had a totla of 7 kids & 4 of them are the Primary Presidents own children. Church was interesting, then after we had a big pot luck lunch.

When we left church we headed out to Lime Kiln Point, where the National Whale Watching Park is. I have been there about 10 times & have never seen anything. (We went on my birthday & I had even said a prayer that "according to my faith" I would see a whale) Needless to say I saw nothing. Well, I thought "maybe...it's Sunday...We went to church....maybe" I asked the people at the lighthouse & they told me that they had passes by about 1 1/2 hours earlier & they might be back by, or thet will go around in their pattern that they do. I sat on the picnic table and stared out into the beautiful ocean! It really was nice just sitting there, then I satrted hearing my kids screaming that someone was in someones space, blah,blah! & we saw a bunch of boats stopped and in a semi circle.(a sure sign of whales!) but I didn't have any binoculars, & they were too far away. Everyone would say"Oh! I saw one! Did you see it?...." I don't know if anyone really did, so we took off. I was almost in tears(I was, but thanks to sunglasses, nobody saw me) We started leaving & out of our window we saw the boats again, & people standing on the side of the road. I told Bill to stop the car, I was getting out & I didn't care when he came back to get me!(the road is so narrow & there isn't anywhere to pull over) So I got out & Bill took off! I saw them! They were hard to see but I did see them! Then the boats started to move & I went to find Bill. Soon Bill came back & said"Kennedy saw them first! Then we all saw them up close! Right off the side of the side of the road!" We took off & they had moved on. again we went further dow the road & we saw them again! This time closer & it was AMAZING!!! It really was unbelivable! I didnt have my camera, but Bill took some pictures when I was off by myself! It sound silly, but it was a dream come true for me!
Connor finished his day camp, and we are starting to start thinking about comming home. We are leaving here on Aug 9 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BECKY!!!) & we are excited & sad to come home!

SAILING!!!!

This morning we woke up early, packed our lunch & met Grandpa down @ Westsound Marina. Today is the day we got to go sailing! Grandpa's boat is a 32' sailboat & it is beautiful!!! It is old but he & a buddy have done a lot of work on it, and the kids loved that you could go down underneath an lay down, eat @ a table & even go to the bathroom.

Our goal today was to catch crabs! We set out the crab pot with rotton fish, and set the cage down and went off sailing all around Westsound! It is amazing how powerful wind is! & how graceful a sailboat can be, it is also very exciting when you have to change the sails &everyone has to be involved! I could be out there all day!

About 1 1/2 hours later we returned & pulled up our crab cage! There were about 8 crabs! We had to measure them & make sure they were not too small & not female. ( I have no idea how to tell that!) We ended up with 2 crabs. & reset the pots & now we are headed back to see what we can get this time! I hope we like crab, because I think that is what we are having for dinner! Gotta run!

How long has it been?

So, I DON't remember how long it has been, but i think it has been a while! My mom & dad decided to make a rip out here! & we were all so excited to see them! I thing we have been here so long, it felt kind of weird to be the tour guide & not be " on tour".  We spent a lot of time at the beach, & one night Kennedy went to Anacortis, to spend the night with Grandma & Grandpa. That meant ferry rides & no competition with siblings! Mom & dads stay went too fast, & we are happy they came! 

   Bill took me to Victoria, Canada for my birthday! It was so beautiful! We took a 2 1/2 hr boat ride to get there & they were celebrating 150 years of "Beautiful British Columbia" so, there was a lot going on. Tons of street vendors, and fancy shops. It had been a long time for me to see a store like McDonalds, or Starbucks. We went to Buchard Gardens & saw the fireworks show! The gardens were amazing. We didn't plan enough time there, but we had a good time! The kids would have hated it!  A lady took our picture, and she dropped my camera. Now I am trying to figure out what I am going to do, I need a camera.... The kids had a great time with Grandpa! He took them swimming @ a house that he does his island watch. They have a wonderful house & a great pool & hot tub! They had picnics & got ice cream. I don't think they missed us too bad!

 We signed up Connor for camp Orcaila (a 2 week day camp) It is really cool & he is having a great time. He & Kennedy really miss their friends! I do too! We wish you could all come up here!

 While we were in Canada, Kennedy slept over @ a "cousins" house, she had a fun time,but she got bitten by a Hobo, or Brown Recluse Spider! we noticed a blister on her foot and she said it hurt. She was also not feeling well. We had a magazine with symptoms of spider bites & we knew right away that was what it was. She told the dad @ the sleepover that something had hurt her & he put on a band aid & sent her on her way. Bill gave her a blessing & we took her to the doctor the next day. The Doctor said it was a spider bite & of the 50 patients she has seen for spider bites,,, she was the first! She told us to watch it & come back if it was getting bigger, or changed color. It is getting smaller every day & I think it was a great experience for Kennedy to get a blessing, and see that we are not in this life all by ourselves. & the Lord will help us even with a silly spider bite! (that could have been much worse!)

  I am still trying to figure out the picture thing. but as my mom said" Pictures don't do justice!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!!!

Today is Connors birthday@ we started the day off with a little bit of rain & a 4th of July parade, on the 5th! This was a much more traditional parade, we even sang the National anthem,& we said the Pledge! (even the part "under God") They also had a little bit of candy! Grandpa came & we had a great time.

Bill is hanging out @ the Funhouse with the kids & we are meeting later for a birthday dinner for Connor later! Complete with Costco cheesecake! (Connors favorite!)

Yesterday we celebrated the 4th by going up to Mountain Lake, in Moran state park, and went out in the kyak( I know it is spelled wrong), the Grandpa built! The kids all loved it & I did too! I really need to learn how to get pictures on here! Tha lake was beautiful green/blue! & I think Claire loved the boat the most! I was surprised! She had no fear about tipping over & was so sad when we would bring her back into the dock! We had a rope tied onto it so we could bring the kids back!

After the lake & wonderful picnic we went home to rest, then off to fireworks @ Indian Island! We sat on the grass of Eastsound Park, and they launch the fireworks off of a small island! There were sailboats all around and a band playing! It was really cool! I could really get the hand of living here! Bill... not so much.

He can't stand all the hippies & "leftists" Oh well!

We have been here 2 weeks, and time is going too fast! We hope everyone is doing well & would love to hear from you! I just found out that my mom & dad are on there way up here! It will be great to see them!

Happy 4th of July (late) to everyone!!!

I have just a second @ the library. We went to church on Sunday, here @ the library & there were 13 people. including kids! It was interesting! especially(?) when it was time to sing the hymns. They broadcast church from another island & we listen to it on the phone. I need to work on my confidence as singer!!!!

The kids have had a great time @ the "Funhouse" where they can get online, make crafts, do science projects, and a ton of ohter things! in fact I have to go get Con & Ken right now!

I will find more time with a computer soon! We miss everyone, but are having a wonderful!!!! time!