This summer was Haylee's turn to go to Grandma and Grandpa's for a week in Boise all by herself! She got to fly all alone and everything. We missed her morning flight though (totally my fault) and got to spend the day in Seattle playing because of it.....oops! ;) Rarely do I get to spend one on one time with her though especially for that long so it was actually a very fun day (after the devastation wore off).

So we played dress up at the mall.


Had a fun lunch at the Rainforest Cafe.


Took silly pctures.

Then my big girl boarded her plane to Boise. She sat next to another girl traveling by herself and did wonderfully! :) Can't beat a week of spoiling at Grandma's house, she had a ball!

We stayed back and had our own fun, summer showed up for about a day.

Lake Samish A new spot for us, we hadn't been to this lake yet.

No fear!
Her either.





Another new spot for us and it's so worth the trip you can see all the islands and our whole area from up here. It's a popular hang gliding and horse back riding spot.





Bald eagle




Not sure I could just glide off the edge but I bet it's a great ride.

Summer activities

Notice we look like we're dressed for winter but it is really July and we are still in full winter gear most of the time.....yes it's depressing...yes I am over it! However the show (summer) must go on because with kids out of school it's not really an option to just sit around and wait for the weather to warm up. We had some free bus passes we put to good use and headed to downtown Bellingham to hit up the library and the park. I love that this is so exciting for them still and announcing that the library of all places is were we are going you'd a thought I said we were going to Chuck E Cheese.



Had to get their last reads in before turning them in.

So fun to watch Haylee now reading chapter books that she can get into and share what is happening, but also reading as a family and learning together has been fun this summer too. We started a book called Story Of The World and we are really enjoying it. Grace has a few favorite's but goes right back to her Harry Potter, on #4 now and still loving it! Never did I think she would still be going after how stinkin long they get but gotta love her will to finish. (She also loves TV and knows when she finishes the books she gets to see the movies.) ;) What's your summr reading list?

Our wonderful church secretary Gail invited us over for a bbq and fishing on her pond for the kids. They had it stocked for a derby and there are still lots to catch. Kids were all about it......okay maybe men a little more but you know how that goes? ;) There were a couple other families out there that we just l0ve and we had a wonderful time. Justin and I were dreaming this was our little piece of heaven......someday right?




Kids favorite part for sure, who needs to fish?

Not because they liked to relax though they liked to see who could stay on the longest. ;)

They even mowed a path through the trees so they could explore.

Collecting treasures.

Love him!

Catching fish.

Cute kids, good company, and great weather, what a fun day! :)

Pen pal picnic

(I am just trying to get posts out so I don't forget things I realize I am a bit behind.)

The end of the year Grace's class had a field trip over to a local park to meet up with their pen pals from another local school. It was such a fun idea going all year writing letters to someone you could have actually bumped into anywhere. The kids were super excited about this one and it was such nice weather. Gavin and I decided to walk with them and found out it was a bit further that I was thinking so he rode on my shoulders on the way back and I am realizing we should have hung on to that stroller for days like this. ;) He was a trooper on the way there though and we had a lot of fun hanging out with the big kids at the park all day.


They took over the playground.

Played some fun relays and a big game of kick ball.

This boy makes friends everywhere he goes.

This is what I captured later and I just had to share, happily eating his snack without a care in the world.....this happens a lot in this house so just know if you visit the chairs DO get cleaned. ;)