Sunday Boating

We spent much of today on the boat. Gorgeous weather, beautiful scenery and smiling kids...you can see it in his eyes. One eye, even. Half an eye, actually. That's how happy he was...

This guy was all about helping Pop - helping launch, helping pull fenders in, helping dock...

best kid ever...

We went to Olga for lunch...as you walk up the dock toward the restaurant, you feel like you're thrown back into a different era. I keep trying to find the words to describe the feeling, but I can't. You should just go there and see for yourself.

After lunch, Captain Matt drove us to Deer Harbor for ice cream and wading in the bay...

Deer Harbor is quite the place to stop and cool down...

Everything is so pretty/quaint/cute/clean/friendly in the islands. This boat was so adorable, I honestly thought for a minute it was there for decor. Wait - was it?

We had a nice relaxing ride back, another great dinner at the house, and then some blading to top the night off. Only the kiddos were so zonked from a day in the sun and on the waves that they spent more time resting in their gear than actually using it....

I couldn't resist snapping photos of the sunset again. You have no idea how much I regret leaving my fancy camera at home. Next time, it's coming for sure.

That's Pop!

Last, but not least - we said goodnight over glowsticks shaped like butterflies, bracelets and long nipples. Don't ask. Or ask Matthew. He's full of it these days.

Adventure Here, Adventure There

Someone had quite the adventure this morning - Mike completed his first triathalon! The boys and I were cheering him on from afar...it was a bummer to miss being there in person, but we are so proud of his hard work and accomplishment! I'm sure there will be many more that we can go and watch.

Meanwhile, up here in Friday Harbor - the boys are finding deer and rabbits...

...and even camels! (This is Mona, the famous island camel.)

We discovered some gorgeous new beaches (new to the boys and I - Pop knows all of them!)

One even came with pre-made forts!

The next beach was for swimming...well, sort of. It's like swimming in ice water. Didn't slow Andrew down much - the kid would come out of the water and steam was pouring off of him - seriously!

Pop rolled a log down for them to 'surf' on...still cold, though...

We also had lunch on the docks at Roche Harbor. It's a hot day up here - nothing like back at home (did you guys hit triple digits?) - but hot for the islands. A few of us have little sunburns, even.

Our view at lunch wasn't actually as gorgeous at the shot above, though. This was directly below us. Yum.

We also stopped at the alpaca farm to pick up some yarn for a dear friend...and visited the fuzzy heads, too. They are awful cute...and curious...

The boys tried on hats in the air conditioned store...

...and I couldn't resist snapping yet another flower shot. I love things that grow so much.

We came back home for a little rest, some dinner and baths before heading back out to the dock for some shrimping! We caught all sorts of critters tonight - shrimp, of course; tiny crabs; baby fish and even a sea urchin! They all get thrown back in...nobody gets hurt (or eaten) around here!

Matthew doing what he does best...playing in a corner. It's tough to tell from this picture, but he is seriously tucked back into this little corner. I had to lay under dad's feet and between a coffee table and chair to even get this shot.

Andrew being a goof ball - added bubbles to a jacuzzi tub - bubbles for miles and miles...

Oops. Another flower shot. I'm in love with the lavendar all along the patio. The bees are, too! In the morning when it's quiet, you can hear these bushes buzzing - it's intense!

Island Friday

Even on a really rough day, there are still some moments worthy of capturing and sharing...

Stealth sniper...

I collected seeds from some of the dried pods and hope to have such gorgeous poppies growing in my own yard next year!

A trip down to the docks to find Popeye and feed her (she wasn't there...maybe we'll have better luck today...)

Shrimping off the docks after dinner was so fun!

These two were pros - caught maybe a hundred shrimp (and one crab!) in about an hour...

See?

We stayed until late, late. The boys were zonked and fell asleep in a hurry once we were back home.

This grouchy face was grouchy much of the day...

....or sleeping. But that's okay. He's a little out of sorts in new places, but I have high hopes that today will be a much smoother ride!

Pdx ---> Friday Harbor

We made amazing time on our trip up to Friday Harbor. The boys opted out of leaving the car while we were on the ferry - it was more fun to have a picnic in the back of the car with the seats down. We had quite a view!

Matthew was checking out babes on boats while Andrew caught up on some Harry Potter...

Our view as we arrived in Friday Harbor was even cooler! We had this view for a solid half hour - it took forever to get off the boat for some reason!

As soon as we arrived, Matthew found Emma (and the campfire bench)...

...and Andrew broke out the Nerf gear...

Pop has horseshoes, bocce ball and 22 acres to run and play...While playing bocce ball, Matthew liked being the 'master' - he collected balls and did the official measuring...

Farmin' it up with his boots...

Not sure you could get a prettier view!

...things are spectacular here around sunset...

Matthew showed us how to be 'real country' - gotta eat the grass...

We waited for this to happen...

Matthew got bored visited grandma for a snuggle...

...and Pop, too. (Although this was more of a 'save me...I'm so bored' kinda thing)...

Until he found a field full of 'wishies' and had at it!

Andrew struck a pose for me :)

The boys explored the field...

...and tried to hide!

Getting ready for bed - the boys LOVED the jacuzzi tub - so, so very much. (Can you tell?) Matthew was saying, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh........."

We won't even talk about what else he loved about the jacuzzi. It's just not appropriate for this blog. :)