We rented our old neighbor’s VRBO in Bellingham for a week over July Fourth. We took a ton of pictures so I’m splitting this into two posts. Here are the pictures that take place on land:

The day we arrived one of our old neighbors from up the hill went to the ICU with Covid. He spent a week there before returning home to his family. He’s a healthy, fit guy and his sons went to school with our kids. Scary stuff.

Lots of frisbee on the lawn

Date night at The Fork

On the North Lake Whatcom Trail

Downtown

La Fiamma pizza at the park

Showed the kids where I used to do my laundry in college. Hasn’t changed.

At red square

Dinner with friends, Amy & Jeni
 

At Boundary Bay

Back at The Fork with the kids

OMG, the shrimp and grits!

The boys geeking out at the D&D store

Layla and Willow

Eating dinner at the Viking Union. It was raining and we needed somewhere outdoor and covered

My old apartment

Mary & Silas with her guardians. She signed them for the kids.

Our old place all landscaped

Porter’s treehouse
 

At Mallard Ice Cream

Stocking up on necessities – TP & muffins

Here’s what we were up to in June!

We got a new pizza oven

Ballet Zoom lesson

Dance dance revolution at a friends house

Blume Dolls with Clare

Trying on Mommy’s engagement ring

Silas did 23&me

Our first season of swim team  – go Tiger Sharks! (Covid = no meets.)

Lessons for Layla

The TRES principal got a new job. The kids left chalk messages for her at the school one evening.
 

Hanging out during Kieron’s riding lessons

Kieron and Flash

More pizza

Avery got a 4.0 during quarantine and earned himself some money, which he spent on a pull-up bar. It’s so weird seeing it in his doorway. It’s like a notice that we have a teen in the house!

Kieron’s trying!

So is Silas

Carjacking the neighbor’s power wheel

Avery spent a week with the Avery’s of Pullman. We met Uncle Scott & Andrew halfway to get him there. He had a great time with Andrew.

Building a (bigger) shed

This 3D card from Silas is one of my favorites. Each side had a positive affirmation on it!

“Oh deer!”

Facebook messenger-ing with her friend, Portia

Our neighbors made us a squirrel feeder, which we installed on the fence outside our kitchen window

They are SO fun to watch!

Kieron and Suki

Dentist visit

“No, Phoebe!”
 

Birthday season at our household ended with my 40th. I had to cancel (postpone) a planned girl’s trip to Arizona, which I am now very glad I did. But my family and friends managed to spoiled me anyway. I felt very loved!

Mani/pedis with my bestie

And a little wine tasting

Then, surprise!

With Caroline, Jacqui, Carrie, Niki, Mindee & Amy (Lyndsey arrived later)
         

Chipotle burritos for everyone

With Niki

At the end of the night – puzzle time!

My little bakers

Grammy and Papa came to celebrate later in the week

In May we decided it was time for a boat. The pandemic helped speed this decision along. Earlier in the year we had discussed renting boats over the summer, but this no longer seemed like a viable option and we now owned a car that could pull a trailer. This little 19′ Triumph gets our family out on the water and has proven to be a ton of fun already!

First time taking it out on Lake Sammamish

Just a little bit happy to be on the water again!

Happy hour

Aver LOVES driving the boat

Silas is getting used to it

We found Seeta and Phani’s house

First time bringing the boat back in. It’s a little hard to see, but the look on Jonathan’s face says it all. First time was a bit stressful!

Another (more sunny) day on the boat, this time with a bigger tube.

Yet another day. This time the Lotts came with us.

We pulled to boat up on this little sand bar
 

We’re all suffering our own losses during this pandemic, but one group I really feel for are the teenagers and people in their early 20’s – but especially the high school seniors. There are so many rites of passage, from prom to senior parties, to graduation to college visits. Our community came together and put on a parade for the Mount Si seniors and I thought it was WAY more fun than a graduation ceremony! Residents came out and lined the parkway to support our seniors. Avery and Layla joined me and the Lotts  to cheer them on. This experience also helped get Avery excited about high school, which is only a little over a year away!
 

Coolest ride!

Whoever these parents are, they went a TAD overboard. I also think it was tacky to include their seniors name on the banner. Class of 2020 would  have been sufficient!

I got totally verklempt when Caroline’s daughter, Ashlyn, drove by and saw us.

“Yay, Wildcats!”