We made our 17th anniversary a memorable one by taking the kids on a 70 mile boat ride through the San Juans. We went to Roche Harbor, on San Juan Island, for lunch and to tour the area. I used to sail there with my family as a teenager, and Jonathan and I took a ferry there on a number of occasions during college and when we were newly married, but I think it must have been about 15 years since we were last there.  Then on our way back we stopped at Sucia to collect driftwood and explore before heading back to Bellingham Bay. The weather and water couldn’t have been more perfect and we had an amazing time!

Here’s our family posing at the Mausoleum. When we walked up to it we said, “Oh look, there are six seats!” Then as we were reading the names we realized the father’s name was John and they also had three sons and a daughter, each of whom’s name was engraved at their seat where their ashes were. So we took our places around the seats and snapped a picture. Avery told us he was certain we were cursed, and once you hear about the rest of our weekend, maybe you’ll wonder if perhaps we were!

Leaving Bellingham

We had the necessities on board.

At the Hotel De Haro restaurant, seated in nearly the same spot we sat at twenty years earlier.

The Mausoleum. I love this spot and all the thought that was put into it.

Checking out Teddy Roosevelt’s signature in the hotel guestbook. He was good friends with John S. McMillan, of the Mausoleum.

Then and now

Avery, in front of  Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel

Headed back

A brief stop at Sucia

17th anniversary gift is supposed to be furniture. Perhaps this driftwood can serve as a bench in the yard?

Hello Bellingham!

A stop at Mallard Ice Cream was in order

We had so much fun that day that we pushed getting home as far out as we could. We left Bellingham around 9 PM. When we reached Issaquah at close to 11 PM our boat trailer got a flat tire! Fortunately we were able to limp off the freeway to a tire store less than a mile away. We left the boat there for the night and called in the morning to have it repaired. More about that later! We were all home and in bed by midnight, completely tuckered out!

I thought we had more pictures from the boys adventure to Sucia. Turns out their trip was the last weekend in July/first weekend  of August so I found more photos in the August folder. Here they are:



 

Layla and I went to some parks and visited friends while the boys were away

Here’s the rest of what we were up to in July:

Covid broke us down and we bought a trampoline – something I always swore I would NEVER own. To be honest, it was money well spent. It keeps the kids entertained for hours and wears them out!

Avery loves it the most

Silas helping Jonathan change the hubs on the trailer

Our sweet next door neighbors gave us this squirrel feeder. Suki loves watching our visitors.

The squirrels attracted this cutie/Charlie Chaplin lookalike

Layla opening a Blume Doll

Swim team at The Club

Hamilton!!!

Got together with my high school friend, Jamie at The Attic

Puzzler

As punishment for picking on his brothers one day I made Avery copy the first few paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. He was a good sport about it.

Learning her letters

Another good Covid purchase – ping pong table!

Picking blueberries with my big boy

Homeschool curriculu

A visit from Grammy and Papa

Kieron at horse riding camp with the animals

This bunny!

On Lake Sammamish

At Layla’s friend, Maggie’s 4th birthday party

More swim team

My days

Swim team, 2020

At the end of July Jonathan took the boys on a boating/camping trip to Cypress Island in the San Juans. They spent two nights at Cypress Head and day tripped up to Sucia.

Meanwhile the girls stayed home and had spa nights, sleepovers and watched Annie and Snow White.

Layla picked an Elsa braid for her and Anna braids for me

One day in July we decided to launch the boat from Mercer Island and head through Lake Washington, Lake Union, and the Ballard Locks out into Shilshole Bay Marina. We stalked a few celebrities (we’re looking at you, Rihanna and Russell Wilson and Bill and Melinda Gates), swam at Hunt’s Point, showed the kids where Daddy used to row and gawked at all the beautiful houses, luxurious boats and charming house boats. Going through the locks for the first time was a bit stressful and exciting, but we managed just fine. On the way back with tied up at Ivars and had a delicious boat-up seafood dinner. We spent the entire day on the water, making it home just before dark. A perfect summer day adventure!

“Hey Russell! Russell?”

Due to social distancing our family does not fit at one table in a restaurant. This means Jonathan and I are “forced” to sit alone and put our kids at a separate table.