Unintentional

This picture was created by Zaeda's Campfire teachers when she went to school one day with hair buns.

Goofy Outtakes from Family Photos, Sept 2014

Good-bye, Abbie

Sept 2001 - age 3 months

In the tumultuous second week of September 2001, Jenny and I brought home from an adoption event held at a used car dealership the smallest female from a litter of Black Labs mixed with -- no one was sure -- either Dalmation or Springer Spaniel. She had three white socks, and, fitting the patriotic mood of those weeks, she came with an American flag bandana as a collar. We took this picture the day we brought her home. We named her Abbie, and she was sweet, gentle, and dear part of our family for these last 13 years. We just had to say good-bye to her. We'll miss you, Abbie girl.

Oregon beach April 2014  - age 13

San Juan Islands Vacation Pt. 2

Day 4: Lopez Island

When we decided to visit multiple islands, we knew we could count on the Washington State Ferry System, but we soon learned that the process itself, of reporting to a parking lot within a certain time frame, parking, waiting, and driving on, then waiting again, could take up a good part of the day.  

We started at Lopez Island by visiting a natural gravel spit. It had a critter-filled marsh on one side, so Oliver was thrilled. We walked to the end and back, getting sandy and touching slimy things.  Later we explored the rest of the island and settled in for a nice meal at a local restaurant before heading back to Friday Harbor and our camping spot.

Look, a shell!

Zaeda loves to sprint. She bolts with such wild abandon that we still tense up a bit at the possibility of her tripping and doing a face plant (which sometimes happens).  Still, watching your kids run is a real joy.

Look, a dead crab!

Our 14th Anniversary!

Day 5: Orcas Island

There are few people who enjoy waking up in a tent and hearing the rain beating down on their campsite. That was our morning. Part of the tent's rain fly had come undone, allowing water to come in through a window, so we had puddles and some wet gear inside as well. Such is the camping experience...

We started off early, not caring to make breakfast at our damp camping table and instead grabbing breakfast in Friday Harbor before driving on to the ferry for our next jaunt to nearby Orcas island.

Our main destination was Moran State Park, where we took trails to see some small waterfalls. Then we drove to the top of Mt. Constitution for the famous view from the observation tower. Alas, the tower was shrouded in mist, the rain kept falling, and we didn't see far.  However, they did have a great kids activity area that kept Oliver and Zaeda busy for a while. Again, we finished our stay on the island with a great restaurant meal!

Look, a newt!

Back at Lakedale campground, the kids played for a bit in the bocce ball court.

A nice fire to dry things out!

Day 6: Last full day on San Juan Island

This was our day to see the other half of the island we'd first explored earlier in the week.  We started with American Camp at the southern end of the island. The first task was for Oliver to turn in the Junior Ranger program homework he'd picked up at the other park a few days earlier and be sworn in. He accepted the plastic badge with great pride and reminded us throughout the day of how he was fulfilling different parts of the Junior Ranger oath. 

We walked around the camp trail, then followed a path down to Grandma's cove, a tiny beach with some terrific tide pools that fascinated the kids. After a picnic lunch, we left the park for the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor.

Look, a jellyfish!

Writing her name in the sand.

At the Whale Museum.

After a week of travel and camping, the kids were getting antsy and bugging each other. We bribed them with a promise of stuffed animals from the museum gift shop if they behaved. Oliver got "Otto" a sea otter. Zaeda selected a frilly pink jellyfish that she named "Jelly Kelly"

Our last night at the campground, we rented a rowboat and explored the lake. Both kids took a turn at the oars.

Oliver reading by flashlight at the end of a long day.

San Juan Islands Vacation Pt. 1

We've just returned from a week camping in the San Juan Islands -- our chance to experience a beautiful part of the Northwest we'd never seen before, and to get away as a family for our first expended trip since Yellowstone a year ago. This time, instead of a motorhome with every comfort, we had a tent, sleeping bags, and only what we could carry in on our little car. It was a different adventure!

Days 1 and 2
It was a long drive up to Anacortes, WA where we spent the first night in a hotel. In the morning we left on the ferry to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island and checked into nearby Lakedale Resort, a general and open campground build around a natural lake, a few hours later. It was a hot day, and the kids couldn't wait to get in the water!

One of many pictures of the same thing: They found some creature, come take a look!

Colder than it looked.

The view from our lakeside campsite. We couldn't even see the other campsites.

Zaeda near our tent, starting one of her many bike rides.

Day 3

Our first full day on San Juan Island, we set off with a plan of places to visit. We started with Roche Harbor, a luxury port with a row of new million-dollar yachts for sale along a busy and business-oriented harbor walkway with large number of vessels on all sides. It was swank.

Next we visited English camp, the British side of the two military camps (the other being American camp) set up in the mid-1800s when the island was part of a territorial dispute. The kids did a lot of running around the old parade field. We had a picnic lunch there.

Look, a snail!

Next we went to Lime Kiln to watch the whales. We weren't disappointed. We saw several orcas splash in the straight.

Finally, hot and tired, we finished our trip at the  Lavender Farm, where we all had some lavender-vanilla ice cream and Zaeda posed a bit for Jenny in the flowers.

Back at camp, Oliver and I picked up a fishing license and decided to try our luck.  It was in the 90's now and we were sweating out on the dock.

With no patience to watch a bobber, Oliver decided throwing rocks in the lake might scare fish toward the bait. It didn't.