Wednesday when Dode got home from work, we loaded into the van and headed off to Lake Goodwin for some water sports. We ended up playing on the lake for about three hours which was two hours too long for Miriam. At first, none of the kids wanted to kneeboard but after Isaac Colson tried and failed, the rest of the kids had to show him how it's done.
Once the kneeboarding tired everyone out, they hopped on our three man tube and had a blast being pulled around behind the boat. When we got home, Dode found out that all that weight on the cleet (plus three teenagers at a time the week before) was not a good thing and we now have some boat repairs to do before we can tow kids around again.
They also enjoyed swimming off the boat.
Thursday
Thursday we started off the day by heading down to 3-2-1 Bounce in Everett. It's a place that has lots of inflatable play equipment.
The place is normally for only for parties, but they offer drop in play time on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. We were the only family there. I wasn't feeling well and had planned to just sit back and read a book while they played but I kept getting begged, "Mom go down the slide with me, Mom race me on the obstacle course, Mom play dodge ball, Mom joust with me". I guess I've been too involved on past visits and there is now no way I can sit one out.
jousting to see who is "King of the bouncy pad".
After our hour long bounce section, we were all tired out. We refuled with a trip to our favorite restaurant, Grand China Buffet. After consuming way too many calories, we rolled out of the restaurant with bulging tummies.
Our Thursday just kept getting better and better because then Janice came up to let the kids use her scuba equipment in the pool. They loved getting a chance to use the regulator.
that's one fun aunt!
Friday
Friday morning we headed off for our first back to school shopping trip. As we walked into Kohl's and I saw our reflection in the windows, I felt like we were an invading army marching against Kohl's. Sometimes I'm surprised how big our family appears. Like an army, we had a plan of attack. I gave each of the older children a list of what they needed and told them good luck. I'd forgotten that a pair of jeans or shoes can't be deemed to fit if mom hasn't given an opinion. After zooming back and forth in the store trying to give feedback to each child, we had some success.
An hour later, we headed off to Dode's work where the Tulalip Tribes were hosting a health fair. There were about 30 booths offering different kinds of health screenings (blood pressure, bmi, cholesterol, hearing, etc). They also had information booths about healthy lifestyle choices. Each booth had something to give away and we all left with large bags full of stuff. (Once home, I confiscated 75% of it for day camp give aways). Isaac played a dice game where he had to roll the number of exercises and the type of exercise, here he is doing sit ups.
There were games for the kids like bowling, sack races, and ball toss.
raise your hand when you hear the beep
At the end you got a chance to enter for a door prize. We all ended up with at least one more thing. Then, we headed back to the building where Dode works to eat lunch in the lunch room.
corn dogs taste better at dad's work
We managed to spill two very sticky cups of hot chocolate all over the kitchenet floor. We wiped it up but I'm sure employees in the building will wonder what's up when they walk through and leave their shoes behind stuck to the floor.
squeezing in to Dode's work station
Here's his cubical # if you want to visit too!
We got home and had a few hours to rest up before Isaac's birthday party.
He had six friends come over for mountain biking, pizza, and swimming.
Here's the pile of bikes
They road some of the trails in the Pilchuck Tree Farm. Here they are at the top.
There is an area deep in the tree farm called the Monument. From here on a sunny day you can see the Puget Sound. It's a grassy area surrounded by trees that has several pieces of art scattered around. It's a neat place to see. A great time was had by all with everyone getting to crash their bike at least once. When they got home, they had birthday cake and swam in the pool for a few minutes before the boys were picked up by their parents. Then Isaac went down to Janice's to spend the night and the rest of us geared up for our Saturday fun, a boat trip to Sucia Island.
Saturday
Dode had been wanting to get out to Sucia for about 10 years, ever since hearing the family he used to work for talking about the fun times they'd had there. Sucia is a state park out in the famous San Juan Islands, on the North side of Orcas Island. Yesterday, were finally able to make it. We launched at the very busy boat launch at Washington Park in Anacortes. We were concerned about finding a parking spot once the boat was launched but we lucked out with one of the last remaining spots. The boat ride out there was interesting.
For the first half, we were in dark depressing fog. We couldn't see land anywhere and relied on our GPS and charts to navigate our way along. We made it out of the fog bank into the sun and could look back and see that dense cloud bank almost like a solid line behind us. There was nice calm water next to Orcas Island but when we began to cross the open water towards Sucia, it was quite bumpy. Because it was a cold day, the kids were hiding in the small cabin in the front of the boat. They were laying on their backs, bracing themselves with their outstretched arms on the roof while the boat bucked the waves. Sometimes, we'd hit a wave just right and the water would come splashing over the top wetting Dode and I. Not exactly what you want on a cold day!
We'd planned to use one of the two docks at Sucia but they were full so Dode figured out a way to anchor a short way off the beach. He used several ropes tied together with one at the bow and one at the back going to the anchor. Depending on what part of the rope you pulled on, the boat could be pulled in close to the beach to get on and off or pulled out in deep enough water to not get caught by the tide.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch, the girls played a game of soccer with a family camping on the island, then we set off to explore. We found a sandy beach with lots of jelly fish washed up on shore. Elizabeth felt so bad for them. She found a way to put five of them back in the water without getting stung. We walked one of the island trails and found a great rock slab for finding sea creatures.
These fun rocks were very eroded.
Tidepooling. Elizabeth is touching a sea anenome.
checking out small crabs
Miriam is not much of a boater and since it's an hour ride one way to the island, we were very happy that she was invited to a friend's house to play on Saturday. Jacob had not wanted to go but now that we've been, he figures he'll buy a boat when he's rich and also thinks it would be fun to come camping out here with his friends. The other children also want to come back for a camping trip. If we did, I'd want a kyak for exploring the shoreline lined with coves and Dode would want to go scuba diving.
Jacob got to drive us home. He followed our GPS track log and did a great job.
You are champion at blogging and fun. Thanks for always putting so much of your activities on here so Grandpa Lynn and I can be such a part of your family so far away from us. We love you!!!
ReplyDeleteThat would have been fun if you and Janice and Joel had all ended up in the same spot out in the San Juan's that day. Looks like fun- good job Jacob.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like so much fun! It is so neat that you plan such fun summer activities. I would love to go there after reading this!
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