Day Trip: Lummi Island

We wanted to go to a U-pick strawberry farm today but none are open yet. Boxx Berry Farm u-pick is officially open tomorrow so maybe we'll try that out.

Today we headed over to Lummi Island. We played on the beach while waiting for the Whatcom Chief to arrive.










The crossing is only 10 minutes. The ferry is tiny. ~20 cars






Mom and I lived on the Lummi Reservation during the time I was at WWU. The Nooksack floods often and blocks both routes off the reservation. One year they put a school bus on the ferry and dropped us off at Fairhaven. The ride back home was scary with the rocking back and forth in the storm. In my memory I could have touched the waves outside the bus window.

We drove around the island looking for a peony farm I'd heard of from a friend. The main road around the island is short and picturesque with extraordinary views of the islands.

We stopped for lunch at the Beach Store Cafe.


Fish and Chips for $13!? Alex was disturbed. Good chips though, and good beer on tap. Plus they are pretty much the only restaurant in town.


Across the street we found a set of stairs down to the beach. The kids enjoyed climbing. Audrey said, "ROCK!" very forcefully when we tried to drag her away from her climbing endeavours.




Audrey showing off a shell find.


We got directions from our server to Full Bloom Farm, "turn right at the Olivia's Farm Fresh Eggs sign."


Audrey delighted in feeding the chickens. She yelled, "EAT".


My favorite flowers.

It's summer

I'm skipping over the pictures from Cole's 5th birthday, expecting to come back to them but wanting to move on too.

The kids and I went to the Bellingham Scottish Highland Games late last weekend. We missed most of the prime stuff I would have wanted to see - dancing and piping. The kids still had fun though as it was a hot sunny day and they had bouncy houses and cotton candy.

There were many booths encouraging us to research our heritage. Having been to Scotland I know for certain that Scots are greatly annoyed by North Americans trying to find their "roots". That said, we did walk by the Clan MacKenzie booth just for fun.

Here Cole poses with swords available for purchase.


I got Audrey and I some cotton candy to buy us time while Cole climbed the tower.

I know from experience that climbing the tower with Audrey and especially climbing down is not fun or safe especially when it's crowded.

Who doesn't like cotton candy? Besides Alex.




I'm realizing tonight why I seem to have so many pictures of the kids eating. It's because it's the only time they are standing still and I can get the camera out. Even then I only have a moment before Audrey starts reaching for the camera with her often grubby hands saying ... ahhh, ahhh, ahhh.

Audrey idolizes her older brother.


Today we met friends at Zuanich Point Park to ride bikes. It was sunny and WINDY. It's a great park for little bike riders because there are paved paths that loop around the point but are always in view of parents following behind at a slower pace. Cole played with his super best friend Kiefer and Audrey had fun chasing everyone around including Kiefer's little sister Caroline, age 3. Caroline kept taunting "Audrey, you can't catch me." Audrey loved it and tried with all her might to catch her with only occasional frustration.

Cole, Audrey and Caroline.


I could smell these roses from a long way off. Bellingham Bay in the distance.

Heather uses the camcorder!

I'm finally motivated to take some home movies and do something with them. We need to work on the picture quality clearly.

Audrey Turns Two!

We had a party for Audrey's second birthday at the house. Grandma Sharon, Grandpa Dirk, Aunt Fran, Big Sister, Aunt Gabe and Taj, and Grandma Campbell came to eat cupcakes (thank you Cupcake Royale!) and enjoy the perfect day. Audrey tore into her presents and enjoyed the attention. Big Brother got some good bonding time with Grandma.

Audrey with bubble machine.




Cole and Grandma enjoying some one on one over a workbook.


Aunt Gabe and Taj, Big Sister, and Grandma Campbell.


Big Sister and Aunt Fran.


Our dear friend and neighbor, Mrs. Campbell, with Alex and Audrey. Margaret celebrated her 90th birthday this year! She adores both Cole and Audrey.


Family picture. Minus me (the photographer) and Cole (the boy who either makes a funny face or refuses to be in a picture at all, to my ultimate sorrow!)


Family shot taken by Cole.


April 23, 2009. Birthday breakfast - pancakes and BACON.


Birthday girl.


Audrey loves bacon.


We went to "sibling class" after breakfast, Audrey wore her "Birthday Girl" shirt. Both Cole and Audrey love sibling class and I get a lot out of the parent education.


Cole and best friend, Kiefer, hamming it up at snack time. These two are quite mischievous together..


A girl with a plan! On sunny days the kids go outside to play. On this day they worked at digging a large hole in the gravel pit.


Audrey sliding with friend Claire. Claire likes to pretend that Audrey is her real life baby doll even though she is only 6 months older.




Teacher Anne Marie singing Happy Birthday To You.


Audrey and classmates coming in for a hug from Teacher Anne Marie after the goodbye song.


Here is a video of Teacher Francie from the "mommy and me" class Audrey and I take singing the goodbye song.

Birthday dinner at La Fiamma with Grammy and Grampy.


Alex, Cole, Grampy, Grammy, and Audrey.


Cole goofing. He was disappointed when his pizza came and it had sauce on it. He just wanted dough with cheese. I raised a picky eater and I swore I wouldn't.


Birthday pizza.


Open kitchen at the restaurant makes for easy kid friendly atmosphere and always something interesting to look at. They also give the kids a little ball of dough to play with while you wait for your dinner.


The sad but moderately tasty chocolate cake with pink frosting I made.


Note to self: although the happy birthday candles are cute in the package they burn too quickly leaving puddles of wax all over the cake.

We walked up to visit with Big Sister after dinner. She was working at Peppies (as Cole informed me he likes to call Pepper Sisters ... )


Happy Birthday Sweet Girl.

Sibs

Audrey, spring 2009. Cole, winter 2006.

Mat sat.

Cole is reading short books - along the lines of Dick and Jane. He is very proud and says to Audrey that "he is growing up and can read stuff." We've started the BOB Books from Scholastic. The first book goes like this:

Mat.
Mat sat.
Sam.
Sam sat.
Mat sat. Sam sat.
Mat sat on Sam.
Sam sat on Mat.
Mat sat. Sam sat.
The End

He read this book to Audrey tonight. He continues his mad craze for LEGO. I'm happy to see him building his own stuff out of the various bricks he's collected. Attack bomb ships and the like.

My mom and I took the kids to an Easter egg hunt at the Sudden Valley Community Center on Saturday. Thank goodness we did because it rained very hard on Sunday - way too hard for any sort of egg hunting. We did have a nice ham dinner at my mom's house though and Cole played with his fire station LEGO set the Easter Bunny brought.

Dyeing eggs.

Cole only likes the whites.

Audrey doesn't care much for eggs in general.

Pin the ears on the bunny at the SV Community Center.


Fun with Grammy. I always associate Easter with my Grandma. She made me a dress every year and we had an egg hunt at the ranch. My mom continues the tradition of giving See's Mayfair eggs ... or rather the Easter Bunny always brings Mayfair eggs.

Sweet Audrey.

At least Audrey still likes to get her picture taken.


What did you get?

Audrey gave her chocolate to the Easter Bunny.