How is it that it's August? Seriously.... Last year we traveled so much that I swore I wouldn't do as much this year. We've been home more but we've come and gone more. We've had a few one or two night excursions so in my head, we've been coming and going all summer. Next summer I just want to plant it right here. We'll see.
Everything we have done has been fun for sure. We went to Discovery Bay on the Olympic Peninsula, Olympia for my mom's birthday celebration, a camping trip just over night, a week long camping trip split between Whidbey and Camano and next week we're going to San Francisco. Lots of people do lots of stuff in the summer, I think I tend to over do it with the planning. Ask anyone who travels with me. If you need it chances are I have it. It's helpful while you are travelling but it totally sucks me in before. It's all consuming and exhausting, obsessive compulsive if you will. As if we won't make it if I forget the band aids or mustard. I know it's crazy but it's what I do. Maybe I'll let Bob do the packing and I'll just jump in the car next time. It's easy to say but more difficult to do....we'll see.
We went to Whidbey on July 31st and spent 2 nights there. My great friend Colleen Mounsey and her family have a cabin there. On Saturday night we had dinner and partied with the neighbors. It was big fun and best of all, the kids got along. I had a bit of a wild night and paid for it the next day. I did pull off Eggs Benedict the next morning though. Always a big hit. Sunday Colleen, Chris and Matt had to go so our family spent the day swimming, beach combing and just relaxing. It was really fun.
Monday morning we cleaned up and headed to Camano Island where we were meeting our friend Julia and her kids for the rest of the week at Camano Island State Park. We went via Deception Pass. We've been near it 50 times but never though it. It was beautiful. The drive was just a couple hours and through gorgeous scenery. We even made the kids look out the window. They acted as if we were the meanest parents, not letting them watch TV in the car. We gave them the ole, "Oh yeah? Well when I was a kid living in California my parents would say, "Get in the car. We're driving to New York." And we would just get in and count cows." They couldn't have cared less. Too bad, poor babies.
We arrived at our cabin around 5pm and got to work setting up. The cabin was simple...really simple, actually more like a yurt. It did have a small refrigerator and a microwave. That was nice. I, of course, brought everything else because I did my usual planning for every potential possibility. I had 2, 6' tables, a toaster oven, drawers (with napkins, knives, utensils, napkins and condiments), 3 burners, pots, pans, towels and wash cloths etc, etc, etc. We had ourselves a nice little kitchen including a kitchen sink, I used 2 bins so we could have a wash and a rinse side.
Our friends came in at almost 10pm. They started their day in Spokane and had a few stops along the way so it had been a long day. The only bad part for us was that our kids asked, "When will they be here?" for 5 hours. It was brutal. They moved in quickly, we all said our hellos and then crashed for the night.
The next three days were spent hanging out on the beach and playing. The kids all played well together and the adults did too. Bob was a champ. He took all 6 kids to the beach a couple times while Julia and I went to the store for supplies. Like I needed one more damn thing. But on we went....
The kids rode bikes around the camp, the parents cooked and hung out. It was really fun. For whatever reason, my boys wanted to shower or bathe each day. It was funny because I would have Sophia go first and shower while standing in one of our 30+ gallon bins. It would fill up and then the boys would get a bath. They were so cute in there and so happy. How could I deny them that? And for whatever reason, I was feeling the need to baby them and take care of them more than usual so I was the attentive mommy and washed and pj'd them. Daddy cleaned up dinner and around camp.
On the last day we rented a little motor boat at the Center for Wooden Boats at Cama State Park. Julia and I assisted in getting the 7 kids (including Bob) into the boat for a little ride. They were so cute shoving off....all waving and yelling. Off they went for about 40 minutes. When they came back Bob, Kees and I went on a little trip of our own and Kees was the captain. He was quite proud steering the boat.
Then it was time to say our good byes. We loved seeing our buddies and hope to cross paths again soon.
We decided to stop at mom and Ed's place on the way home. Originally we were going to stay one more night but as we all got packing up it seemed like the thing to do to make our way home. The kids wanted to pick blackberries and go in the hot tub. The McGanns were going to visit a friend who lived on Camano.
Our visit with Grandma and Grandpa was short and sweet and then we came home. Honestly, I was really glad to be home and have an entire weekend to unwind and relax. I needed it.
So we're home for the week. The kids all have camp. To be honest, this is the week I have been waiting for all summer. Camp runs from 9 - 3 so I get hours to myself. What have I done....nothing really. A little laundry and blogging today, a doctor's appointment yesterday, catching up with friends, mail, email, bills, Friday I have a lunch date. How is it that 5 hours alone flies by with out much happening but when the kids are home it can be an eternity? I will say making lunch and sitting down by myself has been bliss. I can sit down and finish a whole meal with out anyone wanting anything. It's heaven...it doesn't take much these days.
This upcoming weekend will be spent at home....hallelujah! Sunday we may go to the Sunday Parkways. That is always fun and so, so Portland. But, again, the planning starts.... The kids and I are going to the Bay Area next week. I will say that that trip requires less planning than most. I don't need to bring a kitchen sink or a sleeping bag. We're all looking forward to it a lot. I will bring you all up to date as time goes by.
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