spring break

Years ago I read a "top 100 places to visit" list.

San Juan Islands was one of them.

It is beautiful and unique.

However, a bit cool today. Coats for spring break.

Last year we stayed at Roche Harbor, loved it and stayed again .

I was solo momma last year. Randy was teaching.
We were so glad to have him with us this time.

It also helped a ton to have daddy muscles around to carry Makenzy,
she weighs a lot more than last year.

The plaque below this tree identifies it as being over 300 years old. Old growth for sure. In fact, it has seen a lot it almost looks like it is growing eyes. Check out the knot, it forms an eye that faces out to sea over some chapped, puckered lips.

I love this guy!

We visited English Camp.

Lime Kiln State Park is also known as "whale watching park" because the whales migrate through this incredibly deep pass of water. Also, the cold currents kick up nutrients in the strait that many sea mammals feed on. We didn't see any whales because they actually come through Haro Strait from May to September.

However, Randy spotted this sea lion basking and resting on the rocks. We probably could have gotten close, but we thought it best for the sea lion and us to keep at least 20 feet back. It was just so amazing to be so close to something we usually only see in aquarium tanks.

Now a picturesque lighthouse on the rocky shore, it once was one of the last working lighthouses until its automation in the '70s.

Madalyn found this amazing Pacific starfish.

It is a common species on the western coast. It actually comes in orange, yellow, purple, and red. I guess it was an orange day, because the kids found about 5 more within feet of this one. She placed it back near a clump of small sponges.

Earlier in the week, we found a purple Pacific starfish at Alki Beach a foot from shore, it felt like rough stone and cemented itself to the rocks.



See Randy.

See Randy White.

See Randy White Point.

Last year we both had shorter hair.

A year later, a little longer.


We picked out Our boat!

It seats 7, plus some.

Tennis is Randy's game.
He loves it and so do the kids.
However, Western Washington isn't known for its amazing tennis weather.
But, this trip we had dry courts, time, and an beautiful court overlooking the marina.


The little red building perched above the slate water is a fixed welcome
and adieu to the incessant ferries. A landmark point of arrival and departure at Friday Harbor.

Cayden snapped this final pic from the ferry before we headed back home.

Sister and Sitter

Seattle.

Sister.

Silly.

Tree Hugger.

O.k. not really, but she has given up her diet coke, which is HUGE!

Just for that she deserves a hug. A TREEmendous one!

Angie and Ariel came up and watched the kids for us while we were away last week. They both slipped into "momma mode" so well.

Thanks to the both of them the kids were extra, extra early to school and scouts, they went to Madalyn's school choir concert, recorded it for us to see later, dealt with dirty diapers, found the sushi place and shared (Makenzy loved Ariel's sushi!), treated the kids to ice cream, small gifts, and park time, shuttled another to a birthday party, made meals, and kept the house picked up.

I hardly leave the kids. Randy thinks I really should do it more. I am getting there. But in the meantime, it was a relief to have someone I totally trusted to be with them.

That and the relief that it was only my sister rummaging through the pantry, opening up closets and dwarers, having access to all and any nook and cranny in the house, and all the other little spots in the house. Plus, when I realized I forgot to take down the picture in the bathroom of Randy's abs (he is so private about stuff like that), I just shrugged off that at least it was my sister and she understands. I told Randy to be glad it wasn't some awful before picture, I mean they are good looking abs! I'd show mine off, if mine looked like his.

When we came back, we all headed off to Seattle to show them the sights. It has been a long time since Ang has been in Seattle and the last time Ariel visited she was so young she doesn't even remember the trip.

Even as the weather started to get cool, the kids couldn't resist getting wet. In fact, I was pretty impressed they weren't soaked from earlier in the day when we hung out at Alki Beach for a few hours.



Snoqualmie falls, a favorite stop whenever we have guests in town.

Unfortunately, the observation deck was closed and by the time we drove to the bottom to get a better shot, it was too dark for my camera to get any great shots.

No time for a trip to Tacoma and the glass museum but this little Chihully was just enough.

Sushi!

Ariel is a big sushi fan.

I have never been a huge fan of sushi, but it is really starting to appeal to me.

I prefer not to know what it is until after I've eaten it. That way I just appreciate it for the taste.

Since Ariel is checking out colleges, we thought "why not" here too! Randy took us on a quick tour of the University of Washington. The U-Dub campus is gorgeous. For example, the library behind us on red square elicits Renaissance flare in its carvings and stonework.

Yoshino cherry trees all in bloom in the Quad are a picture junkies perfect background.

GORGEOUS!

There were so many people taking pictures when we went. Families. Engagement pictures. Nature Lovers. Even a wedding party stepped in, white gown, tuxes and all.

The boughs pop with their pink bouquets. BEAUTIFUL!

Have you hugged a tree today? Isn't this tree just huge. This side of the state is called the evergreen state for a reason.

I have no idea what caliper it is, but I am pretty sure it must have been around when Lewis and Clark came through.

We opted to head over to Alki beach to make rock and sand dams while Ang and Ariel went to S.A.M. (Seattle Art Museum) and Pike's Place. I love going to Pike's but most of the kids find it a crowded, outdoor market and not much more.

The lookout.

The warm weather of the past few days was a relentless and welcomed tease that spring is here. However, the famous overcast of the northwest came whipping back by the evening. Only the boys didn't have their hair blowing across their smiles for this picture.

We have so many spots picked out for family pictures. This is another one. We are going to come back when we are all ready for the perfect family shot (which never seems to quite work out) or when company comes in town.

The Fremont Troll.

A quirky sculpture under the Fremont Bridge which is so much nicer than the upcoming toll Randy will be paying to and from work. Trolls definitely win out over tolls.

Thanks again Ang and Ariel. Come back soon, we already miss you guys!

Husband and Wife Conference

Randy and I returned home from the Northwest area husband and wife conference held in Spokane. It brings together the seminary and institute directors, coordinators, and principals from Washington, Alaska, and part of Idaho. It was such an inspiring conference. Great counsel was given to us by Seminaries and Institute Director Chad Webb. He stated the mission statement, a one page document, had close to 59 or so revisions to make sure it included everything the Church Board of Education felt it needed to accurately delineate the importance of their work. We had great break out sessions, and presentations. Brother Adams, who teaches institute, recently returned from a 1 year deployment to Iraq. His wife spoke about her "widow in training" year, the struggles and the prayers. Brother Adams spoke about his experience working with top Iraqi military officials and more interesting, his call to serve in the presidency.

St. Patricks Day

Randy and I headed out of town on the 17th, so I wasn't there for the rainbow fruit platter that Ariel made for me. Or for the response to the corned beef. Really hoping their taste buds have grown to like it this year. Girls had shamrock necklaces and boys their pins and of course, green clothes. You can't over protect.

Breakfast. Lucky Charms and green milk.

Dinner. All green. Green mint ice cream, green grapes, green filled oreos, granny smith apples, green drink, celery sticks, green pepper slices, cucumbers, green salad, pickles, sour cream and chives chips (comes in a green bag), and more green. and more green. Probably ate the non-nutritious food until they were almost green.
Brownie cups for lunches. Madalyn took her lunch to school in our "pot of gold".

Fortunately, this year the leprechauns weren't too naughty. Last year they were on a rampage. Randy took the kids out running and riding bikes, while I ran an errand to the store. I passed the kids on the way back up the hill. We all returned to a series of naughty, needling tricks.

Dumped clothes out of dressers, bed pillows and blankets thrown on the ground, mattresses stacked against the doors, green footprints left across the kitchen table and bathroom, a ransacked kitchen - all the doors and drawers open, garbage can knocked down. Awful. Just awful.

This year, the leprechauns must have recalled my rancor and decided to leave this house alone!

Crush - Literally

Team name was Crush.

And that is what they did.

Every single game.

44 - 2

42 - 4

38 - 6

45 - 4

and so on...killer, crushing scores.

Thirty to forty points more than the other team, every single game.

Fantastic, if you were on Cayden's team. Otherwise, a little discouraging.

Meeting up with the other undefeated team, was close, 42 to 24.

This was a new team for Cayden this year, but he wanted to be on the same team as his friend Ethan. Luckily, he adjusted quickly. Ball hogging by the other boys is still a major frustration to Cayden, especially when he is open. Nonetheless, he played awesome support throughout the season and was particularly on fire the last game, throwing up 8 buckets. Apparently, Randy made a deal with him that for every bucket he got, he also scored $2. Bribing or incentive?

It was a great season!

Crazy Hair Day

The green wig was the original plan.

But we couldn't find it the night before.

I sent Madalyn to bed, telling her I was sure it would show up after everyone went to bed and I did a final pick up of the house.

I did an amateur sweep of the usual hideaway spots; under the bed, in the closet behind the dresses, on top of the fridge, in my habitual "clean up, file, put away" pile in the corner of my room. Not there.

A quick rummage in the dress up box and wah-lah, Maddie's polka dot doo. Bright pink hair paint would have looked great, but we used what we had, "Black" which doesn't really show up on walnut brown hair.

She was voted best hair do in class, but we both agreed, her bird's nest hair do from last year was pretty crazy!

Yeah, it is a little long,

but it would of looked great in little pig tails all over his head, maybe add in a bow or two of Kenzie's.

Cayden didn't think so.

Black hair paint?

O.k.

Wasn't much of a change, just going with what I had on hand. We agreed next year, to think ahead and get some brighter color that would "pop."

Things to Do this Week - Get Cayden a Haircut

PreSchool Olympics

We've been staying up way past bedtime to watch the Olympics.

Our favorite event has been the short track speed racing.

Plus, the locals, Apollo Ohno and JR Celenski are in it.

It is fast and decisive.

With the Olympic frenzy at the house, I decided to center my pre-school theme around it too!

We had to get ready! We started off making flags from our made up countries. Then we needed to build the venues. All the Tonka's in the back yard sure helped out, we made roads, bumps, and hills in the gravel. Then we moved on to the BIG rocks for our Inukshuks.

Inukshuks are stone figures built to resemble humans. Inukshuks can be found along Canada's northern shores. Originally built as landmarks to aid in navigation, the Inukshuk has been adopted toaday as a symbol to remind us of our dependence on each other and the value of strong relationships. What a great emblem the Canadians Olympic Committee chose!

Our miniature version of Canadian Inukshuks (In-ook-Shook), so fun to say!

I told the kids that I woke up early, early to go see the Olympic torch.

First, we watched a little bit of the relay, thank you youtube! Once the kids got it we made our flame and had our own Olympic Torch Relay. Our Olympic theme music was blaring in the background.

Medal Winners.

Olympic Theme Pages.

Winter Sports Relay Finale.