Bellingham Fun

Directly after Josie's kindergarten graduation we headed up a bit farther north to my sister's house in Bellingham.  Both kids are in heaven here with all the area to play in and Drew's big machines.  It wasn't long ago that Benjamin's reaction was this:

 But now he just can't get enough of all the guy stuff up at the Wiley's.  With Jon (17) and Drew (15) those Wiley boys know boy stuff!!  After awhile on the tractor they decided to put on some ear protection.

 Drew built a fire in the fire pit and we roasted marshmallows after dinner.  Another highlight to our Bellingham trip was that Grandma and Papa were up there as well.  Fun to see them too.

 Fire... always a big hit. 

 Roasting marshmallows with a little help from Auntie Kim and Grandma

 Tough to keep it close enough to the fire without it burning and falling into the fire.

There was this crazy infiltration of caterpillars.  I had been reading the book, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver about the migration of the monarch butterflies so at first this was fascinating to me.  Then Fred, the science teacher, told us that this type of caterpillar will turn into a moth not a butterfly.  Not quite as beautiful of a thought but still amazing nonetheless.  Josie collected a bunch into a shoe box and created a cozy little home for them complete with some leaves, a flower and some sticks. 

In the morning my sister talked me into swimming in Lake Padden.  Not really loving cold water I was a bit hesitant.  It was my first time swimming in a wet suit and although at first a bit uncomfortable, I got the hang of it and kept up pretty well.  We swam about a mile and it was really a refreshing way to start the day.  Wish we could do that more often!!  Feeling a bit like a stuffed sausage but here is photo documentation.  Drew paddled right next to us in his kayak and was there for support.  Unfortunately no photo of that.  Thanks Kim and Drew!!

 Drew mesmerizes the kids with his tools and toys outside and Jon does the same with his musical instruments and video games inside.

 One of the highlights was the Deming Log Show.  It seriously was like flying to a different country.  Same English language but worlds away from our Seattle life.  Here the kids are enjoying an enormous (split into two) shaved ice.  It was a really hot day but the ice was so cold that Josie had to put her sweatshirt back on.

Another great time in Bellingham.  We will be back. Thanks Wileys and Grandma and Papa!!