Our Family Holiday

We had a little family holiday to Whidby Island. Gerard really wanted to go somewhere for the long weekend and was excited to" show the kids the ocean". Since we bought the business we haven't really been away with just our little (growing) family, so it was extra special. (And for me since I didn't have to pack up all the camping stuff. To clarify that, it was GREAT) Finally a family picture for the church basement photo wall. The picture that is up there right now Sharleen is about six months old, and of course no Danielle at all. (terrible) Our Christmas card pictures for the last two years have not been "good enough" for the church wall. (ohh, boy what is good enough?) One year it was in front of a Christmas tree, and last year we were out on a family evening and plopped down to have a picture taken in all our winter gear, you really couldn't tell who we were, not really the point of a get-to-know-each-other-picture-wall.

We were so blessed with the absolutely beautiful weather.

We did lots of kite flying. There is just the right amount of wind and lots of big open spaces. The kids loved holding on...I think they wanted to fly. " Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest heights..." Fly like Mary Poppins. At least that is the song they were singing. Danielle loved playing in the sand, with sticks and rocks. She is at such a cute age and so much fun.

We spent a lot of time exploring the Island. This is the wharf in the town of Coupeville. And the Ft. Casey Historical Reserve was very interesting. We had a tour, it's a great way to hear all the little tidbits of info that you just don't learn walking through.

We did lots of playing, making, creating whatever it's called, it was fun.

Flowers for you Mom! I was given lots of flowers.I really noticed the just four-year age gap between the oldest and Danielle when we were hiking. The older ones almost do the trail two times with all the running and hiding, but with her, she still stops and inspects every ant and picks up all pine cones, and yup! wants to be carried. (we forgot the backpack carrier for her, I don't think Gerard will ever forget that again)

Gerard loves pointing out all the amazing things that live in the ocean and the kids are right there with him. The girls telling each other secrets... Here is a picture of all the "treasures" that were collected on the beach. Timothy loved all the great big pieces of seaweed, and the girls loved the shells. They all fought over the cell phone. We had to "lose" some of the shells, rocks, seaweed, and driftwood that everybody wanted to take home. Our van would never have been able to move with all the "treasures". Eating ice cubes and watching T.V.( hotel ice cubes are just the best) if I had room in the van I would have taken the ice-making machine with...wait a minute I don't know how I would have declared THAT at the border. (notice hubby's head, just one of the kids)lol "Look Mom and Dad a house made out of big Lincoln Logs" lol.