Jay and Kelley come to visit

 On Thursday, the day after we got home from Silver Lake, Jay and Kelley flew in for a few days. Grandma showed the girls how to do some fun drawings, we played cards, frisbee, and went for a walk at Berthusen. 

On Saturday, we went out to Anacortes and went on a whale watching tour. The orcas have been super active in our area and multiple times have been in Bellingham Bay. We were super excited because most of the trips recently had seen both orcas and humpback whales, as well as seals and sea lions. Unfortunately, that was not the case for us. We travelled over 60 nautical miles (which doesn't mean much to me, but apparently that means we covered a lot of territory looking for whales!) with no luck. We did see a bald eagle and a few sea lions. Thankfully, it didn't rain while we were out and it was still a beautiful boat ride. We finished off the day with burgers at Structures Brewing and ice cream at Edaleens. 

There's a bald eagle there somewhere

Sea Lions

On Monday, Kyle had to work but it was really nice outside, so we drove out to Semiahmoo to go for a walk. It was beautiful and we saw so many seals sunning themselves on the dock.

Here are a few of the pictures from around the house:

We always love having Jay and Kelley visit and this was another great trip! From here, they headed off to Montana to meet with some old college friends!

Camping at Silver Lake

 As soon as we returned home from Oregon, we unpacked the car and got ready for the next adventure! On Sunday, I took the girls out to Silver Lake to camp with my parents and sisters. 

It was cool and rainy when we set up camp and I quickly learned that our tent was no longer water-resistant. Thankfully, we were able to use the heater in Mom and Dad's trailer to dry out sleeping bags and between Kelsey's tent and the trailer, we all had dry places to sleep! (The tent ended up in the dumpster.)

Unlike other years, this year seemed a bit like a revolving door of who was staying the night! We had the sites reserved from Sunday-Wednesday. Kim and the boys came Monday morning and left Tuesday afternoon. Grandpa stayed Sunday night and then went home after dinner on Monday. He came back Wednesday morning to help pack up and drive the trailer home. And Owen ended up getting sick so he and Kelsey went home Tuesday evening!

Despite the weather not being warm enough to spend too much time at the lake, we all still had a great time. Kelsey brought her hammocks so there was a lot of time spent swinging in them. The boys made a bike track and built a fort in the woods, while the girls built a little fairy house. Owen learned how to play Euchre and we did make it out on the lake one evening for a little bit of paddle-boarding.

Huddled under the canopy

The 14th Annual Gillette-Feffer-Prentice Get-together

 For years we've all been getting together, but with our families scattered across the country, its definitely been more challenging. Last year, we actually weren't able to make it happen, and instead all the guys met up for a weekend in Seattle, connected with a work trip for Adam. (No pictures to prove it happened...but it did!) 

This year, we talked about Spring Break, but it didn't end up working out because the Feffers decided that they were going to move back to CA!

We were resigned to the fact that we probably would get together this year either...but a few weeks ago Ashlie texted with an idea. 

For their move back, they shipped all their stuff and were taking a giant road trip across the northern part of the US and wondered if we wanted to meet up with them in Oregon. And of course we did!

So this year, it was really the 14th Annual Get-together minus the Prentices. 

After lots of looking around and not finding a place to stay, a house popped on VRBO that was perfect. It was supposed to be 7.5 hours from us and about 10 hours for them to get to SLO afterwards. 

We drove down Thursday afternoon/evening and arrived around 11:30pm. (It took a very long time to get through Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia...)

Friday we had plans to go to the Lava Lands Visitor Center, check out the Lava Tube Cave and hike the Lava Butte. So after making breakfast, we all piled back into the van for a fun day of hiking and exploring!

Playing MarioKart while waiting for breakfast...the perfect way to break the ice with friends you havent seen in years!

Making breakfast

Malachi was helping make pancakes...and hanging with the boys in the kitchen!

It was a beautiful day, although very hot and dry. The temp was in the upper 80s so we started with just a short mile hike along the base of Lava Butte.

Eden, Lydia, and Malachi

So beautiful! 

This area is mostly basalt...which made for pretty neat looking landscape!

Haleigh, Josephine, Annaliese, Eleia

Once we were all hot and sweaty and ready to cool down, we headed over to the Lava Tube Cave, which stays a cool 42* all year round. After climbing down approximately 55 steps into the cave, the lava tube is about a mile long. This was definitely the highlight of the trip for the girls! (They all thought I was a bit ridiculous for making them wear pants and bring sweatshirts, but they all told me they were glad they had them because it was definitely chilly in the cave!)

Malachi, Eden, and Lydia

Ducking so they don't hit their heads!

This was an area called "Sand Gardens." As water drips through the ceiling, it carries volcanic sand and sediment and forms these crazy shapes on the floor of the lava tube!

This is the entrance to the cave

We made it...and we're aren't even all the way up the stairs and the sweatshirts are starting to come off...such a big difference in the temperature!

Our first walk had been around the base of a butte. Then we descended into this cave underground. So to round out our day, we headed back to the visitor center to catch the shuttle bus up to the top of the Lava Butte. Apparently, about 7000 years ago, there was a massive volcano and it, along with many of these 'buttes' all erupted at the same time. We walked around the caldera of this one, which is about 150ft deep.

Resting in the shade

Eleia, Eden, Jo, Annaliese, Malachi, Haleigh, and Lydia

And that wrapped up our day of exploring the lava lands! We were all hot, sweaty, and happy. Our VRBO was about an hour away, so we hopped back in the car and headed home for dinner. After dinner, we played a version of Catch Phrase, and stayed up late talking! 

By Saturday morning, it was already time to pack up and head home. The Feffers wanted to get to CA on Saturday, which is why it was such a quick trip...but it was totally worth it! Despite not seeing each other often, the friendship between our families continues to grow and is so easy. We are so grateful for them and that we were able to make this trip happen!