Camping at Silver Lake

We just got home from a lovely two nights at Silver Lake. Kyle wasn't able to go (that's what happens when we plan camping trips for the middle of the week,) but Kim, Elias, Malachi, Grandpa, and Grandma all came along. We had two campsites next to each other, Kim's camper van, a tent, and Grandpa and Grandma's trailer. 

We set up Tuesday afternoon and went for a late afternoon swim/paddle at the lake before having dinner and roasting marshmallows. 

Lydia and Auntie Kim

Wednesday morning we had pancakes (made by Haleigh and Malachi) followed by some water coloring and biking before we packed up all our gear and headed down to the lake. We spent the rest of the day swimming, paddleboarding, floating, and jumping off the dock!

Grandma playing Charades

Elias' turn at Charades

Grandpa and Grandma on the paddleboard

Haleigh just hanging out

Malachi, Auntie Kim, Lydia, and Haleigh

Watercolor time

Haleigh and Malachi making pancakes!

Elias and Annaliese

Malachi

Elias

Annaliese

                                                                                      

Thursday morning we packed everything up and then Kim and I took the kids back to the lake for one last swim before heading home. 

French Toast for breakfast (Annaliese and Elias did the cooking!)

It was another successful camping trip. The kids all took turns sleeping with Grandpa and Grandma and everybody had so much fun! We are all eagerly looking forward to our next camping trip in just a few weeks!

RazzFest 2023

Lynden and the surrounding area of Whatcom County produces between 85-90% of the nation's raspberries. To celebrate this, every year in July, Lynden has a raspberry festival, including a big 3-on-3 basketball tournament. This year Annaliese was on a team with a few of her friends from school. They had fun, she played really well, and Kyle filled in to help coach the team! Unfortunately, they didn't win any of their games but Annaliese scored quite a few points. 

Annaliese, Esme, Emma, and Sydney

Annaliese is wearing the yellow penny on the left.

Lydia, Haleigh, and Camille (Esme's little sister)

Eating vanilla ice cream and raspberries after basketball was finished! 

Whale-watching!

 For Christmas, Jay and Kelley gave us a gift certificate to go on a whale-watching lunch cruise. We went this past weekend and had a great time...thank you Grandpa and Grandma! It was sunny, a little hazy from the lingering smoke (from wildfires up in Canada) but not too hot and not too cold. We saw a humpback whale (ZigZag) and her calf, some sea lions, and a few harbor seals. Lunch was lasagna and Caesar salad (which is Annaliese's favorite type of salad) along with rolls and chocolate chip cookies. We left Fairhaven at about 11:00 and cruised out among the San Juan Islands, returning back at 5:00pm. It is so incredible how many islands there are! 

Our Boat

This is Spieden Island. They used to hunt exotic animals here!

The Humpback Whale!

Sea Lions basking in the sun

Lovely view of Mt. Baker!

Apparently, everyone else was content to be inside...this was coming back into Fairhaven at the end of the day.