San Juans - Part 1

Part 1, because I split up this blog into 4 (or more) posts, just to make it more manageable. We had an amazing family weekend up in the islands...family, plus this wonderful dog...


She thinks she's a lap dog...


Cozy with our 80 pound lap dog...

Hanging out in the ferry lines...

Waiting for the ferry on the beach...

Andrew found a tiny crab that we all got to hold...

On the ferry, showing off my wind-blown party hair...Matthew's face is priceless (click on the picture to enlarge and see his expression better)...

The boys had a blast - the best little travellers in the world...

Brr...so cold and windy on the ferry! The boys pretended to skydive - tiny Matthew about got swept away!

We got home around 10 pm - Margaret made a super duper cozy bed for the boys...they loved it! Everyone slept SO well up there! Must be the fresh air, activity and family...oh, and the cozy beds. :)

Trixie IS a good dog...it's the people that let her on the bed that are 'bad'...he he...all was fun until Pop walked in and caught us all red-handed! Look at the expressions on everyone's faces!

Uncle Jon is so wonderful to the boys...here, he's helping Matty with an owiee...one of many over the weekend (he's going through his "I need a band-aid" phase)...

Playing in the tee-pee after breakfast...

Lindsey and Jon made fantastic breakfast - 2 days in a row!

Coffee time on the deck in the morning while the rascals play...

Mom, Andrew, Trixie playing ball...

Headed to Olga island - 5 adults, 2 kids, 1 big dog...

Margaret and Matthew enjoying the ride...ah! The smile on his tiny face is priceless!

Andrew's FAVORITE thing to do is drive the boat...

Matthew had a blast, too - except he's more fond of spinning donuts, while Andrew actually likes to drive to a destination :)

Momma and her prince charming...

Mom and her princess...

Andrew loves Auntie Lindsey...how could he not? She comes with art/crafts, kids books, bandaids and neosporin...

Making the trek up the long, steep ramp to Olga...

Mr. Matthew did it all by himself...such a tiny, cutie pie...

Out back at the Olga cafe - trying to find a spot to tie my dog up. It's true, having a dog creates more work and headaches - but this girl makes it ALL so worth it...

My little family at Ogla cafe after lunch...

Walking back to the boat...couldn't have been a more beautiful day...

Waiting for the group to get back to the boat...next stop - Deer Harbor for ice cream!

This spot was made just for Trixie (actually, it was made for a porta-potty)...

My sweeties make me smile all the time...I love seeing them together...

Checking out some beautiful pottery at Deer Harbor...we ended up with a special starfish bowl for Matthew (one of a kind, he says!) and a hot cocoa mug for Andrew...

Time for ice cream - YUM!

Sweet Dreams...see it?

We met George the Yorkie outside of Olga cafe - they followed us (not really) to Deer Harbor. Matty kept saying how bad he wanted to hold the tiny dog. George's owner offered it, without knowing he'd been asking. Sweet boy was in heaven! Look at that face! My baby is really growing up...

Walking 2 monkeys and 1 big dog is a workout...

Trixie found a buddy to swim with...

After lunch, ice cream and beach frolicking, the boys and Margaret snooze in the bow as we head back to Friday Harbor...

Pop and Uncle Jon work with Andrew on his soccer skills...

My happy SIX year old :)

Lego time!

Bath time...

Margaret saved the day...I had a little bit of a meltdown after an hour of screaming and whining out of the little one, so she jumped in to do bath...and even managed to cook a fabulous dinner at the same time! We are so, so lucky to have her back in our lives...

Ending the day with family dinner #1...yum! Good times...