I can't believe it's July

Well, no more pictures or videos for a while. My digital camera is toast.

We did have a great July 4th over in Coupeville WA on Whidbey Island where Kali and Gabe live. It was there that I discovered my precious camera was not working.

Kali had a great time planned for all the kids. There was water balloon toss with prizes, soccer goals set up for soccer play, badminton and volleyball, a tent which Ady called a house. We also had a pie eating contest (just cool whip with gummy bears mixed in). The person who found a correctly colored gummy bear was the winner. No hands were allowed. Justifiably the adults got smattered with a few pie tins of cool whip.
We held the picnic at Kali's friends house who lives on Puget Sound. We weren't right on the beach but the view was spectacular. We kept seeing the ferry to Port Townsend, and the breath-taking part was the huge cruise ship sailing from the port of Seattle.
Dave and Michelle were there, and Eric and his kids also. Brent did his annual thing at Gasworks park fireworks display with the Young Adults.
So exciting to read about all the other activites on the 4th.
The evening was, of course, capped off with much fireworks which all enjoyed.

Birthday Videos

I can't resist taking pictures of Adyson. She is so cute!

I Love Summer in the Northwest

This a Dianthus is full bloom in our front yard. We love the mild summers here and in return we have a lot of green and color.
I could not resist taking a picture of our first raspberries to ripen. This was a couple of days ago. Today I went out and picked over 20 ripe, red berries. The next berry to come on will be my blueberries.
I love eating peas right out in the garden fresh off the vine. I planted so many peas this year that I was even able to freeze some. Shelling all those peas reminded me of the farm and helping shell peas every year.

Birthday Time Again

Colin is setting up his new birthday present while Owen waits patiently for it to be ready!
Brent who just turned 23 yrs on the 17th, lovin' on Adyson.
Colin who isn't in the picture challenged Brent to a fight. Guess who won?
These three cousin are all very close in age and are so excited to see each other. Ethan not so much. I think he is being smashed by Jennifer!
Camron, 13 and half, is always photogenic.
Kali and I fixed the kids dinner and said our goodbye as she left the party
Kali bought a group present for all the birthdays in June. The croquet set was well used and even the 3 and 4 yr olds could wield a mallet! Chelle and Dave were there earlier but were sleep deprived from a Friday night campout so they had to go home and catch up on their Z's.
Jennifer took a minute to pose with a croquet mallet and pretty faced croquet ball!

A spirited game of good old-fashioned 4-square took place just outside. Competition was fierce as Camron and Brent were involved.

There is nothing like a simple balloon to mesmerize Adyson. The ladybug boots were a gift from Aunt Kali and Uncle Gabe.
Colin is imagining what Aunt Chelle's giant cupcake is going to taste like. It had yummy chocolate mouse in the middle.

Stanwood/Camano Island Soap Box Derby

Last Saturday we had the opportunity to watch a local Soap Box Derby right in our little town.

Our neighbors had two boys participating in the 13 yr and 7 yr old divisions.
It was a challenge to snap pictures since the cars are going downhill at about 30 miles an hour.

Soccer Fest on Whidbey Island

Kali is happy because her team won the game 2 to 1. This is the second year she has coached. She is learning to hon her skills as a soccer coach! Yea Kali.

Jennifer has become a very aggressive soccer player. She had a head-on with an opposing player and her leg just above the knee was stepped on by the other player's cleats. She came out of the game hurt but went back in 10 minutes or less later. What a trooper! No pain, no gain so they say!
Coach Kali with her assistant coach yelling out instructions to players on the field. The day was so beautiful and sunny that Frank got sunburned on his face and hands; the only things on his body that weren't covered. I just got a little sunburn on my nose, thank goodness.
Ethan and Jen had an all-day soccer tournament and since we had not been to any games this year we decided to make the drive over.
This is the only picture I got of Ethan with his biological Dad, Andy. I regret I didn't get any pictures of Ethan's games. They both have grown, physically taller and improved in their soccer skills tremendously.
Frank and I took the ferry back to the mainland to go to a sealing of a couple in the temple married for 50 years! Then Frank and I participated in a sealing team that we had signed up for last month. We stopped to get gas and groceries and home by 8:30 pm tired from our long day.

How Does My Garden Grow?

Blueberries in clusters on my four blueberry bushes! Love the fresh taste right off the bush.
Peaches getting bigger on my two peach trees!

My poppies in my container bloom every spring and are so spectacular. I save the pods with the poppy seeds and share with my neighbors and friends.


We had a zillion and I mean it, bees pollinating our raspberry flowers. The sound of them all sounded like a whole bee-hive was in my backyard.
I just went out today and ate a couple of red, ripe strawberries. One the slugs had eaten part of, so I cut off that part and it was as good as new.
This raised bed is my pea patch. I picked a bunch yesterday for Michelle like they sell in the bags at Costco. There will be more pickings in the next two weeks. I love peas right out of the garden. Half of them never make it indoors. They are devoured by yours truly.