1 Welcome Isabella, Mary, Doug and Gramma (on left) and Mama Cari and Richard on the right! This is breakfast the first day (Sunday) of their week-long visit to our house.
2 Ben had a wonderful time playing with his little cousin. He was SO gentle with her.
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4 Mama Cari and Isabella out at Battle Point playground with us :)
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7 Doug and Sam practicing some lacrosse. It was so fun seeing Doug give him pointers.
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10 Cowboy chili bonfire party to kick off the week - this is Sunday evening. I invited a few neighbors and was lucky enough that about 20 people came! Patricia was spot on bringing macaroni and cheese, and Edie brought dessert.
11 Of course I had activities planned...one of them might possibly have been chores of mine disguised as an activity. We also had the caber toss, and I found a tire in the woods, so that became a discus. Turns out one of our new friends just happened to be a discus thrower! He really sailed that tire! This one is leaf pulling...
12 This one is Phil showing us how the leaf pull is done!
13 And this is Doug on the caber toss!
14 My fire heating the Dutch oven.
15 Phil and Colin
16 Dave working the Dutch oven - thank you, honey, for manning the chili station!
17 What story am I telling?
18 The RV pad is under construction so the heavy equipment is still in the background.
19 Out on a fishing trip with Doug on Tuesday. Monday was spent going on a jog and getting to see the town.
20 It was a little cold and windy out in the early morning. I was thinking to myself - how did I get roped into this? Am I going to be sick to my stomach? I was already trying to fight off a cold...
21 These guys waked us pretty good. We are heading north to Whidbey Island.
22 Doug checking out the fishing prospects so far.
23 I'm freezing my tail off but having fun!
24 You call these...what? Spooners?
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26 My first catch ever - or is it?
27 Mom huddled by the heater having a great time!
28 We actually spotted a pod of orcas that were previously unknown! Our Capt (Matt - www.tyeecharters.net) called it into the Orca Network! I got to see a double breach!
29 That's the south end of Whidbey Island!
30 Doug's catch!
31 My first catch!
32 Wow!
33 How do you hold this thing?
34 Groovy! A King Salmon! That is a top shelf fish!
35 We took a bunch of normal pictures then I randomly did this - part frozen, part hysterical with catching a fish!
36 You hold it out from your body so it looks even bigger!
37 Look at that big FISH!
38 This is how it's done, folks! We caught four, kept three. You keep hatchery fish only. And they have to be at least 22" long.
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40 Back at the dock! Thank you SO much Doug for this very memorable trip!
41 While the fish was being cleaned and gutted, this little juvenile seagull was waiting expectantly for the innards. Look at the little mouth open!
42 This poor fish's lunch was a bit interrupted!
43 Doug made fabulous sushi from the fresh caught salmon!
44 That is quite a roll!
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46 Doing a photo shoot on Wednesday in our Skene tartans - this is a family tradition for many years. Glad to keep it alive - thanks for pulling all the tartans together, mom!
47 Here are just a few of the photos the photographer took. (Courtesy Shari Bradbury - www.sharibradburyphotography.com)
48 Poor Dave was at work and couldn't get away. I hope to PhotoShop him in still...
49 Some fun time with my brother lumberjacking :)
50 Mom preparing the stuffing. It is now Thursday morning :) I have gone to a Turkey Trot with some friends - I ran up to their house via some trails then Dave picked me up. He played ukulele with Christine's Dad (Tom - from Long Island as well!) and then we high-tailed it home to rescue the boiling potatoes.
51 Neil Hoffman and Edie Spears came up. They are engaged now!
52 Making the legendary cranberry sauce!
53 Sam was in 7th Heaven - I found him out by Dave's new rock wall with his safety glasses and geology hammer in hand. He'd found crystals inside the rocks used for the wall!
54 Edie looking on!
55 Taking Isabella out on a hike in our woods for a little bit while Mary relaxed. She walked all the way out to the boys' fort, learning to watch out for slippery roots! We also talked about "windy, windy!" and moss and lichen.
56 Listening to and looking for birdies.
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58 Trying to take good selfies. I would take one, then show her the result, see if she liked it, then try again. She had pretty much the same face each time!
59 Yellow leaf! Find yellow leaf :)
60 Soft moss.
61 Moss on tree bending over trail.
62 That was fun, Isabella! Thanks for the walk in the woods!
63 She loves Benji-Benji!
64 Doug has been busy chopping wood and making kindling.
65 Learning stump dancing from Sam, who is guarding her back so she doesn't topple.
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67 Watching Daddy play with cousins.
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70 Cute little sweetie!
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72 Carving time!
73 Plating up!
74 Dave has been working ALL day making dish after dish!
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76 Thank you for spending Thanksgiving with us!
77 I got in a little riding before we went to Seattle. It was great for Doug and Mary to come and see where I ride. Isabella saw "horsie!" This is Emmy, a beautiful Irish Cob.
78 Getting groomed first.
79 Dressage lesson with Janet Grunbok - a very experienced trainer who I am thankful to have found.
80 A trip to Seattle on the last day (Black Friday) to see Pioneer Square and Pike Market.
81 Pioneer Square.
82 Walking through downtown.
83 An Underground Tour in progress.
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85 Oh boy! This is Sam's favorite store - Agate Designs! A mineral and gem store.
86 Doug and I like this one :)
87 Pike Market!
88 Now we're hoping for fish throwing!
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92 Seattle Art Museum (SAM!)
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94 The original Starbuck's.
95 A shrimp statue!
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97 Running to the ferry!
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99 A little present for Isabella from Benji. It's BenBear!
100 Walking to the beach by Treehouse Cafe.
101 Being careful that she doesn't go out in the road.
102 A little breezy out!
103 Ben entertaining Isabella with another crazy dance.
104 Sam looks like a crab caught in a net!
105 On a turkey trot trail run :)
106 Dave playing with Christine's father, Tom, who also happens to be from Long Island and plays the ukulele!