Fox Family Fishing Fun!!!

On Saturday we headed out with the roosters for some fishing! Apparently, the fish do not enjoy sleeping in on Saturdays as much as I do!! As I stated in an earlier post, Gabe and Shawn are the fishermen in our family, but on Saturday we all did some fishing! I took on the task of teaching Grady how to cast....and if I do say so myself he caught on beautifully! We started out on Bowman Bay at Deception Pass....this place was great! It had a huge dock with two levels, so Shawn stayed on the top deck most of the time with his pole and crab net and the boys and I ventured down to the lower deck. Shawn enjoys the quiet time of fishing and I on the other hand have no clue how to be quiet, so it just sort of worked perfectly for me to take the little fellas! After an hour of fishing with my little fellas, I began to wonder how my Grandpa spent countless hours with my sister and I fishing at their pond. Between almost getting hooked myself too many times to count and getting dozens of hooks out of kelp and the dock...there was no way I was doing any fishing of my own...and yet my Grandpa always had a line in the water...obviously he was a tad more talented than myself! Unfortunately as great as Bowman Bay was there were no fish to be caught there, so we ventured onto the West Beach of Deception Pass. Shawn was the lone fisherman in this venture...the boys and I walked the beach searching for the perfect rocks for the boys' rock collections! We enjoyed a picnic lunch and some much needed relaxing....and Shawn even caught a fish! Although the salmon are in the peak of their run right now...he was not able to hook one of those, but he caught a snazzy flounder instead! We had a wonderful time fishing the day away!

Our Vacation!!

We just finished our longest ever family vacation!!! We were gone 9 days..... had an awesome time... saw so many sights....and were never so ready to be home!!! I posted the pics....there were over 300 to go through...and while each of them were wonderful; I really hated to bore you with them..so I narrowed it down to 76!! I hope you enjoy them! I also tried to come up with the best way to put our trip into a short summary...we saw and did so much...I really have a hard time summarizing anything...so I'll do my best!!
Saturday, August 15 - Left bright and early and headed for the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon! We had visited this last November, but the day was extremely foggy and we really couldn't see anything..so we thought we should attempt it again! I'm glad we tried it again..we were not disappointed! The views were amazing! We hiked a couple of trails which lead to some beautiful waterfalls! We ended our day at the Multnomah Falls...a huge waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge! After a full day at the Gorge we headed down to Eugene for the night!
Sunday, August 16 - We left Eugene early and headed down to Crater Lake for the day!! Crater Lake was amazing...the water was so clear!! I haven't seen water this clear since we went to the Virgin Islands---It was beautiful! We took pics from every angle, hiked to the top of Watchman's Point....definitely the best point to see the Lake from! We spent most of the day at Crater Lake and then headed down to Medford for the night! On the way to Medford, Shawn spotted one of his weaknesses....a North Face Outlet store! So, we stopped off, found some bargains and then continued onto Medford!!
Monday, August 17 - One of two of the longest driving days!! We were headed to San Francisco...and 6 hours later we arrived!! It was pretty much a non-stop trip..we started our day off with a huge breakfast...and were determined to eat an early dinner in Chinatown! We arrived at our hotel in downtown S.F. around 2:30 and headed down to check out Chinatown! We fought our way through the crazy, busy Chinatown streets, bought some super cheap souveniers, and ate some yummy Chinese food!!
Tuesday, August 18 - We left the hotel at 8:30 and didn't get back until after 8:30 that night....it was a day full of up hill and down hill San Francisco sight seeing! We started off with a cable car ride down to Fisherman's wharf!! The Cable Cars were definitely a highlight of our time in San Francisco! We went to the Aquarium on the Bay, rode the double decker carousel, shopped on Pier 39, shopped and tasted-tested Ghiradelli Chocolates at the Original Chocolate Factory, Grady and I tasted shark for the first time!!, saw Lombard Street--known for being the crookedest street!, walked along the Bay, ate and ate and ate some more.....we then hopped back on the Cable Cars for a trip to Union Square---we decided we were pooped and would do Union Square the next day....so we took a couple of pics and then back up the hill to our hotel!
Wednesday, August 19 - Started the day at the Cable Car museum and then headed to the Golden Gate Bridge! We walked along the bridge...trying to avoid being hit by the crazy bicyclists!! We then headed off for a drive along the Bay...we got out and tromped around in the sand....forced Grady to walk next to the water---we were trying to get him to overcome his fear of waves!! We ended our day at Union Square where we had an awesome Mexican dinner and some cheesecake in the Square!
Thursday, August 20 - Our final day in San Francisco! We ended our visit with a cruise to Alcatraz!!! The tour was awesome....excuse the dorky headphones in the photos...it was part of the tour! I was definitely happy to only be visiting the prison---it was cold and damp...not a place I would have wanted to stay! There was a funny but true quote on one of the gift shop walls, "If you break the rules, you go to prison. If you break the prison rules, you go to Alcatraz." Very true! After Alcatraz we grabbed a bite of lunch at Butterfly...let me just take a quick detour here...we had some of the best food while we were gone! I had quite possibly the best hamburger I have ever eaten....it was Kobe beef, aged cheddar cheese and some special sauce....Shawn had a sushimi salad...which he got Gabe--the "I'm never eating fish boy" to try!! I declared that if I lived in S.F. I would weigh a ton!!! The food was awesome! Okay back to the trip...we headed north on HWY 101..when we decided to take a detour! We decided to take HWY 1 along the CA. coast! When we started this drive it appeared to be a short detour..maybe an hour or so longer than taking 101....oh contrair....the trip should have taken at the most 3.5 hours on 101 and 6.5 hours later we arrived in Arcata, CA!!! This was the most beautiful drive I have ever taken, it was completely along the Northern CA. coast...the road was crazy curvy...it was like the road was tied up in knots---I have to admit when we first started this "detour" I was annoyed....I was pooped and just wanted to get to the next hotel! But after seeing my first grey whale...my attitude changed! I have seen whales in captivity before but actually seeing them in the wild..WOW!! So 6.5 crazy curvy winding hours later.....we were in bed!
Friday, August 21 - After our crazy night before we decided to sleep in.....until a whopping 8:00!!! We grabbed a quick bite and then headed off to the Redwood National Forest! This place was amazing.....the pictures do not do the Redwoods justice...they are HUGE!! When I tried to wrap my arms around the tree, I couldn't even get an eighth of the way around it...when we found a fallen tree, all four of us climbed up on it....and it wasn't just "throw your leg over the trunk", it was climb up the trunk and have a seat! This was probably one of the more memorable parts of the trip...for all of us! You just can't believe how big these things are until you have stood next to one!
Saturday, August 22 - A day of driving along the Oregon Coast! We really hadn't planned too much for Saturday...just drive along, enjoy the view, enjoy the beach...whatever the mood struck! We stopped off at the world's largest sea lion cave...and while the sea lions had opted to spend their day sunning on the rocks and not in the cave..we had another opportunity to spot some breaching Grey Whales! It is absolutely awesome to witness this---definitely something I will never forget! We had heard the Oregon Coast drive was one of the best...and while it was beautiful...if you ever have the chance, I wouldn't miss the California coast drive.....Shawn and I both agree it was worth the late night, white knuckled driving!
Sunday, August 23 - We spent the night in Astoria, OR. right on the WA and OR border. After breakfast we headed to Long Beach, WA. This was one of the places along the WA. coast we had heard was a must see...the other being Ocean Shores--which we did in the end of July! When we arrived in Long Beach..the place was packed! I had assumed it was because it was an absolutely gorgeous and clear day...but the actual reason was because there was a kite flying competition! I never knew there was an actual way to fly a kite...but there is! These competitors put their kite flying to music...I could have stayed there all day....it was mesmerizing! But home was awaiting us....so on we went!!! Home never loooked so good and my bed has never felt so inviting!! Good to go...but good to be home!

The Jetty Island Adventure!

On Wednesday our church group headed to Jetty Island in Everett! I had heard of this place last summer and had wanted to check it out, but for one reason or another it just never happened...So I was ecstatic to be heading there this summer! I was especially ecstatic to be heading there with someone who knew how to do the whole Jetty Island thing as well! Jetty Island is a man-made island just off the Port of Everett. It has "real" sand beaches, unlike the rocky ones we have on the other beaches in the area. It is a small uninhabited island and the only way to get to the island is via a free passenger ferry! The catch is you have to get there early to get a ride to the island on the ferry...there are tickets that are on a first come first serve basis...so the early bird definitely gets the worm! So, Julie and I made plans to be there by 9:40 'ish...the first ferry doesn't leave until 10:00...and by the time we got there, the 10:00 ferry was full and there were only 12 tickets left for the 10:15!! Lucky for us we only needed 9, so we grabbed them up and waited! The thing is, you can catch a ferry all day, but you may have to sit and wait a while for one...and the last ferry back is 5:50, so to get the most from the day and not have to swim back, it's your best bet to get there early...because if you are one of the first on the island, you are also one of the first to get the pick of the ferry tickets home! So, after a short wait, we hopped on the ferry and settled back for the 2 minute ride!! We jumped off, hit the only potty on the island and then set off to find a spot to spend the day! The kids had an awesome day...they built forts, dug holes in the sand, played football, and even got in the freezing cold water for a swim! The Moms enjoyed a picnic lunch, some girl gab time and best of all just relaxing!! The Island is the perfect get away...there are no cars to worry about zooming by, no dogs to have to worry about your kids stepping in their stuff--they aren't allowed on the island, the island is big enough, you can stretch out and not feel like you are sitting on the group next to you..in fact I felt like we had the whole island to ourselves---and all of this only 20 minutes from home...what a deal! This was definitely a gem of a find...can't wait for my next trip to Jetty!!!

**********By the way, you will notice all of us are wearing jackets...it was a cool and overcast day---none of us were complaining though!! During lunch we even included a thank you to God for giving us the cool weather----last week was a bit hot for us!!

It Appears My Boys Need A Lesson In Ice Cream Etiquette!!

Tonight we headed down to Mukilteo Docks to do some fishing...well, Shawn and Gabe were doing some fishing and Grady and I were doing some reading and people watching! After about 30 minutes, Grady and I were feeling a little restless, so we ventured after some ice cream from the fish bar!! We ended up with 3 super huge soft serve swirl cones.....they were yummy...but extremely messy!! Evidently, my boys have yet to learn how to properly eat an ice cream cone...they had it everywhere!! Grady had it dripping from his nose, arms, and chin and Gabe looked like he was sporting an ice cream goatee!! By the time I had instructed them on eating a soft serve cone, they were too far gone----but, I guess you have never really enjoyed your ice cream until you are wearing it!!!

Gabe started out better than Grady, but things only went South from here!


Yikes!!! He was tired of the dripping cone, so he decided to bite the cone so there wouldn't be so many drips.....bad plan!

Texas Hold 'Em for Him.....Fun Time For Us!!

On Friday evening Shawn headed out to play Texas Hold 'Em with a group from church...this was his second time going...the first time he tied for first and this time he got 3rd out of 16 people! We know gambling probably isn't the best thing...but when the pastor and worship leader are part of the group....is it really a bad thing??!! Anywho the guys have a great time coming up with nicknames for each other...Shawn's is Gander---he wears his Gander Mountain hat to the games--and who know what else those gentlemen do while the ladies and kiddos are away...but they are having fun and getting to know each other in the process! Well, us ladies decided we should not be left out on the fun...so we all headed to the Hudson's for swimming, waffles, and gabbing! We had a great time as well...they have a small pool in their backyard, so the kids kept themselves entertained outside, while us ladies made breakfast for dinner and got to know each other better! We gabbed for hours...and fortunately all the kids played so well together...you never know how long 12 kids will get along, but there was not a single squabble amongst them all evening!! I am so thankful to have found our church when we moved here....they are a great group of people that we want to spend time with!!!

The kids came up with a game called "Around the World". They would all run in one direction and the current would sort of make a lazy river where they could just float the perimeter of the pool!! Grady loved this...he was the only one who couldn't reach so he wore a life jacket and just floated around!!

Beating The Heat!

I'm sure you all already know, but the last week has been one of the hottest on record for the Seattle area. And, as I'm sure you all know.....almost none of the houses here have air conditioning! So, having a week of 95-100 degree temps. causes for a smidge bit of discomfort! We were extremely fortunate though, our house is surrounded by trees...the warmest it ever got in our house was 86 degrees. We spent the evening cooking and eating outside and had fans blowing on us when we were inside! So, needless to say, we did anything we could to stay cool....luckily on our way back on Tuesday from sight seeing with Greta, she spotted a public lake!! I googled it found out the specifics and we headed out first thing on Wednesday morning!! That place was a life saver---we spent Wednesday, Thursday morning, afternoon and evening there....it was cool and shady...just what you need when it is 86 degrees in your house!! The swimming area of the lake is really clean....they have laid small pebbles on the ground, so it is not all squishy with mud. Gabe even lost his goggles and we were able to see them lying on the bottom in waist deep water...that would never happen in a lake in Kansas---once something is gone it's gone...just ask Shawn about his high dollar Oakley sunglasses that have resided in Fall River Lake for the last 10 years!! When Shawn came along on Thursday evening he even found a $5 bill laying on the bottom....now that is some clean water! I am so thankful Greta spotted this place....definitely a life-saving find....we may have melted at home!!


Gabe taking a swim....he was practicing some of the strokes from swimming lessons!

Grady looking for his own treasure on the bottom of the lake!! No Luck!



Gabe getting ready to cannon ball off of the dock!! I was so surprised he wanted to give that a try....he is usually so cautious!!!

Grady watering the lake!!