A Day on Whidbey Island

Yesterday, the kids and I spent a 13-hour, marathon day on beautiful Whidbey Island.  My dear friend, Kristina, had flown in from Denver to visit her parents and invited a bunch of her friends and their kiddos to join them on the island for the day.  I scheduled it into my calendar weeks ago and looked forward to making this day trip with my children.  Like the rest of the week, the temperature hit the 90s yesterday allowing us to enjoy a beautiful ferry ride to the island, many warm hours at the beach near Kristina's parent's home, and then a wonderful, outdoor dinner back at her parent's house in their beautiful garden.  Lia, Logan, and Ella had so much fun making new friends with the nine other children and loved playing on the beach with them and running around the large yard with them once we got back to the house.  Although we didn't get home last night until 11 o'clock, it was so worth it as we really enjoyed every minute of this special, summer day!

Ella, Lia, and Logan posing for me at Robinson Beach where we spent all afternoon with the gang.

My kiddos and Kristina's oldest, Mae, standing on the beach at low tide.

My cutie, Logan.

Ella running back to the other side of the beach.

My long girl, Lia, walking down the shoreline.

Kristina's dad brought down two kayaks for the group to enjoy.  Here is Lia with Kristina's friend, Julie, paddling around the bay.

Giving me a smile!  It was so cute to watch Lia get the hang of paddling her own kayak so quickly.

Although the Puget Sound water was freezing, the kids were not bothered by it at all.  All three of them went in multiple times and Lia even went swimming!  Here is Logan running out of the water.

Since they are only a year apart in age, Lia became fast friends with Jessica's daughter, Sophia.  The two girls spent quite a bit of time playing in the frigid water together.

Sophia and Lia swimming towards me.

All of the moms on the beach.

Top Row:  Kristina, Heather, and me

Front Row:  Jessica and Julie

I went to high school with Kristina, Heather, and Jessica and have loved staying in touch with them over these past twenty years.

Jessica brought her two teenage nieces with her for the day.  They proved to be wonderful entertainers for the kids and helped them make a gigantic, sand castle on the beach.  Although all three kids were heavily involved, Logan absolutely loved it the most!

Ella, Logan, Lia, and Noah (Jessica's other child) posing next to the completed project before we left the beach to head back for dinner.

All of the kids posing together in the yard.

Ella with the younger girls swinging on the hammock.

All eleven children enjoying dinner on the steps of Kristina's parent's home.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner of French dip sandwiches and multiple fresh salads.  After dinner, the teenagers led the kids in an epic, hide-and-go-seek game in the yard for over an hour while the parents got to talk on the porch after dinner.  It was such a pleasant way to spend a summer evening.  Thank you, Kristina, for hosting all of us!