End of the Summer at Blake Island

The kids and I just returned last night from our annual, camping trip to Blake Island over Labor Day weekend.  Since my parents and Eric's family were at Priest Lake, it was a small group this year consisting of just Chris and his family, plus the four of us.  But, that didn't stop us from having another fabulous trip out to one of my favorite places in the world.  The kids and I pulled out Friday right after lunch and met Chris at the Manchester boat launch an hour later.  We piled all of our camping gear into his boat and headed out to the island for the next two days.  The kids had a great time running all over the island enjoying the playground, the beach, and the massive fallen tree near our campsite.  We then headed back to Chris and Natalee's house Saturday afternoon for a delicious dinner, complete with freshly caught crab, before heading home late that evening.  As always, this camping trip was the perfect way to wrap up our marathon summer!

Riley, Ella, and Lia playing on the old school playground that my kids have loved for years.

Down the slide they go!

Lia (whose legs are almost too long) enjoying the zip line.

Lia pushing Logan and Trenton on the tire swing.

And then Riley pushing Lia, Logan, and Trenton on the tire swing.

And then Chris pushing Riley, Lia, Logan, and Trenton on the tire swing.  Oh how the kids love going on this swing every summer!

The children found the framework of a large fort on the beach that was missing most of its roof.  So, Lia and Riley set to work replacing the roof with many pieces of driftwood.  It was quite the impressive site!  Here are my three kids standing in the area between the "three wings" of the fort.

A close-up of my cuties.

Logan and Ella had the time of their lives playing inside the fort.  Logan was very proud of the "fire" he built inside using small pieces of driftwood.  Here he is showing off his work.

Quite possibly the world's cutest four-year old sitting inside the fort.

Logan and Ella next to the fire.

I managed to stop Riley and Lia from their work restoring the roof for a quick moment to take a picture.

Mama and her kiddos.

Logan, Trenton, Riley, Ella, and Lia on the beach.  These five kids have had quite the summer together and have really played well.  From two trips to Priest Lake to Hawaii to Lake Samm to Kandle Park to Blake Island, it's been a fun ride!  Too bad it is all coming to an end with the start of school in just a few days. :-(

A lone sailboat bobbing around in the bay next to our campground.

Logan walking "the plank."

A massive, Madrona tree fell down since last summer in the forested area across from our campsite.  Logan and Trenton discovered this our first evening there and spent quite a bit of time playing on and around the tree.  Here is my boy sitting on this giant, fallen tree.

Logie and the Madrona.

Unfortunately, the sunset just wasn't as stunning as it has been in past years, but we still managed to get a few pictures on the beach before it got too dark.  Here is the Hartland fam minus papa.

Brynn and Garrett arrived on the island from their day in Seattle just as we were taking the cousin picture.  Brynn managed to join the group just in the nick of time!

Trenton and Logan smashing shells on the beach at twilight.

Logan jumping on his pile of shells.

After a cozy night's sleep in our tent, we woke up Saturday morning to a cloudy day.  By the time we left in the afternoon to head back to Chris' house, the sun had come out in full force making for a warm afternoon and evening.  Here are the five youngest playing on the awesome teeter-totter made out of driftwood that they found on the beach.

The three boys on their end.

And the two girls on their end.

Seesawing away!

The kids went back down to the huge, driftwood fort for a portion of the morning.  Here is Ella poking her head out of one of the "windows."

For some reason, Logan thought it was too hot for his shirt and marched around the fort topless for quite some time.  It was pretty funny.

We ended back up at the camp for some Frisbee time before lunch and packing up.  Here is Lia catching a throw from Chris.

Lia throwing the Frisbee off to Riley.

Chris organized an Ultimate Frisbee game for the older kids that Lia played in.

Lia guarding Riley.

Riley throwing the Frisbee on to Garrett.

After packing up our campsites, we headed out in Chris' boat to pull up the two crab pots he had put in the water the day before.  He got a total of eight rock crabs that were large enough to take home to cook and eat that evening.  Before he killed them, the kids had a great time naming the crabs and playing with them.  Here is Lia with her crab.

Logan holding his pet crab, Davy Jones, who he named after the pirate with the giant, crab claw hand.

Lia and Callie with their crabs and Tip.

The gang posing for one more picture with their crabs before they become our dinner!