For the first time since 2020, school started the week before Labor Day weekend. As a result, our annual camping trip to Blake Island happened after the kids had already gone to three days of school. This actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I was still in Utah the weekend before school started this year which meant that my kids would have missed joining Chris and his family out on the island for our annual camping trip with them. Although I was still super tired from this marathon trip and getting the other three kids off to school, I managed to summon enough energy to shop, pack, and head out on this camping trip as the solo parent this past weekend. Since there was rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, we decided to push back our departure and left on Sunday morning and returned on Monday evening. Although the kids were disappointed that we didn't get to spend two nights on the island like we have done the last few years, it helped me find the motivation to pull off this trip with less days and meals to pack for. Overall, we were blessed with some beautiful weather and had a fun time being out on the island with Chris, Natalee, Trenton, Brynn, and her boyfriend, Zach who were visiting from Utah. It was fun to meet Zach for the first time and spend the weekend with this group at a place that we love so well. Here are some pictures from our time out on the island...
September 6th:
After getting out to the island and eating lunch, we set up the tent and then hit the beach because it was so hot. Several people put on their swimsuits and went out and played in the freezing cold water because of how warm it was.
Logan and Emmett.
Ella decided not to pack a swimsuit, but later on, realized that she should have brought it along. Here she is cooling down on top of one of the pilings in the water.
Emmett playing in the sand after swimming.
The teenage boys talking on some driftwood.
Around 5 o'clock, we hopped on Chris' boat for the ride into Seattle for the evening.
Like last year, we enjoyed walking along the waterfront and the kids loved playing at the amazing park again. Here is Ella coming down the jellyfish slide.
Emmett hanging out on one of the swings that remind me of stingrays.
We then walked over to Ivar's restaurant to eat fish and chips for dinner out on the water.
The kids then enjoyed throwing out left over fries to the seagulls.
Logan, Emmet, Ella, Trenton, Zach, and Brynn walking back to Chris' boat in the marina.
September 7th:
After a good night's sleep all cozy in our tent, the kids started the day by piling on top of each other on the half deflated air mattress.
After breakfast, Brynn and Zach took the kids around the campground playing an epic game of Bocce ball.
After some more games in the campground area, we ended up on the beach to skip some rocks.
And take the annual cousin picture on top of a log.
It's kind of sad to think about how much this picture has shrunk over the years. And if it hadn't been for Brynn visiting from Utah for the weekend, there would have only been four cousins in the photo. It's hard to see everyone growing up and flying the nest.
Our annual mommy and kids photo on the beach, minus Lia for the first time ever. Sniff.
My mom and some of Natalee's family came out to join us on the island for the day on Monday. Here is a picture we snapped with grandma and her five grandchildren.
The kids enjoyed playing a game of baseball with the group after lunch.
Ella up to bat.
The group went back out to the beach for the second afternoon in a row. The boys ended up jumping into the water from a large fallen log on the beach. Here is Emmett leaping into the air!
Trenton, Logan, and Emmett all walking out on the log.
Logan jumping in.
Ella decided to follow the boys and jump into the water in her clothes.
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