Orcas Island

I am so far behind in blogging about our summer!!! And the fact that it has felt like fall for the last week or two hasn't helped motivate me to get caught up. Blogging about summer right now feels kind of like watching Christmas movies in July.

One of the highlights of our summer was a trip to Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands with Kolby's mom and Rex, and his brother and four nephews. They were amazing and DROVE the 13 hours from Utah to then drive some more to go camping with us.

It started with a ferry ride:

And then the fun began:

We camped in Moran State Park on Cascade Lake, which had a 3 mile trail around it. While Kolby and I were out on a trail run we discovered this fantastic tree overhanging the lake. And we decided we should probably use it, since it had gone and grown itself so perfectly and all.

Amelia deliberated for a lifetime, but never did decide to take the leap.
This was our secret swimming spot near our campground. Perfect for late night swims, launching the kayak, and jumping in the lake after a run.
Firebenders

So Amelia does not need to know that I'm including these photos. She's still mad at me for taking this series of pictures.

I was just taking the photos because the lighting was so nice and she looked so cute eyeing the marshmallow.But then it fell on her face.

Which started out funny for all.
That's about when the crying started. I got in double trouble because I was laughing "at" her and also taking pictures of the marshmallow bomb. The fact that these pictures are evidence that she originally thought it was funny still doesn't buy me any slack.

I had my birthday while we were there--which was intentional. In February when I was booking the trip, I decided this would be the perfect birthday present, and it was.

On my birthday Kolby and I went into East Sound, the main little town on Orcas, and Amelia came with us. We found a great little beachside restaurant with patio dining and ordered a big bucket of mussels and garlic bread.
And when we got back to camp Madeline and I went for a sunset ride.

It was a lovely way to turn 35 years old. (Ouch).

A couple of sweet pics of my girls:

And one of my guy. He doesn't get the 70's summer filter. Because I'm lazy. And we already have a whole box of photos of him with the original 70's summer filter:

The last morning we all headed into East Sound for breakfast. The kids played on the beach catching tiny crabs and critters in the tide pools while we soaked up our last morning of island life and I plotted how to move there.

This picture makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. That's Kolby looking so proud behind Pam and Rex.
It was such a relaxing and beautiful place to visit, and we had a great time hanging out with the cousins. I'm already plotting how and when to get back there!

Poo-Poo Point

Hehehe. Today we went for a hike up to Poo-poo Point on Tiger Mountain. I figured three things would get the girls to the top: the name (just try saying Poo-Poo Point without laughing), plenty of treats, and the lure of paragliders up at the top.

I was right. (Loved the name, loved the treats, loved the paragliders.)

(I think this caterpillar is somewhere in my car right now.)

New house 2.0

Since getting out of school in June, it seems I have come down with a little home reno ADD. (I didn't put the H in there because I can't say I've really had the hyperactivity...it is summer afterall, and there's been far more sitting pool/beachside than working on the house.)

The reason I consider it ADD is that I don't really preplan to do anything. The thought process behind every project goes something like this, "I need to make the kids some lunch. Oooh, lookee there. I think that pantry door needs some chalkboard paint. I'mgonnadoitrightnow." Three hours later the girls are in tears because I never fed them lunch, but my pantry door has been sanded, primed, and the second coat of chalkboard paint is drying.

So what follows below is a few snapshots of projects I've worked on this summer. But please rest assured that behind the camera the rest of the house remains a complete disaster.

The pantry door Day 1:
Hmm...maybe that's where the attention deficit comes from.

As it is now with a little patina and my master list:

The laundry room. I think this deserves a before and after since it involved HOURS of scraping wallpaper. You'll remember this before shot. It's hideous.
And look closely through the doorway. You can see the lovely matching floral wallpaper, wallpaper border, and valance from the foyer:
I know this is an overload of afters, perhaps far more than a laundry room warrants. This project makes me so happy because you can see the laundry room from the kitchen and living room, and it makes such a difference (to me) to have that @#%^ wallpaper and matching floral valance gone. I still need a window treatment and some decorations for the wall maybe, but for now it's good.

Okay, and maybe in that photo of the breakfast nook you noticed I brought in the hutch to go on top of the credenza. Want to guess why? Because I got tired of looking at this blank wall. I even put a nail in it to hang the picture! (Pardon the bad photo--it was taken with my old iphone)

Unfortunately, I'm still noncomittal with the rest of the space on that wall. And the location of lamps. Everything gets moved around every few days.

Are you bored yet? Want to see a few more small projects I've completed?

Stripped more wallpaper and painted the tiny master bath (I think the picture needs to be lowered a few inches):
Closet doors (I think I need to move them to the left two inches):

Painted my old ikea desk white for a study spot in the nook in our bedroom:
Mod Podged a bunch of maps on Amelia's old bookshelf. It's bit of a Monet--cute from afar, but a mess up close. It was my first attempt at Mod Podge, and I learned a few things.
Finally organized the crap important items above the desk. Have I mentioned how much I hate glass fronted cabinets?

And since I borrowed some things from the bookshelf for above the desk, that required a little rearranging of my favorite bookshelf.

I think that's about it so far! Before school starts for me on the 20th of September, I need to scrape wallpaper from two more bathrooms and paint our master bedroom. Or mabye I won't.