In and Out of Canada

Living close to the Candian border has so many super benefits.  We explored another one today:  Point Roberts.  What's really odd about Point Roberts is that it's actually in the U.S., but you have to go through Canada to get there.  Sounds like a bit of a rigamarole, right?  But not if you have NEXUS passes! 
Wikipedia describes it as "A geopolitical oddity, Point Roberts is a part of the United States that is not physically connected to it, making it an exclave of the U.S. It is located on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, south of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and can be reached from the rest of the United States only by traveling through Canada or crossing Boundary Bay by sea or air."  The area is really quite nice but what I really wanted to see was this:

I've read quite a few really good reviews of this park -- it is supposed to be a nice place to walk, whale watch, fly kites, picnic.  As it turns out, they were right!  We did all of those things, and lots of exploring and playing.

The whole park is a photographer's dream.  Everywhere you look, spectacular scenery galore.

I think I took about 60 pictures.

Promise not to include them all.  :)

This was neat... HUGE old anchors and a sun dial made a neat sculpture.

Even though I am still battling a chest cold, it felt good to be outside...

And to spend time with family.

Our kite was really not quite big enough to handle the big winds that come around the point.

But there was plenty of water,

rocks...

and sand with which to play.

(and nap on).

It's looking like more good times ahead as the weather continues to improve.  Then maybe we won't need to look quite so much like Abominable Snowmen at the beach.

Here's to the sun!

More Easter... with Ash!

This Easter was just full of good stuff.  Old friends returning (even if only briefly), Easter egg hunts, new wheels (well, for the girls), and a yummy dinner.  Since returning to Bellingham, Ash traded in his motorcycle for this:

I couldn't help myself. I've been calling it the Power Puff. I thought it was perfect for Easter.  :)

Stefan and Ash spent a fair amount of time admiring it...

While the girls played "tailgate party."

The Bunny was good to the girls this year, but really, when is he not?  Lucky kids...

I already posted a video of Jenica on her new BIG girl bike, and here is Kerry with a retrofitted little big girl bike. :) 

We had gone to an Egg Hunt with what appeared to be the whole Town of Bellingham the day before, and seeing that it was so overwhelming for Kerry (especially), we decided to put all our yard space to use. 

Home egg hunt!

All in all.. a really super Easter. And super start to Spring!

Bunny Brings Bikes!

Easter Celebrations Commence

The weather lately has been the perfect description of Spring:  rain, wind, sun, hail.  Not exactly the kind of weather for being outside, but great weather for:  Decorating eggs!  Here we are getting ready...

Honestly, egg dyeing (sp?) is something I've never attempted before.  My aversion to any kind of mess has always prevented it.  However, this year, a little cabin fever and a spectacular Tye Dye egg kit prompted me to give it a try. 

The girls were totally engrossed.

Jerry would be so proud of our results:

Groovy!

Now, what I really should have taken a picture of is what my hands looked like when this was all over.  (Eeeewwww...)

Creature from the Black Lagoon: watch out, you've got competition...

:)

Another Washington Beauty

and well-kept secret, I think.  Maybe it's just that it's a new secret.   And what a find...

We needed to get out this weekend.  Last weekend we spent the whole weekend Spring Cleaning.  (To look around today, I'm sorry to say, you would never know it, but heck, I know that the walls have been vacuumed, so there.) So, this weekend, we decided we needed some fun, outside time.  

Road Trip! 

My friend Michelle and I were talking about his place about a month ago as a possible fun site for an unusual birthday party or just for fun. 

It's Cama Beach on Camano Island.  It's only about an hour away -- and simply beautiful,

even in the mud.

There are cabins you can rent, some right on the water.

And, there are also loads and loads and loads of things for the kids to do. 

Beachcombing.

Beach walking.

Fishing?  Or, maybe just almost getting wet.

Swinging.

Wandering.

I just enjoyed some of these first signs of spring.

And the smell of the ocean.  A favorite.

Really, a great way to spend the day. 

Bring a picnic!

And your mucky boots. 

I can't wait to come back.

:)