Vancouver Island

I am sitting on the couch right now posting about vacation and it is not after 8pm.  That is very big for me.  Ava is taking a nap and Kiara and Mckenna are playing with a friend in our basement.  This is day 2 of this and I could definitely get used to it!  Most of the time kids come over to our house to play.  The other day, Tom and I were talking about how both of our houses growing up were the ones that everyone came to.  I loved it this way growing up and I really love it now for our kids.  Anyway, back to vacation.....

Vancouver Island was perfect.  The weather was decent (thank goodness) and the company was fabulous.  All of my brothers and their families were there.  We missed Gramps like crazy but we were glad that Gram could come up for a few days .  I have no idea how I am going to pick just a few pictures to share on this blog.  We took around 100 pictures and they are all really good. 

We arrived at camp around 5:30 pm.  We were planning on getting there around 2:30 but had a little trouble at the boarder.  It appears that if you accidentally bring your car title instead of your 1 year old daughters birth certificate, are coming from Seattle but living in Ohio, driving your grandfathers car and are going to property on the water that you are actually camping on, it might seem to those who don't know you that you are trying to smuggle a baby into Canada.  Anyway, we were late but it didn't matter once we arrived.  Brian's family was there and had set up our tents for us (thank you) .  We arrived to cold beer, good food, and a great time!

We have arrived!!

We had a sandbar the next afternoon but that was the end of it for a few days. 

The following day Jeff & Steven's families arrived and that is when the fun began!

Kiara & Ryan looking for crabs.

Casting was a huge part of our vacation and everyone loved it!

Especially Tom, who caught his first fish EVER!!

Due to the lack of sandbar, the guys & kids took the boat to Miracle Beach for some sand and fishing time.  It was a beautiful day and very fun!

Look at those kids ready to get back into the boat.

Ava's first experience with sand.

Love this picture of Emily & Mc, the curly haired girls.

After the kids went to bed, the adults played games.  I am sure the neighbors loved the laughter and craziness that went on....

I don't have a pic of Holly :( but she was there too)!!

Gram arrived just in time for the talent show.  The kids had snacks, drinks, and entertainment. 

The crew welcoming everyone to the show!

The audience.

Uncle Brian participated in the talent show and brought up the kids to help him in his performance!

These three were playing and laughing SO HARD.  I wish I had it on film.

Emily wanted to wash her feet like her big girl cousins.  It was so sweet.  Look how happy she is!!

SMORES!

Cuddles for Uncle Steven.

I loved being up at Camp with my brothers!  It was a great, great time!

Bainbridge Island, Washington

One of Tom & my favorite spots. 

There is nothing to share or explain about our time on Bainbridge.  The pictures are enough.

Kiara had the best time on Bainbridge.  All of the sports that she could play made her SO happy!  Golf was definitely the highlight for her.

These two loved, loved, loved the fireworks!

Ava's 1st Birthday

We drove from Boise to Seattle and went straight to the Headlee's for a big family dinner.  Of  course, we had a great time! 

On Saturday, June 25th, Ava turned 1.  Ava was very lucky to spend a lot of her 1st birthday with Uncle Rob and Aunt Allison.  Kiara, Mckenna, Tom, and I attended the first family event for the Ben Towne Foundation.  We went to Lincoln Center in Bellevue to watch Cars 2.  The Ben Towne Foundation had two movie theaters for a private viewing of the sequal to Ben's very favorite movie, Cars.  It was packed with kids, parents, grandparents, friends, cousins, aunts, and uncles.  We felt so lucky to have been able to be at this event.

On Sunday the Townes and the Headlees gathered together to celebrate Ava's, Cooper's, and Gabriel's, birthdays.   

It's a pool party!

Ava has no idea what is going on but it doesn't matter - she is with her daddy, so she is very happy!

Emily & Kiara - ready to swim!!

Ava LOVED her pool party!

Buddies!

The pool party was at a great spot.  Grandma & Grandpa took Ava after swimming to this nice grassy area and it didn't take Kiara & Mckenna long to go hang out with them as well!

After the pool party we went to Brian & Holly's for cake & ice cream cake.

Ava did not know what to do with her cake. 

Cooper caught on right away :)!

Ava just played with her cake and made a huge mess (as you can see).  Since she wasn't eating cake, I gave her a bite of ice cream cake........

She is thinking about it and........

Yum..... I love it and I want more!!!!

The kids had an extra seat at the table and choose Uncle Rob to come and join them.  This is the ultimate compliment to an GREAT uncle!!

Happy 1st Birthday Ava Marie.  We love you!!

Boise, Idaho

The first stop on our vacation was Boise, Idaho to see some very, very important people.  We arrived at the Kearney house on Monday, June 20th and stayed with them until Thursday the 23rd.  The Kearneys moved into a new house close to the same time that we moved to Ohio and the house is beautiful! It was so fun to see where they live.  Our time in Boise was perfect. 

We spent a few hours on the Kearney/Bordner boat and it was so much fun.  Kiara and Mckenna loved every second (as you can see on their faces).  We found a place to dock the boat where the kids could jump in and play in the sand. 

These girls had A LOT of fun together!

Our timing was a little awkward (coming during the week) but everyone made such an effort to see us.  The Kearneys decided to take the whole week off and when we left their family went camping for the weekend (how fun is that).  Jeremy, Kirstin, Ryder, and Payton made a huge effort to see us at night after work and it was so great to spend time with their family.  Tom, Ryan, and Jeremy went golfing one morning and all three families went swimming after and then to the Bordners for pizza.

Every time we get together we get a group picture.  The Bordners asked a neighbor to come and take a few pictures so we could document our awesome time together!!

We want to say a special thank you to Ryan and Sarah for inviting us into your house and spending time during the week to hang with us.  We will see you around the same time next year :)!!!!

HOME

We are home.  The word home has been odd to us since we moved to Ohio.  I would say to Kiara and Mckenna that we are going home when we would travel to Seattle pretty much everytime.  Tom would correct me and remind me that Ohio was home.   Before this last trip to Seattle, Tom found himself saying to the girls that we are going home.  Walking into our house last night it was apparent to all of us (except Ava who cried and seemed to have no memory of this place) that this is home.  Ohio is home.  This is where Kiara and Mckenna go to school, where we say prayers at night, this is where we blast the music and have dance parties, where Ava came home from the hospital (both times), where all of our stuff is, where the girls can go outside and walk to a friends house and ask if they want to play, where daddy's work is, and where we live.

Being in Seattle, Boise, Seaside, Vancouver Island, and Bainbridge for vacation was more than amazing.  We all had so much fun and have talked about little else since we have been back.  We loved seeing all of our family and friends and spending so much time with everyone.  This vacation was amazing.  But things have changed, because that is what it was, a vacation.  We are home and that is good too. 

(pics to come soon.....)