My "Happy Place"

Coleman and I were so blessed to be able to spend 10 days here:  

My parents house.  

Ferndale, Washington

It was the best vacation!  We had so much fun.  

I love the pacific northwest.

always have...

...always will

Care for a dip?

Coleman literally went hot tubbing every day when we were in Washington.

...sometimes multiple times a day.

This is how I found Coleman and grandpa one morning.  They finished breakfast and went directly to the hot tub.  

I can't blame Coleman, it is pretty terrific.  You're out in the county with total privacy and you have an amazing view of Canada.  Practically perfect in every way.

The Cruikshanks

A trip to Ferndale would not be complete unless we visited the Cruikshanks.

They were my next door neighbors from 5th grade till my parents moved a few years ago.
I love them

I babysat these girls and it is so great to see what beautiful young women they have become. 

The crew: 

awkward smiles? 

all right y'all, fix your hair for pictures. 

 Coleman and Brett rough-housing

 Jessica

Laura

 Erin

 Love these girls

17 Again

Meet Nathan-

Nate and I grew up together.

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for him.

His parents invited (or I invited myself) over for dinner.

Nate came down from British Columbia to surprise me.

I may or may not have cried.

Ok.

I cried.

 Nate and I dated a little in High School.  He took me to Prom and our Prom picture is one of the ONLY good picture I have of the two of us.  EVER.

After dinner, I told Nate to take a picture with me to mark the occasion.  Suddenly, I had an instant flashback.  It was 2002 all over again and I was trying everything I could to get him to smile for a darn photo.  I had completely forgotten how much this boy HATES getting his picture taken... maybe that's why it never worked out between us ;) 

Sadly, this is the best we ended up with.

But I'll take it.

After dinner, Nate and I went for a drive around the county.  We went out to Birch Bay, up to Semiahmoo, over to Lynden and then back home to Ferndale.  It was just like old times.  I couldn't help but smile.  Nate would ask, "You feelin' 17 again?"  I told him I could believe how 10 years could feel so long ago and yet seem like it was just yesterday.  He laughed and told me, "Don't fool yourself, Kate.  It WAS a long time ago."   Haha.

So true. 

But it felt great to be 17 again....

...if only for a night.

Baby-sitting at the beach

 Today, Coleman and I went to Aunt Mandy's house to play with Gunner while she had a meeting.  After about 5 minutes of playing cars, we remembered we're 5 minutes from the ocean!  So, we packed up and headed to Birch Bay to enjoy some salt water and seaweed.

Coleman tried his darnedest to get this log out of the water.  Eventually, he decided that it was best to leave it where it was :)

Gunner (age 5.5) and Coleman (age 4.5)

This is my kind of baby-sitting!

Sunset at Birch Bay

Just another day in paradise

Birch Bay State Park

Birch Bay, Washington

 The cure for anything is salt water; sweat, tears or the sea.  - Isak Dinesen.   

I couldn't agree with this more.

Coleman has loved coming to the ocean.  He had a lot of fun.   He threw rocks into the water and tried to pull logs out.  But mostly, he avoided any and all contact with seaweed.  Honestly, I can't blame him.

Grandma Great

How we want people to think we act:

How we really act:

I love my Grandma

forever your Rosebud

Need a lift?

I'll see you in the morning

Grandpa Coleman passed away July 17, 1998.  Today was the first time I've been back to see the headstone.  It was a nice experience to be able to bring my Coleman with me to see the resting place of the man he was named after.

Please don't cry when I die, tears are just for sorrow.

Keep a smile, in just a while it will be tomorrow.

We've had such mirth on this old earth, don't spoil it now be grieving.

No heavy heart, we're not apart, I just drew first in leaving.

Our earthly stay is but a day, then we leave without much warning.

Our wedding vow assures me now,

I'll see you in the morning.

Mallards

This place is a gem.  It's located in Downtown Bellingham.

Mallards Ice Cream

I love it.  We use to go there in High School.  They are famous for their "earthy" aka "hippie" flavors like Ginger and my favorite, Lavender.  Yes, lavender ice cream. 

We met up with Kellie Goodwin.  She and I grew up together, we were neighbors.  Kellie moved to Ferndale in 5th grade.  We played volleyball together, sang in several choirs, went on countless field trips/choir tours, swung on the rope swing over the pond and spent hours talking about boys.

It was great seeing her.

Me, Coleman and Kellie

Holiness to the Lord

Auntie Laurel, Me, Sister Komm, and Linda Walker 

These sisters happened to be outside planning the flowerbeds when we got there.  

Poor Coleman, he was very tired.  Thankfully there are these lovely benches all around the temple to sit and rest.

House of the Lord, Holiness to the Lord

The Vancouver LDS Temple

Langley, British Columbia

International Traveler

Today this guy became an International Traveler.

Waiting at the border.  We had a great time with border patrol.  He explained to me that because I have dual citizenship (born in Canada, naturalized American at age 17) I can register Coleman as a dual citizen as well.

One of stops in my "home and native land" was here:

 Best. Doughnuts. Ever!

 We bought a few sandwiches and a dozen doughnuts and decided to have a picnic at the airport in Fort Langley, along the Frasier River.

 Coleman's first Tim Horton's. 

Should have started him off with a Timbit....

Grandpa James and Coleman, along the banks of the Frasier:

We also watched the "Water Planes (as Coleman called them)" take off along the river.

It was a great trip to British Columbia.