The Summer Party Is Almost Over

Our vacation time is getting shorter here in the Pacific Northwest! So far we have had a great summer. The weather was iffy at times and other times it was beautiful and warm. But after living here for several years I know you get what you get and just accept it.

Heard from our grandson Eian and he told us he was coming to Washington on the 3^rd and staying until the 13^th. He said it would be nice if we could get together to have lunch or dinner. So I told him to contact us and we can make that happen. I did tell him we were staying at his dad's house watching Brody, Conor and the dogs so we wouldn't be that far from him.

Brody had a soccer tournament in Burlington, Washington, the 2^nd thru the 4^th. Dave and I had planned to be at Ernie and Brookes house on the 4^th as Brooke and Ernie were leaving on the 5^th to fly to California to visit California's wine country for their anniversary. We were taking care of the boys and dogs. After thinking about the tournament, we decided it would be great to finally see one of Brody's games so we decided to go up on Saturday. Brody's game was at 3:00pm so we left Bremerton early enough to get through the Everett traffic!! The team was located on the first field as you entered the park so that was pretty cool. We didn't have to park too far away. We met up with Ernie and family and waited for the team that was on the field to finish. It was a hot day so we were able to seek shade from the trees by the sideline. We enjoyed watching Brody play but the team just didn't have a lot of energy and they bunched up a lot. Unusual for this age, 11, but they were playing an older team. So it isn't surprising they lost. The skills they learned playing older kids is very helpful for when they play their own age group. After the game we said goodbye to everyone and headed to the house. The dogs were more than ready to be let out in the backyard and we were glad to not have to take care of kids for another day. Since Brody's team lost their game they don't play on Sunday so we had a free day to do what we wanted at the house. Ernie and family were coming home on Monday due to where they were camping was a Canadian holiday and they decided to stay.

Everyone got home in the morning on Monday and now Ernie and Brooke had to pack for their anniversary trip. Change of plans though. They decided not to fly to California, which saved a bunch of money, they decided to go to Eastern Washington wine country in Prosser. Closer and just as nice. Brody was going to be at the house most of the week and only one overnight at his dad's so that was great. We haven't had a chance to see much of him because he has been with his dad off and on.

Ernie and Brooke got packed and headed out. Conor surprised us all saying goodbye to them before they were even ready to walk out the door. Usually he is all over mom and crying. Not this time. I guess he wanted to spend some quality time with grandma and grandpa!!

Sunday, Dave and I turned the blow-up pool they have in the backyard, right side up so I could clean it out and then fill it. Monday was supposed to be a hot day and I know the boys would love to get in the pool.

We filled the pool so that it has a day to warm up and be ready for the boys the next day.

The boys had fun in the pool and they were pretty tuckered out. They play hard.

We had a fun time with the boys and played lots of soccer, and football with Conor.

Ernie and Brooke got home on the 9^th from their anniversary trip and they told us all about the wine tasting they did and where they went.

Saturday morning we took off to come back to the trailer in Bremerton. I needed to start my colonoscopy prep on Monday and had to be on a liquid diet. Oh what fun!!

Eian was to leave on the 13^th to go back to Fort Drum in New York so he came to Ernie's on Monday to have dinner with the family. He was disappointed we weren't there, but it gave him a chance to be with his family!! All good.

The 12^th was the process of drinking the colon prep starting at 3:00pm, ending at 7:00pm. I drank more than half of the solution so I wouldn't have a lot to drink in the morning. Now I can eat nothing and only have a little water to take my pills.

The 13^th arrived and I have the rest of the solution to drink before my appointment. That meant I had to get up at 4:00am to give myself plenty of time to clean me out before I had to leave. Are we having fun yet? My appointment was at 8:00am and I got out about noon or so. It was successful and they did find a tiny polyp, which was removed but it was so small the doctor wasn't concerned. He said I am due in 10 years for another one. Don't think I will do another one as if I do get one, they are so slow growing it wouldn't make any difference. So finally----no more. That is one thing about aging that is positive! Heheh.

The next day I had to take it easy but I felt good. The doctor office called to see how I was doing and I told them fine.

Today the 16^th is Ernie and Brooke's 5^th wedding anniversary.

Today, Saturday we went to Tacoma and picked up Jon Jr. and Cameron to spend the day and overnight with us. I took them to Brownsville Marina and let them play in the mud, sand and water. They had fun. Then I made them shower and after that we ate ice cream. Dave had some work to do on a friends boat so he was near just not on the beach with us. When he was done, we left and went back to the trailer. We had a nice day.

Next day I took the boys to Lion's Field Park so they could ride the zip line. They love that. There were a lot of bigger kids there this time so they didn't get to ride it as much as they wanted to but they had fun on the other apparatus. We had a fun 3 hours. Then we came back to the trailer and waited for their dad to pick them up. This will be the last time we get to spend with them before we go back to Mexico.

Dave had a treadmill stress test today. He did well. They saw something show up on the graph, but couldn't pin point it. He has a small heart murmur, which they were aware of, but he had complained periodically in Mexico about a tightness in his chest when he over exerted himself so they wanted to check it out. Since that test has a question with it, he has to go back on the 4^th and have a couple tests done, and then the 6^th talk to the cardiologist!!. I am not worried. He is in God's hands and I know since he is stubborn, he will live a long time!!! That's my story and I am sticking to it!

We had planned to take our trailer to Brownsville Marina on the 23^rd, and meet up with a wonderful lady who is the mom of the man who sold us several of our hunter sailboats. Sharon and her significant other, Bill, were going to arrive on Thursday. We were all planning on helping at the Rendezvous that her son and team put together for the Benito sailboats from the area. There were some Hunter Sailboats there as well. But we found out a few days before that Robbie, our friend, had been diagnosed with cancer and the doctors took care of it on his face last year, but now it is in his lungs and brain and he has weeks to live. So that changed everything!! Sharon is besides herself and canceled being at the rendezvous as Robbie would be in the hospital. We talked to Tori who has worked for Robbie and is a great friend of him and us, so we asked if they needed help at the Rendezvous and she said she thought they had it all covered. So we told her that if that changed we would drive down to help. We canceled our reservations at Brownsville to bring the trailer. It is a somber time for all who know Robbie. He is young, 50 something, and has been so active and healthy up until about a year ago. So sad. The whole boating community will morn his passing.

Dave and I went to Fort Flagler State Park on the Hood Canal.  We signed up to be camp hosts next September so we wanted to take a look at where we will be living for a month.  It was a great camp site and I was getting excited!! The camp site was walking distance to the beach.  Sailboats were in full sail with Port Townsend behind them.  A windy day but beautiful.  

 

But when we talked to the ranger he said there was another person who had already signed up for the upper park but hadn't made it on the calendar yet.  So we had to take the lower level which is less shaded but the good thing is we get a golf cart to run around in so I can still go to the beach and do some beach combing.  We will be able to work off a list of things that need to be done.  Dave and maybe me, will give tours and we will also be doing some maintenance things.  It is the end of the camping season then so there won't be a lot of people and we help give back to the community by keeping the park up and running.  So that will be fun!!  After meeting with the ranger, we walked to the bunkers where they used to store the ammunition and have the guns that protected Puget Sound during world War I and II.  Pretty interesting.  That is where we would be having the tours. Deer were out eating the grass and weren't bothered by us watching them.   

 

 After we finished there, we looked for someplace to eat and found this unique burger place.  I had fried clams and they were big and good!!!

Sunday the 25^th Dave and I went to Marysville to stay at Ernie and Brooke's for the week. Today is Conor's 4^th birthday party and tomorrow the 26^th is his actual 4^th birthday. He has grown so much. His shirt he was wearing today said----”Mom's Wild Child”!!!! True statement! 

 He had family and friends over and got many great gifts. He asked for Red Power Ranger toys, so he got some of that and some Spider-man stuff and Dave and I got him a Red Power Ranger costume. 

 

 

He was thrilled. and did a happy dance. Someone also gave him a spider-man costume. Then it was cake time and he loved us all singing happy birthday to him. He did get a little shy but loved the attention!!

Next day Conor went to day care as Mom had cheer practice (she's the coach), and Dad was working from home, so Dave and I went and did some trailer shopping at Camping World. When we got back to the house everyone was home. We sang happy birthday to little man again and each of us gave him 4 pats on the butt!!

Brooke had to work from Tuesday to Thursday so she asked if we could stay at the house and watch the boys. Ernie had to work from home so he was in his office most of the time. We had fun with the boys everyday. Conor had his second soccer practice on Tuesday and it was so fun to watch him. He was the only serious one on the team. 

 

It is so funny to watch these little guys. Conor is a natural at the moves, where most kids his age don't have a clue. Conor has watched soccer since he was born, on the TV and his brother who plays up an age, 12 year olds. So Conor knows what to do. The boys got their uniforms today. Conor was sooo excited!!! It is purple!!

On Thursday we got to watch Conor and his team practice. He wore his uniform and he looked sharp!!! He was the only one in uniform, which wasn't required but he was proud to wear it. This will be the last time we get to watch him. He wasn't as focused this time because he had his brother, parents and us there watching him and he was proud we were there. It was also my birthday so I was thrilled to be with the ones I love and see Conor practice!! It was a busy day for all, so there wasn't a birthday celebration but it didn't matter. Besides, it is just another day. I am lucky to have another day on this earth and spend it with family!! 

 

Dave and I came home on the 30^th and Ernie and family left to go to eastern Washington for their last camping trip of the summer. Then school starts on the 4^th of September. Brooke goes back to work teaching high school English and Mythology. Ernie now will have the house quiet during the day to work. He also has to travel to California and Arizona. At least he is home on the weekends. He was supposed to fly out on Saturday the 7^th of September but he told his boss he wasn't going to because his youngest son had a soccer game that day. So he will fly out on Monday to California. We will miss that game as we are being Camp Host at Pot Latch State Park, in Washington on the Hood Canal. Brooke said she will take pictures and share.

After Dave and I got home and settled, we were inside the trailer and looked outside to find a beautiful doe eating pears that had fallen off our friends pear tree. That was awesome!!

After that we went to Spiro's Pizza restaurant and I had a salad and Dave Spaghetti!!! So we celebrated my 67!!!

Last day of August! It was grocery shopping day. Have to go again at the end of the week to stock up for our camping trips. One as a host and the other with friends. Hope you all had a wonderful summer!!