Momma/Daughter Weekend up North

The last weekend in April Makenna & I took off up north for a Momma/Daughter weekend with our dear island friends.  We started the fun filled weekend with some whale watching, where many of friendships have developed. 

The girls, Makenna & Holden, settled right back into their friendship as if no time had passed between them- although in reality it had been many months.  Bonding over a picnic lunch is a great way to kick off any day.

It may appear to be a storage area, but for two creative little girls its the perfect cave for two bears!

They discovered the best spot to keep look-out for wildlife.  At this moment we are approaching Whidbey Island with gray whale #56 traveling along its shoreline.

My sweet little whale watcher.  She loved our 3 hour adventure aboard Momma's old "office".

Makenna was really impressed with Captain Michael!  So much so that she shared her snack with him- even fed him!  It was really cute.  At the end of the trip Captain Michael even surprised her with allowing her to drive the boat!

Whale watching with friends- not a better way to spend a Spring Saturday.

Reunited with Brookebird!

Oh my!  Three little ladies in one bathtub.  They had a wonderfully bubbly time getting clean!

On Sunday we found the tulips.  Our timing was perfect as the flowers were in their prime, as it was another late season due to the weather.  Makenna loved the purple ones claiming they smelt the best.

Me & my girl.  <3

Our sweet island friends- Holden, Julz, Iona & Michael

Thank you once again for having us up for a wonderful visit!

The VanQuickenborne girls sure know how to have FUN!  Makenna was in disbelief that they were actually playing in the mud, as she wasn't so sure about its texture & especially getting dirty.  It seems a lesson in mud pies will have to be in our future!  I love how exuberant both girls were in getting covered and especially when they were getting attention from other visitor to the tulip fields.  Love them!!  Thankfully Julz knows them well enough and was prepared with spare clothes & towels.  What would we do without moms?!   

Delayed Easter

After 3 weeks of separation, us being in Kauai & Gran having been in Florida, Makenna was reunited with Gran!  And apparently the Easter Bunny had delivered a little something special for Makenna at Gran's house. 

Unwrapping the tissue paper after we suggested there might be something inside.

Listening to the ocean.  Makenna thought it was the coolest thing.  Especially since we had just spent a week in its company and were having some beach withdrawals.  :)

The Easter Bunny has a great sense of Makenna's loves.  Kisses for her ladybug basket.

Wearing her new purple necklace Great Auntie Jen & Great Uncle Tom gave her while Gran was in Florida.  THANK you both....she LOVES it!

Reading her new Peter Rabbit Nursery Rhymes book from Great Aunt Margaret....or Margaret as Makenna calls her.  :)

Yet another Easter basket!  The Easter Bunny just simply couldn't get all her loot to Kauai, especially with all the added baggage fees.  :)  She of course b-lined it for the lawn mower and really had to be coaxed to look at her basket!

Excited to find a little wind up bunny in her basket.

It wasn't long before she wanted to mow the grass with Dada.  Although he had just finished cutting the grass, but she managed to convince him to get his mower out as well so they could do it together!

The mowing party had to be moved inside due to a little rain cloud that desided to release its contents on our mowing party.  Makenna promptly went over to her basket and dumped all the grass onto the floor.  She then proceeded to "mow" the grass.  Sometimes I think she is a little too smart for her own good.  Thankfully she loves helping and cleaning up. 

Celebrating 30 Years of Evan :)

Aloha! from Kauai.  We returned once again to the beautiful garden island to celebrate (a little early) Evan's 30th birthday.  Thankfully we found the beloved island almost as we left it over a year ago, with just a few scars from the recent flooding.  Three weeks prior to our trip Kauai & Oahu experienced massive rainfall.  During the "week of rain" Kauai alone received 46 inches in just a 24 hour period.  It didn't let up after that record breaking day.  However, it didn't seem to dampen the islands spirit.  The people of Kauai are resilient and when asked how they managed during the flooding the "no worries" mentality that one might expect from living in paradise was present.  Thankfully we didn't get record breaking rains while we were there, however we did enjoy some warm island showers.  Great memories were made along side the Myers family (Andy, Alysha, Lucas & Gracie) and Evan's parents (Steve & DelRae). 

With over 850 photos taken in 10 days this is just a peek.  The kids had a blast on the beaches, chasing the birds & feral cats, swimming, catching tad poles, feeding koi fish and just enjoying their "buddies".  As for the adults...well we enjoyed the beverages, warmth, some much needed vitamin D, snorkeling, hikes, breaks from work, and the company of dear friends.  Once again we leave counting down the days until we return to this place.  No dates set  :)  but dreams in our heads.