Cannon's 14th birthday

Cannon turns fourteen today - Happy Birthday Cannon! 

For the last few weeks I've been asking him what he wants for his birthday and he has decided he neither wants nor needs anything.  Boy, that's a pretty lucky spot to be in, I told him. 

The only thing he did want to do is go paintballing with Stevie, London and some of his friends. So on Sunday we headed up to Bremerton with his water polo buddies, Nate and Bobby.  This course was billed as a "family-friendly, first-timer's course" and since everyone but Nate had only played once and Nate had never played at all, that seemed like a better choice than the course on the military base!  Still, I think there were some serious players out there...

Suited up and ready to go.  No, Emmy didn't play!

That's Stevie on the move with London laying cover.

I'm pretty sure that's Cannon shooting - it was a little hard to photograph through the mesh fence.

I think that's Nate and Bobby

 After round one, they're beginning to look a little colorful!

Stevie decided he was a good target as he got hit about 6 times in the first game.

Afterwards they were tired, sore, hot but happy!

Good job he was wearing his mask.

 Poor Stevie was post call when we went and he had had no sleep except the 20 minute nap in the car on the way to the course.  I think he was feeling it.

Emmy - looking cool

Cannon

Happy London

While the boys played, Emmy decided that she and I would have a girl's afternoon and get our toes done!  So after watching the guys play a little, we drove back into town and found a nail salon to have our tootsies beautified.  She was in love with the massage chair and the lady doing her feet was in love with Emmy.  She even painted a free flower on her big toe.

Afterward, we headed back to the house for a cook-out and cake.  Emmy was insistent on decorating the cake and she chose a mustache theme.  The evening rolled into an impromptu sleep-over which the boys stayed up until 6 am.  Consequently, Cannon was a little tired on his actual birthday!  Happy birthday, Cannonball!

Putt Putt with the boys

This week was the only week I had scheduled London and Emmy to be at camp and, of course, London has been sicker than a dog.  The week long camp included swimming twice a day, science experiments and even a trip to the zoo.  Emmy was able to go, but poor London who was quarantined to his room for three days, missed everything. Poor guy.

By Thursday, he was feeling a lot better so I promised him a little fun.  I was trying to think of something that wasn't too much since he was still weak, but something outdoors so he could get a little fresh air.  And then I remembered putt-putt.  I used to love going putt-putt in the summer.  I didn't even know Gig Harbor had a course until I Googled it, but there is actually a really nice 18 hole range.

Cannon joined us for a fun day with just the boys (a kind of rare thing).

I had a knack for hitting any kind of obstacle on the green, like that giant rock.

Suzanne's visit

We were so fortunate to have my good friend from our days in Virginia, Suzanne, and her daughter, Gretta, come to visit us.  Steve and Suzanne's husband, Dan, were in residency at the same time in Virginia but they got moved to San Diego while we moved to Okinawa.  Gretta and Suzanne were in town for a wedding but they came to stay for two days.

Since the weather was beautiful, we decided to rent some kayaks and paddle boards in Gig Harbor.  I have never paddle boarded before, but the guy assured me the paddle boards were really stable and no one ever fell in.  Famous last words...  Yes, I fell in.  I'm not sure how it happened - one minute I was paddling along, and the next I was in the water.  Let me tell you, that water was C-O-L-D.

Emmy started on a paddle board but had trouble getting out of the dock, so she switched out for a kayak.  That lasted a little bit but then she got frustrated - while we were in the middle of the harbor! - I had a little heart to heart with her and the next thing I know she was paddling her little kayak back to the dock.  "Where are you going?" I yelled after her.  She replied that she was going to get herself a paddle board, but this time a big one.  By gum, that's exactly what she did and she did great on it!  Independent little thing. :)

Gretta heading out

Emmy on her first paddle board

It was a really picturesque day with Rainier popping up out of the end of the harbor.

Suzanne and I.

Hedge maze

A couple of months ago I bought a Groupon for a hedge maze, mainly because the maze was located in LaConner where our friends the Paynes live and it would mean that I would definitely get a trip on the books to see them.  We arranged for Emmy, London and I to go up on Tuesday.  The maze was fun although the thing the kids loved best was the corrugated tube slide.  They wore themselves out on that going up and down.

Looking over the hedge maze.

Emmy finding her way through

Matt and Kelly looking kind of lost...

 Later that evening, Kelly took us to their lake trailer where the kiddos had a blast on her paddle boat.  They had so much fun paddling and swimming in the water.

The next morning we headed out to go home, but not without one last snuggle with sweet old Ty Ty.

Beach days

With some beautiful weather this month, we've had some opportunities to go down to the beach at Kopachuck.  I haven't made it in the water, but Emmy and London willingly brave it all the time.  Even Stevie bought a floatie and spent an afternoon floating in the water.

With Okinawan friends Ben and Claire

Picnic on the beach

Attacking Dad in the water.

Farm sitting

The day after we got back from Hilton Head we were on "farm sitting" duty.  Some friends of ours have a small farm and they asked us to take care of their horse, cats, garden and chickens while they went away for a few days.  Emmy and London were so thrilled to take care of the farm - especially checking on the chickens and riding Jazz, the horse.

Fresh eggs!

Jazz

Grooming Jazz

Heading out to the field to ride

Back in the saddle again!

Checking for eggs

 Emmy LOVED riding!  She insisted on going every day.  By the end she was getting quite brave and insisting she do everything herself.

They actually wanted to scoop the poop!

What a beautiful setting. (See Emmy in the loft?)

Emmy in the loft with the kitties.

Emmy and I enjoyed picking the raspberries which were in full bloom.