Adventuring in our RV

 This summer we had to change plans and instead of our trip to Spain, we decided to buy an RV and go explore.  Since the pandemic is still going strong, the RV allows us to socially distance but still get out.  We've taken it on two adventures so far and love it.

It's a great set up with bunks, a queen bed and a table we don't have to convert to a bed each time.  The bathroom also has a full shower and a separate toilet.  We also like that the fridge is bigger than the standard ones in RVs because we shop before leaving and do all of our own cooking.

The shelves are nice for our clothes.  When we rented the RPod last year it didn't really have any storage space and we had to keep going back to the car for our things.  This unit has a lot of space.

 The first weekend we stayed near Mt Pilchuck in the Cascades. 

Enjoying the lake near our campground.

  We hiked to Lake Twenty Two.  It was a steep 6.7 loop trail with 1, 758 feet of elevation.  At the top of the hike there was a lake.  

 We made it!

 Our campground had some really crazy trees covered in moss.  There was also a couple of loops that they abandoned and they make for a very spooky walk at night.

 This weekend we went to Vantage which is on the dry side of the Cascades.  It was warm and sunny all weekend.


Munchkin Battles

 We saw steel horses on the top of a hill and had to stop to investigate.  

 We hiked Iron Bear on Teanaway Ridge which is a nice 6.5 mile hike to a ridge.  This one was a pretty easy hike with gradual elevation of 1,900 feet.  

 There were lots of wildflowers at the top.

 Hot and dusty, but we made it and had a snack at the top.

 Vantage has a petrified forest.  The trees were in cages to protect them.

We swam at Wanapum State park on a giant, floating watermelon.  It was the perfect day.

What an end to the school year

 

 The masks by the door are a daily reminder that things are still not back to normal and covid is still a threat.  Our numbers in the US continue to rise with 2.2 million cases, 703,000 recovered and 121,000 deaths.  Worldwide it's 8.5 million cases, 4.2 million recovered and 457,000 deaths.  Those numbers are continuing to rise.  It's like a divided states here with no real leadership in the White House.  Each state is deciding on their own.  Washington state remains one of the stricter states.  Most things are opening slowly while Florida and Texas have completely opened up.  Florida may be the new hotspot.  For the most part, Vashonites are doing a great job wearing masks and social distancing.  We've had 6 confirmed cases but numbers aren't that accurate because testing has been very limited all over the US.

 

 Masked and ready to hit the public.

 

 Our grocery stores changed so much.  There are plastic partisans, lines on the floor to remind us to stand six feet apart and all self-serve food is gone.  Almost everyone is wearing masks while shopping.  It's a weird experience shopping because everyone keeps to themselves.  It's hard to socialize in a mask.

 Homeschooling ended this week.  I ended up teaching for 12 weeks.  The teachers would provide materials and I had my own homeschooling work.  We did all enjoy homeschooling.

 Alia created art during our Friday enrichment day.  On Fridays I let the kids pick any subject they wanted and really learn about it.  Alia mostly chose art activities and Avery chose to really go in depth programming. 

 

 

 She found a cool YouTube channel and created this cool science experiment with magnets.  The pencil would spin.

 

 Maia was always joining Alia and I during math.

 

 Brain break

 

 Building with Legoes.

 

 Avery did an activity to learn about digestion.  In the end he created a stomach and intestines and the final product was the waste in the bowl. 

 

 Since Alia missed her 5th grade Waskowitz trip we camped in the yard and left the tent up for the week.  It was fun doing school in the tent each day.  We ended up with a crazy frog in our pond that was so loud.  The kids hunted for it for a week because we didn't want it croaking all night while we camped.  They ended up finding it and hiked it down the ravine behind our house to the creek.  The creek is about 1/4 mile down and 200 feet of steep elevation.  While we were in the tent we heard the frog croak from the ravine and all had a good laugh.  A few weeks later the frog returned to the pond.  We've decided if it was willing to put in that much effort we will leave it.  It was so happy to be back and croaked for hours. 

 

 We spent a lot of time quarantining outside.  We are very blessed to have so many amazing parks to visit on this island.

 

 We took the remote control cars to the skate bowl.

 Building ramps for the cars.

  We love our trails!

 We did the Olympic Discovery Trail and biked 16 miles.  It was a great day for a bike ride.  Both kids have graduated to their final bikes.  Maia enjoyed the wind in the burley.

Cool tunnel near Sequim.

 Scott and I continue to do a long run on Sundays through our trails.  I love watching the azaleas bloom each year.

 Goofy Maia waiting for Scott and I to return from Trader Joes.  We had to wait outside for 30 minutes before we could go in.  They limited the number of people in the store and everyone had to wear a mask.  The kids waited in the car.

 Our gardens are doing well this year.  Our cherry tree is finally giving us cherries.

I have so many roses this year.

The peonies and lilies finally bloomed.

I made lilac jam this year.  It was good, reminded me of a candied honey.

We welcomed a new member to our family.  Meet Ginger.

Alia is a great hamster mama.