Marysville Strawberry Festival

We spent Saturday afternoon and evening at the Strawberry Festival's parade on State Ave. The kids had a great time, and the boys just couldn't get enough singing and dancing. Cassie spent the evening cuddled in Holly's arms. Here are a few pictures from the evening

First trip to the beach

Cassie LOVED her first trip to the beach. She was rolling around in the sand and jumping and bouncing like this for over 30 minutes (yes she fell asleep on the way home! LOL). Sunday afternoon I went to the beach with my best friend from junior high, Lauren and her daughter Briana. We met up there with some other friends, Rene, and Gaston and his son Daven. It was an overcast day but still very warm and was actually just perfect because nobody was uncomfortably hot or cold.

Ryland is a brave little one, he waded out up to his waist in the FREEZING water before I went out there to get him, silly guy wanted to go out even further.

Cassie spent most of her time rolling around in the sand and picking flowers for me- she is SUCH a girl! She let her feet touch the water a few times but wasn't really too keen on it.

Tristan did a lot of venturing around and out as far as he could before someone would call him back. He was also very interested in all the driftwood on the shore. He kept finding sticks and bringing them to me- funny little man!

We took a picnic lunch and ate there on the Alki beach. Grass might have been a better selection (there was a huge patch to the left of us), cause I'm sure we all ate our fair share of sand, I KNOW the kids did. Oh well..... So here are some pictures

My Nudist Colony

Although I can argue I'm not running one, the photos seem to prove otherwise. I cannot seem to keep clothes on these children. The minute we get home everyday their clothes come off and into the backyard they want to go. And I think it all started with the naked potty training, that I will never recommend to another mother for fear of her children becoming naked fans too.

I've tried to cover body parts the best that I can, and hopefully nobody finds them offensive but I can't seem to get pictures of them outside WITH clothes on, so you'll just have to live with these.

HM2 Raysbrook

That's right, I made 2nd class this time around. Too bad I'll be out before I see that nice E5 paycheck, but I can enjoy the new priviledges that come with being a second!!!

I was on leave two weeks ago during the big official frocking ceremony, as was another one of my shipmates, so he and I got our own little frocking ceremony (special) and....... I got my volunteer service medal that has been in the works since April 2008- you read that right 14 months. Oh well, at least I have it now.

The frocking went well, and I can't thank Heather enough for sewing my 2nd class patches on my unform, or Hillery for the fact that she handed down her 2nd class patch to me...just like they used to do back in the day.

mmmmmmmm french toast

My cousin Lauren and Auntie Judy came up on Sunday to make us brunch and play with the kids. I must say, I've had a LOT of french toast but I've never tasted anything as good as Lauren's, it was absolutely delicious!!!!

After brunch we played outside for a while. It's been too long since we've seen them, I'm so glad they were able to come! We missed you uncle Roy, hope to see you next time!