So much

So many things in our lives have changed since my last post. I dont even remember what my last post was but I imagine we were living in Arizona and its been 4 years since then. I'm 4 days away from graduating college! Thats the biggest news in my life. Our family purchased our first home 2 years ago in Snohomish. It only took about 6 offers on houses to finally find and be accepted for this house. It was a turn key, needing mostly cosmetic work. We just started to paint, like I said we've been here for 2 years already! We are in the middle of remodeling our master bath. What started out as a small replace the vanity project has grown into replace the vanity, replace the flooring and trip etc. But it'll be so nice when it is done. Last March I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Its an auto-immune disease. Basically in a nut shell my immune system is attacking the linings of my joints and its very painful. Thankfully I am able to take medications to relieve the symptoms, unfortunately there is no cure so now I take a low dose of chemotherapy weekly, a weekly injection of Enbrel and a daily dose of an anti-malaria medication. I have my good days and my bad days still but the good out number the bad. The kids are already 8 and 9, its hard to believe that so much time has passed. They both have their own personalities, Hayden is very laid back and easy going. Phedora is the sweetest little girl, with a side of diva. She wants to be everyones friend and loves being around other people. They are both doing really good in school and are excited for summer vacation, which starts on Wednesday. I have my final on Wednesday as well for statistics, my least favorite class to date. Which I need to go study for!

FRIENDS!!

We went to Wisconsin for a couple of different reasons.

We went to see Dan and have a family vacation.

We went because we felt it was a great opportunity for

myself and the kids to see places we have never seen.

And...

We went to see The Robinson's!!!!

After 2 long years we got to see

Veronica, Tony, Emily and Cooper

and we finally got to meet

Miss Melissa!

Checking out a tank we saw on the way to

see Veronica, Tony and the kids.

Hayden was really into the tank.

Phedora playing with Melissa

Playing at the playground down the street.

The kids all picked up right where they left off.

Playing like we played yesterday and the day before.

Couldn't even tell it had been so long.

We went out for dinner at the brewery.

Kids love paper airplanes and there was a lot

airplane making over dinner.

They wrapped the leftovers up into a swan.

So cute!

Hayden making an airplane

These two are besties for life.

My lil goofball

Wish we all lived closer.

A day on the town

Checking out the dock at the playground

down the road.

Hayden was so bored at the playground.

We were killing time until it was time to go meet

Dan for lunch.

We found this cool car while we were

doing a little strolling around Bayfield.

Its one of those car/boats.

Apparently they had taken it out that morning.

Cavanaugh Falls

After our lunch with Dan we headed out

in search of a waterfall.  While we were driving

we saw a sign for "Cavanaugh Falls"

Being 'explorers' we headed down a gravel road

to see what we would find.  We came upon a trail head

and pulled in.  We love a good hike and a waterfall along

the way or at the end would be nice.  It was after all a hot day.

We saw that it was a fairly easy hike at just under 1 1/2 miles

round trip.  While we never found a waterfall the hike was beautiful.

At the trail head.

It was a nice level hike for most of the way.

We ended up back at Lake Superior

A little inlet.

At the end of the trail there was a large

ledge over the lake.  It was a perfect place

for a picnic and a swim, exactly what a few people were doing.

There was a little path that went next to and

slightly under the ledge.  We had to check it out.

The view from the little path.

After our hike we headed out in search of ice cream!

We found a little coffee shop so we stopped in.

Anyone who knows me knows I laugh this hard...

If they had been selling it I would have bought it.

Phedora lost her ice cream...

It dropped on the floor...

she picked it up and then preceded to say...

3 second rule, mom?

Umm, Yuck!

Luckily the lady packed it into the cone so

there was still plenty of ice cream

We found this artesian well in a campground

in Washburn.

That night a huge storm rolled in.

In a matter of minutes there was heavy rain,

and strong winds.  We went out for Mexican

that night and it started pouring down rain within

about 5 minutes of us getting into the restaurant.

~Family Day~

The Sunday after we got to Wisconsin, Dan had the day off

so we headed up to a little tourist town called Bayfield.

After doing a little shopping, we decided to take the ferry

over to Madeline Island.

The ferry.

Playing at the beach by the ferry dock.

We weren't sure we wanted to take the ferry.

It was pretty windy and we didn't have jackets.

There were a lot of sailboats on the lake.

It was the perfect day for sailing.

We decided to go ahead and go.

Our ferry was called the Bayfield.

The ferries had a small car deck below, holding

roughly 20 cars.  The top deck was all open

and the view was so pretty.

Not sure what Dan and Hayden

were talking about, but the look on

Hayden's face is hilarious.

The other ferry headed back from the island.

She was so happy to have her Daddy back.

She is definitely a Daddy's girl.

Getting closer to Madeline Island.

What we found once we got off the dock.

It was hot so we found the ice cream shop.

It was busy, but worth the wait.

Enjoying his ice cream on the deck.

We thought the sea plane was going to take off

but then the motors turned off and it didn't move.

I guess we just missed the landing.

Playing on the beach.

Sinking in the sand.

More sinking.

The sand was really wet.

No day would complete without Dan sticking

his tongue out at the camera.