What a busy weekend we have had! So much fun, and always 'one' more thing to do! :)

On Saturday, we took Mom and Terri to Seattle! We took the Bainbridge Island ferry across to Seattle which is always a fun adventure no matter the weather! Saturday was a bit windy crossing the sound, but still so warm! you can see Shelby and Paige standing on the front of the boat looking at the Seattle skyline....and yes, they are wearing matching outfits....they are two peas in a pod those two-exact same colour hair, same colour eyes, same skin tone.....the common denominator being Mark, I guess they both take after their FATHERS side of the family (so much for us moms who did the hard work of carrying them for nine months!).

Once on the Seattle side, we made our first adventure the Pike Place Market! What a cocophony of smells and sights to take in! Our senses were on overload as we drank in the aromas of flowers and baked goods, the colours of a wide variety of fruits and veggies and the various oddities of seafood and people that we had not seen before! What a wonderful place! Of course, our first stop was the doughnut stall! I am sure all of youl can remember the miniature doughnuts hot from the fry pot and rolled in cinnamon sugar commonly found at state fairs and such! What a wonderful way to munch your way down the aisles of the market! Yummers!

After the Market, we made our way over to the Space Needle! While the sane ones in our group (Mom and I!) kept our feet firmly planted on solid ground, the rest of the nuts took the glass elevator up the side of the Space Needle! (seen with the sun bouncing off of it!).....Mark said that all the kids (and Terri!) loved the views...and enjoyed looking through the binoculars at all the sights below! Notice the Seattle Skyline in the background of the picture of Shelby and Terri! How beautiful a city is this??!!......

As we had started our day a little later (11:30 ferry over to Seattle), we headed home once everyone regrouped from the Space Needle (Mom and I did a little retail therapy while they were high up in the air!). Once home, we enjoyed a calm evening out on the patio with the tiki torches lit! Still loving this little piece of paradise! Yay!

This morning, being a Sunday, we headed out to Church. Mom and Terri LOVED the service and voiced the same sentiment that Shelby did today- they all wish they could have a Church like ours in Madison. Shelby said that her and her mother have been looking for a church the past few years, but haven't found one that they liked....and that She would LOVE to have one like ours in Stoughton! Maybe we can get one started there! :)

After Church, we had to run to Wal-Mart for a few things, then came home and Mark,Terri and the kids headed to the lake! It is Shelby's goal to swim across the lake! With her being in level 5 swimming, I am sure this is something she will be able to master! Once her and her Dad get the "diving off the diving board" down pat, Shelby will be the MOST AWESOME swimmer ever!

Tomorrow is a VERY special day! Mark will re-enlist for the last time in the Navy! Only four more years to go and he retires!! wow!! Where DID the time go!?!

Well, I am off to watch Mark and Gordon light a few 'pre 4th of July' fireworks!!

Hugs and much love,
Mark, Jaye and Gang