Last Minute trip are the BEsT!!

So Ken decided last minute to go to a Monsoon Conference (the inventory system they use at CBR), and since he had the 4th off we decided to hit Oak Harbor before the conference started in Portland.  So with a days notice we packed the bags and left on the 3rd.  Spent the 4th in Oak Harbor with the usual Temp. of 60 degrees and a chilly breeze off the ocean watching fireworks in our coats and with blankets.  Love LOVE love spending time in Washington!  I am pretty sure that if I was involved at all in the creation, the Northwest is where I helped!  On the way out of town we went and checked out the development that Ken headed up in the years 2001-2005.  Checked out our homes and things looked pretty good!  Trees and bushes grew and the people that had lived there when we did were long gone.  (Military has a way with lots of changes!) 

Deception Bridge...gateway to Whidbey Island

Crossing the Bridge...

The Hood

Our 4th and final home on the Island

Oh how we miss it!  Had a chance to do some catching up with a dear, dear friend and her family.  So happy to have been able to see her!  Still have yet to convince her to leave paradise for the next best place on earth :). 

Tyler, Linda, Alex and Jared  (Erik working and baby Elizabeth sleeping)

Friends 4-ever

I missed another dear friend by a couple of days.  She was taking her son to Naval Academy clear across the country on a road trip.  How blessed I consider myself to know such valiant servicemen that keep freedom for all those I know and love.  Gary and Tammy and their family is in the Navy and have lived the Military life their whole marriage and have now passed on that desire to their oldest son.  Such a hard life and a huge sacrifice for all of us who don't realize the work that goes into this great country.  We will get together SOON though :)  We ran into one of the boys friend at Applebees on the island.  Funny how things happen.  We were just talking about him and wondering if they were still in the same place and low and behold we walk into Applebees and there he is!  It was a fun surprise.  The only reason we ended up at Applebees is because the best terriyaki place in the world WAS found in Oak Harbor.  One of the reasons Oak Harbor was an important stop haha.  The Martins were very very disappointed!  Well our time on the Island was short-lived.  We did catch  a moment on Ala-Spit beach were the kids found crabs, clams and star fish and we decided if we ever hit the lotto, a summer home on the beach on Whidbey Island was the place we would love to be.
We then found ourselves on the Port Townsend  Ferry heading down to Oregon.  Love the Ferry and the ocean!

Beautiful view of Mt. Baker

The tide was going out

So our trip was quite eventful and filled with lots of stuff!  We found a skate park for Jaden and when we were in Portland the kids and I took a trip and found the zoo!  (We were just lost for about an hour :)).  We stayed right in the city and did a little shopping and found the farmers market where the kids put together vegetable cars and raced them.  We ate at Joes Crab shack along the Columbia and just enjoyed the time we had exploring a big city.  Ke'Nia loved it but Ridge was not as excited.  Coming home was made a bit easier because I have a friend from Washington coming to spend time here!  If it weren't for that I would be really sad!  Will be posting about her time here soon :)

Finnegans..The BEST toy store ever!

Farmers Market

Our pad for 3 nights...10th floor

A great Zoo after we finally found it :)

The Washington side of the Columbia

Eat at Joes Crabshack

Tired little Martin kids...