Camping with Our Ward (aka Church Folks--ya'll)

Friday we left Bellingham and headed over to Cascade Park in Arlington for the "Summer's Quarters" Ward Camp out. It was our first time camping together and even though we only spent one night--we left with many memories!

We showed up at 3:30pm--and not many people were there...so, we entertained ourselves down by the river throwing(me) and skipping (Shaun) rocks. Then we found a sweet rope/plastic barrel seat swing. I tried it out first to test if it was safe.

Afterwards, Shaun tried it too and I nearly lost my balance and fell on my face trying to push him. (His ride was a little short---not as much "Weee" as mine.)

We also made pita bread pizzas for dinner. We brought Canadian bacon, onions, green bell peppers, pizza sauce, cheese, mushrooms, olives...and stuffed them into the pocket of the pita. Then we wrapped them in foil and put them in the fire. We lost one in our first try. We found out the foil wasn't as strong as we expected and as the foil burned up on one side--it effectively saved us the trouble of burning those pizza calories. For desert we continued to wrap things in foil...a banana stuffed with mini chocolate chips and marshmallows. Success! They turned out so good...um...we made a third.

While we were finishing dinner, our camp neighbors (and real life neighbors) arrived, the Mumfords (minus wife Julia). Nigel, the youngest, showed off his "guns" (I mean strong arms)--as he received 5 immunization shots that day in preparation for starting Kindergarten in the fall Tom and Tim are seen posing for the camera by the fire-bowl, later to be the site for a rousing song circle under Tom's command!

After all the songs, Shaun and I went back to out tent and laid down on the picnic table outside and looked at the stars (very romantic). After the clouds moved in, we moved into our tent. At about 1am...we were awakened--by who we guessed was Tim. He un-zipped the tent and without speaking stood at the bottom of our sleeping bag and seemed to be staring at us. We said, "I think you're in the wrong tent......Is that Tim?" No answer. After a moment, the slender figure started to leave the tent. We said, I think your over one tent." He left. We think we heard him getting into another tent (not his--but at least the next tent was empty). We both fell to sleep again. At about 5:45am it started to rain....and then it stopped after 5 minutes. And then, it started again...but did not stop.

We had breakfast with the ward and went home. It was a fun trip. Both of us were exhausted after we got home. (We really didn't sleep to well.) So, we chilled for the rest of the day.

Fun Fun!

Did I mention i have had a lot of alone time in our temp. apartment....? Well, I have and here are some semi-boring videos of squirrels off our deck.

I found this on a friend's blog...& as she said, "This lady speaks the truth."

Passing the Time Until We Move Into Our New Place

Hi! I'm hanging out at our transitional housing unit (aka the Wiegel's apartment) alone while Shaun is at work in Mt. Vernon (30 minutes south of Bellingham). Passing time is alright as I use our computer we brought along. But yesterday, I went out and got Indian food and painted a fruit/serving bowl at a pottery painting place in Fairhaven (the old tourist-y part of Bellingham with overpriced sandwiches and salads). I did this with my friend Emily Pool. She wanted to spend time with me because I had a birthday recently that she wasn't able to be part of. Whenever I'm with Emily, I find myself talking much more than with anyone else. (Other than my husband...but it's spread out more.) It was a blast catching up on the latest news.

By the way, I've recently noticed that Weight Watcher's Popsicles look like tampons! (It's the wrapper!!) It makes me feel funny...and then I laugh! Weird though. Weight Watchers should rethink this aspect of the Popsicle or else they'll be kicked out of the market. But...if a young girl was just starting her period, it'd be kind of a funny gag gift...just put them in a real tampon box. What do you think? Does it make you want to change the subject. Well, fine.

Our pad, at least for now while we're in it, is overflowing with stuff. The living room has become the hunter's safety classroom. And the office has become a closet for our clothes which are spread out in an semi-arranged order. (At least I know the order.)

Anyway, we'll keep you updated as to when we move. I'm all ready to rip open boxes of things and put them in their correct places and new home. Aaaaahhhh....I can't wait!

Stage One of Our Move is Complete

Friday evening we moved out of Apartment 17--with the help of some of the elders quorum--our stuff to a garage of an empty house on the property of where we will be moving into sometime in August. Today, we are living in the apartment of a friend our ours who are out of town for the summer on an internship. They where generous enough to let up take over until we get the okay from our new semi-landlords to move in.

For those of you who had our land line phone number that started with (360)...we have cancelled that service and we only be using our cell phones.

Saturday we spent cleaning our apartment. Because of the flood damage back from November 2006--there's more mold to deal with around windows and baseboards. (Gross--I know.)

We finished and went over to a new good friends' (Wendy, Chris, Christina, & Keith De'eres) house for dinner with their family. It was a BLAST!!! We not only had a tasty dinner with grilled vegetables from their garden--we also had an entertaining evening talking at the table...long after the meal was finished getting to know them better. My face hurt from smiling and laughing so much. It was a nice way to end the day.

Then on Sunday we went to church and enjoyed some great lessons and speakers (Ward Conference). Later on, we went to another friend's house (Mike and Pam Dickey) for a BBQ. We got to make our own pork kabobs, complete with fresh garden picked vegetables like zucchini. After our meal we walked down to the beach, then back again for an ice cream feast. WOW.

Then we stopped by our apartment to pick up the last few things inside, and swung by our other friend's house (Shannon, Abe, and Auroa Dickerson) who are moving to B.C., Canada. Shannon was one of my teacher's at the LDS MTC in Provo, UT, who happened to be in my ward in Bellingham when I got off my mission. We'll miss them very much!!

Then today, I went to work. Right now...Shaun's at work in Mt. Vernon. It's odd being in someone else's apartment alone. I feel welcome but lonely at the same time. I will do my best to stay busy. I'm going out with a friend (Emily Pool) tomorrow to celebrate our summer birthdays tomorrow. I look forward to that.

That's all for now!