Katelynn's feild trip to Bi-Zi Farm!

Katelynn has been so impatiently waiting for her first field trip at Sarah J. Anderson elementary school and the day has finally come! 6 Kindergarten classes boarded the bus at 9 in the morning, and we took the 15 minute trip to Bi-Zi farm! We got to pet a donkey, goats, duck and chickens! Then we went on a 30 minute hayride where we learned about planting cucumbers, strawberries and we learned about honeybees and the important job they have at the farm. Then we got to go into the greenhouse and see where lots of the plants got their start this year since we had such a cold spring, then we got to do something extra special. We got to go into a barn and got to watch a little chick try to come out of an egg! How exciting that was, we also saw 3 chicks that had hatched the night before. We saw turkeys, geese and chicks that were a couple weeks old and to finish things off we got to plant our own strawberry plants! What fun we had at Bi-Zi farm!

Camping trip to Hood's Canal!

We did not make the final decision to go camping until about noon on Friday, too many weather forecasts were calling for rain all weekend and we just did not want to spend our first camping trip of the year in rain! Well we did have some showers on and off, mainly during the night, but it was a beautiful weekend with temps in the mid 70's. The view was a little cloudy, normally we can see the snow capped Mt. Rainier from the camp site, but it proved to be a fun weekend especially for the kids.

A few months ago my dad got his newest toy, a four wheeler, so here is a picture of my parents enjoying the ride.

Memorial Service

Zach and Michael (Zach's almost 10 year old cousin) were so sad that their caterpillar died that they built a memorial in honor of their little pet. Zach got the logs to make the cross and Michael used his boyscout experience and roped the cross together. Then they put the cross int he ground and added flowers (weeds) to add the final touch, then they were off to find the caterpillars family to perform the memorial service.


So glad my son has an amazing imagination!

OYSTERS!

The art of oysters.





From choosing the right oysters on the beach, to shucking the oysters, to cooking them it is always a fun time!

First picture - a bed of oysters on the beach.

Second 2 pictures - Chris and my dad shucking the oysters (opening the shell and getting the oysters out)

Last 2 pictures - Katelynn got her hands in the process of the cooking of the oysters with her cousin Zhanna.

Than we all enjoy the good eats of fresh oysters. I am not sure if had anything to do with my daughter helping cook the oysters this year, but I do have to say they were the best oysters ever!

Beach!

The beach at Hood's Canal is not what you think of when someone says going to the beach! No laying in the sun, no going in the water, no sand castles. Instead it is finding the perfect oysters, digging for clams and hunting for shells and special rocks. But it is always a highlight of our trip to the Canal!

Swimming!

Who would have thought that we would have swimming weather 2 days in a row on Memorial day weekend! For those of you in South Carolina, people here are just excited if there is no rain Memorial day weekend, and if you actually get sun than that is a miracle! Almost didn't even pack the kids suits, but sure glad I did.

CRAZY WSHINGTON WEATHER!!

No pictures, but a few thoughts. One Saturday we are playing in the snow and freezing, the next Friday 96 degrees out! I felt I was in South Carolina again except no air conditioning! We will install a ceiling fan in our room before the next heat wave (if we get another) The most familiar thing I have heard since moving back is if you don't like the weather in Washington, just wait it could change in minutes. We have 5 days of 80 or higher, now today I am back in my sweats while it may hit 60 if we are lucky today!
We are venturing up to Hood Canal to go camping over the holiday weekend, I will get some new pictures posted next week. It will be in the 60's the whole weekend, but no rain on the forecast (yet) we will return if we get rain. I am not a tent camper and definitely not a tent camper in the rain!

Search for snow!

On Saturday, we decided that this would be our last opportunity to find snow this year. So off we went to Mt. St. Helens. We traveled for over an hour looking and hoping to find the beautiful white stuff. Finally we turned around to head home with no luck in finding snow. WE passed the road heading up to some caves and decided to drive up that road just in case. Well, we went from no snow to several feet of snow in a matter of about 3 miles. We pulled off the side of the road and climbed up a 4 foot snow drift and into some beautiful snow. Chris and Zach started throwing snowballs at each other as soon as they reached the snow. I think Chris is so glad to have someone that gives him a run for his money when it comes to snowball fights. Katelynn and I are not big into being creamed with snow without knowing it is coming. Chris was off in the snow have the time of his life when he stepped into something and his leg went down 3 feet. I guess the snow is melting and there are some spots that you just sink in. The more we explored the more we kept sinking into the snow. Zach thought it was great, Katelynn was not so sure. The good thing about going to play in the snow with our kids is that they can not stand the cold for long. We stayed a little over 30 minutes, they were both frozen. I had gotten them snow pants, but need to get good gloves and good boots for next year.

Now that we had that experience, we are ready for the 90 degree plus weather coming later this week!

New Cousin Cassie

A few days before Christmas, Zach and Katelynn got a new cousin. At Kate's party they both enjoyed playing with Cassie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATELYNN!

The Saturday after Kate's birthday was a busy day for us. from 1 to 3 she had a dress up party with her friends, then that evening we had some family over for Taco Soup and cookie cake. For Katelynn's birthday I took an old doll house that my Grandparents got me when I was little and cleaned it up, painted it, and put in new carpet. She is loving her new Barbie/Polly pocket house!

OUR CROSS COUNTRY MOVE

Our move in February should have taken up 6 days, but thanks to 2 snowstorms, it took us 9 days. We were visiting in Kansas at Bobby & Dianne's when we got stuck int he first snowstorm. We were not so lucky in Wyoming, we got stuck in another snowstorm and were stuck for 2 days! We were very happy when we got to Utah and had dry roads the remainder of the trip!

Culture Parade

Today, April 25, was a day that Zach has been looking forward to since starting at Sarah J Anderson Elementary.

Today over 1000 3rd graders from the Vancouver and Evergreen school districts met and paraded through Fort Vancouver wearing signs and/or costumes showing their cultural backgrounds. Zach was so proud to showcase his Greek heritage! For almost 2 months it has consumed him! From checking out books at the public library to watching movies on the history of Greeks, he has dug into his Greek heritage.

It was so amazing to see the many cultures that are represented here! The junior ROTC helped with the parade and taught the kids many chants and songs! The mayor of Vancouver spoke at the assembly held after the parade along with the mayor of a country in South Korea! We also heard words from the superintendent's of the 2 school districts represented.

I know that this day will be remembered for along time in the Vasilas household!

Zach's Birthday

Zach got a very drawn out birthday this year. It all started off in S. Carolina with his party, then in Kansas he got a special birthday pancake at the Williford's house, then in Colorado he got a special birthday wish on the radio while visiting the Gandy's. Then once settling in at our new home we had family over for a final birthday celebration!