We love, love celebrating Independence Day on Whidbey Island. Seven years ago, we stumbled across the July 3rd Freedom Festival and the next day ended up at the 4th of July Maxwelton Parade, and a tradition was born. This year, we were going to break tradition by being in New Zealand. Even when that didn’t happen, we already had a renter at the cabin for the weekend, and they were one of the few that didn’t corona-cancel their reservation.

So Plan B. By happenstance, I had already gotten reservations for north Whidbey, as we camped at Deception Pass until July 3rd. And eventually I remembered that the Langley Fairgrounds doubles as a campground during non-fair months, which would have still called for a Plan C, if the fair hadn’t already been canceled this year because of COVID. So on Friday, we packed up at Deception Pass and drove down to South Whidbey, and parked the RV in the bunny-infested field that certainly had location, location, location (and rabbit poop) to recommend itself. We eventually had to give BFF back to her parents, but with an invitation (yahoo!) to celebrate the 4th at their house.

The first thing the kids did when we got to their house was shoot off confetti cannons. See that cute camper in the background? Jon let us all cram in and took us for a quick ride down the beach road.

Between the ribs, the burgers, the hotdogs, the beans, the corn, the chips…well, Dwayne and I returned to clean eating when the weekend was over.

And that was before another neighbor brought over his “gag gift” cotton candy maker. It was no joke– the machine was pretty much industrial grade, and the kids were thrilled. And possibly hyped up on more then just sugar…

I didn’t grow up with fireworks, but Jon loves them (his wife is tolerant), and has very generously allowed my kids to do the safe fireworks with his kids. It quickly became another part of the 4th to give him some cash a few weeks before and he’d shop for my kids, too. This year, I bought my first ever fireworks when I realized that Costco sells packs. I bought a few to add to Jon’s collection, and there was a fun assortment of daytime and evening fireworks.

The best fireworks of the night? Jon and Dwayne remembering youtube vidoes of burning steel wool. Of course, Jon had more than enough materials. At first, they just used a rope and one ‘bar’ of steel wool. The full minute video, which I won’t subject you to, was the men using chicken wire to create a small cage to house 8 bars and protect the rope, and lighting it on fire. I think Dwayne is just setting off a few bars.

Happy Birthday, America! I know you’re kind of a mess right now, but we all have our awkward phases and difficult periods. You will be better by this time next year.

However, all that miraculously combined to make a really fun camping trip. The beauty of Deception cannot be underestimated. Even our campsite, which this naïve RVer flooded at the first opportunity, was dripping with northwest lushness. (Particularly after I, you know, flooded it.*)

Dwayne and I are both touchy-feeling snugglers, who created a persnickety snuggler (Piper), a consummate snuggler (Kyla), and a radically obsessive, promiscuous snuggler. Wes will snuggle with anything (except Piper, for personal safety reasons). Here, he is making himself very much at home with his tablet and BFF.

Dwayne joined us Thursday afternoon. This man can do many things well, but I really just married him for his backrubs and fire-making skills. I was really pleased that I had managed all the RV driving and set up myself, but it was such a relief to have him by my side again.

The 4th of July weekend was fully booked long before I thought about making reservations, so we had to break camp (oh, my, how I love RVs!!) Friday morning and make our way to our next adventure.

Not only is Wes done with school (except for the pesky math and reading his “strict” mother makes him do), but now he can do his favorite things. And while you might think that, since he is wearing the same clothes, these are taken the same day, you would wrong. He rarely changes out of these lounge jammies.

Kyla started doing her puzzles when school ended and didn’t stop until every puzzle in the house was completed and covering the dining room. Then I promptly ordered her a few 3D puzzles and a 2,000 piece puzzle.

It’s going to be her perfect summer.

Denise’s High and Lofty Goals:

1. To go camping often! Bring along friends, mine and the kids.
2. To read my brains out–particularly nonfiction feminist and anti-racial books, writing up my notes.
3. To see at least one national park.
4. Go through all Algebra II book.
5. Complete clock hours for STEM/ teaching certificate.
6. Play on the beach!
7. Finishing painting and staining the deck and roof line.
8. Heave both side yard projects completed by end of August.
9. Clean and organize garage (because if I didn’t get it down during 4 months of quarantine, then I’ll definitely get around to it this summer).
10. Eat veggies we’ve grown.
11. Get down to x pounds, by walking and eating healthy.
12. Connect with couple-friends.
13. Visit Dan and Deborah.

---

Kyla’s Thoughtful Goals as written in the third person (edited for b/d reversals):

This summer, Kyla wants to ride her bike, feel the wind through her hair, and her muscles continually pulling. A summer trip to Cannon Beach. To clamber on rocks and splash in the waves. Get a donut sometime.

Kyla plans on seeing her friends. Maybe for a move or walk. Go adventuring, swimming, exploring. When all is done have sun-kissed skin to show the fun.

On a more academic note, Kyla wants to make sausages and practice Spanish. Listen to lots of books, and I mean lots.

---

How Wesley Will Spend His Summer

1. Get to Wave 100 in Balloons TD6. (If this makes sense to you, you have wasted your life.)
2. Play with Abigail.
3. Have a sleepover with Abigail.
4. Get laser tag as a summer surprise.
5. Go to Oregon in the RV.

[Mother’s Note: All but the sleepover were pretty much accomplished by Day 4 of Summer Break. Well played, Son.]

---

Piper’s First Summer Tantrum:

NO SCHOOL WORK!

I’m about to embark on a new blogging platform
that gives me more control of the basics–
font size being primary.
This platform is driving me mad. 
Let’s see if we come out of this on the other side intact, shall we?

(These are the 5 font sizes I get: smallest, small, normal, large, largest.)  I need “normal” to be more, well, normal.

 I don’t know what these two discussed, but I’m guessing Brian ended up compromising to this cutie.

  

This is the first time the kids (and Dwayne, it turns out!) got to travel in the Unnamed Beast.  It is exactly what they love about motorhomes, sitting in a moving living room.  Being a newb, I let them go into the convenience store themselves when we stopped for gas, and I let them bring their tablets.  So they basically ate candy (I found out how much later when we arrived at our destination) and played video games in their moving living room.  

We liked the location of our Leavenworth park–it was less than a mile from town, and Dwayne and I discovered some new neighborhoods to walk around before we fortuitously stumbled across the Icicle Irrigation Creek trail.

We spent the rest of the weekend camping and adventuring–and working on the broken motorhome, exactly as we’d be cautioned by….everyone.

Downtown Leavenworth was even more enjoyable than usual, with slightly fewer crowds and the main streets blocked off to cars.  Restaurants were doing take out, and the Gingerbread Factory was still selling cookies, so we survived.

I always think I love downtown Leavenworth best, but really, I try to spend most of my time on the trails along the river.   We walked in both Saturday and Sunday, returning to a “secret” place with a rope swing over the water. 

I read that Starbursts are THE new s’mores.  My review? There really is no need to look beyond the regular s’mores…particularly with dark chocolate or Thin Mints. 

And the RV repair?  Either we brought it home this way, or the connection was so tenuous that regular road bumps shook it loose, but when we showered Friday night, the drainpipe was not connected to the shower drain.  Fortunately (?), we were unlevel enough that the water ran out toward the front door, so we quickly discovered we had a major water leak somewhere.  Dwayne wormed his hand back through the spaces, and discovered the gap:

We were unable to reattach it ourselves, but we have an appointment to have it fixed (under warranty) before our next outing.  I was able to easily reattach the pantry door that fell off, and minimalize the water damage, so we’ll get the hang of it eventually.

Overall: I love it.  Even the first trip, when I had just hours to go from bare shelves to outfitting it with everything we might ever need (from tools and power converters to TP and dish soap) while still packing all the usual camping gear…well, it may have been a bit too much to do single-handedly.  But the kids loved it, I slept well, we ate well, and mostly, it was an easy camping experience.  

In a fit of madness and enthusiasm, we bought an RV!  Dwayne, kindly, graciously, capitulated to my desire to have a motorhome.  And today, we picked her up and brought her home. Her name was only “Baby” until we got her into the driveway.  Now she’s missing a first name, but I’m pretty sure her middle initial is “T” for “Trouble”.