Lions and Tigers and bears AND VAMPIRES? Oh my!

A couple weeks ago I took a trip with a friend around the Olympic Peninsula (the OP).  The main purpose for our trip was to go and see the "big to-do" about Forks, WA and the Twilight drama.  I've read the Twilight series, mainly because my sixth graders were interested in the story, but I'm not OBSESSED with this vampire-werewolf hype.  Nonetheless, the trip was entertaining, fun and adventerous and did not only involve blood-thirsty vampires, but a great trip to the coast. 

Road trip with "411".

Who names a town "Humptulips"?  This made for a good laugh the entire trip.

We really wished we had a giant spoon or spork to hold.

We visited the Ho, I mean Hoh Rain Forest. 

Took a little hike in the forest.

Saw really big trees.

Sweet little forts. I wanted to be 7 again so I could play and let my imagination run freely.

A rare find nowadays.  How ironic that it is covered in moss. 

Back to Forks to get "Dazzled by Twilight". 

Twilight in this town is out of control and absolutely crazy.

I can't decide if the people are insane or smart. 

They have mass marketed everything!  I mean EVERYTHING!

Even the bait and tackle shop had fishing supplies named after Twilight characters.

We played along with the craziness and took a tour. 

I'm still ashamed to say I paid for a tour, but the entertaining tour guide made it well worth it.

Apparently Forks believes in vampires...8.5.  How do you get half of a vampire?

Bella's house from the movie.

The Cullen's house...not from the movie, but more like the description from the book.

Bella's truck from the movie.  I like this truck...I want one.

Okay, maybe they are crazy.  There is a reserved parking spot at the hospital for Dr. Cullen. 

Hello people!  Dr. Cullen doesn't exist!

Jacob's house and Bella's motorcycle from the movie.

La Push where the Quileute Tribe resides and where cliff scenes are filmed in the movie.

The Treaty Line. 

Apparently Forks is threatened by vampires more than fires.

The coast!  Well, actually it is the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 

We camped a night here.

In the morning we went exploring.

The tide was at it's lowest level for the month.

Where the green line is on the rocks, just below the trees, is the high tide level. 

Crazy, but lots of fun looking around.

Dungeness Crab Spit.  Also known as "The Spit". 

At low tide, which we happen to hit perfectly, you can walk all they way out to the lighthouse.

Did we do this?  No.  It would've been 10 miles round trip and we weren't prepared for that.

Next time...maybe.

Fun forts on the beach. 

Drift wood has the most beautiful views of the coast.

This made me chuckle...a lot...okay, maybe cackle until I was crying and almost peed my pants.

Who's responsible for naming the streets out to "The Spit"? 

Ferry ride home...not ready to go home, but on our way. 

I think I'll come up for air now...this was a long post.

Kaely's Get Away

This is Kaely (and her husband Jason).  Kaely is my sister-in-law.  How lucky I am to have a sister like Kaely.  Kaely just entered her 30's (Happy Birthday, Kael!) and Jason brought her over to the west side of the state for a little get away.  A get away from kids and work.  A get away for just the two of them.  How blessed we were to spend some time with Kael and Jason on their little get-away. 

I love you, Kaely.  Thanks for being an amazing sister-in-law.  (Jason, you're not so bad yourself.)

The Cabin

Growing up my family spent our summer vacations camping around the northwest.  Chad grew up spending his summers at The Cabin.  The past 15 years (Wow!  I can't believe it's been that long.), we have spent summer vacation time out at The Cabin.  The Cabin is this peaceful little get away on the Spokane River out of Post Falls, Idaho.  I've come to love the time that we get to spend there...because it is so peaceful and fun. 

The Cabin has inspired this post because we have a little tradition of spending the 4th of July at The Cabin.  Our Cabin time is usually spent doing a variety of activities...jet skiing, boating, swimming, kayaking, drinking, playing horse shoes, archery, sitting around the camp fire, playing cards/board games, reading, non-stop eating...basically continuous fun.  This 4th of July felt a little different, calmer perhaps, if that's possible.  Perhaps the fact that the water was cold and the outside temp barely peaked 60 degrees had an effect on our cabin activities this year.  Nonetheless, The Cabin is something that I didn't grow up having or spending "vacation" time there, but I'm thankful that I have this peaceful place to look forward to every summer and especially the 4th of July. 

Thanks Bob and Sonja for a peaceful place to come home to during the summer. 

Enjoy a few pics from our 4th at The Cabin this year.

Peaceful reading.

Ladder ball.

Snacking...continuously.

Playing in the sand.

Sparklers.

Ooo.  Sparklers.

Uncle Chad time.

Nervous dog.

Aunt Robin time.

4th of July parade.

Grandma time.

The Giver

I'm not a reader and I never really have been. Then last year I became a 6th grade teacher and I had students that absolutely loved reading.  Every free minute that I gave them they would read.  I also had students that didn't enjoy reading and it was a constant battle to try to get them to crack open any book.  After a while that was a battle that I did not try to conquer and requested from my students that during silent read time the least that they could do was to look like they were reading.  I remember telling my students up front that not everyone enjoys reading.  I don't enjoy reading.  However, I tried to tell them that it doesn't matter what you read as long as you find something that interests you.  I gave them the example that it's difficult for me to get cozy and curl up with a book and read for hours on end like Chad.  If you give me a fitness, health or running magazine, however, I will be lost in the pages for a short period of time.  Chad enjoys reading, not me. 

Well, as a 6th grade teacher I felt it my responsibility to know what books my students were interested in.  At the beginning of the school year there was a big buzz about the Twilight series.  So...there I found myself one day at the Kirkland library checking out the Twilight series.  I read the entire series and realized reading wasn't so bad.  Maybe I had found something that I liked.  Throughout last year I read aloud various books to my students and I enjoyed seeing the curiosity on their faces of what was going to happen in the next paragraph, page, or chapter in the book.   One of my favorites that I read aloud was Danny, Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.  If you haven't read this, I highly recommend it.  I recommend any book by Roald Dahl actually.

I have a fairly large classroom library (thank you Mrs. Rice), but I have no idea what fills my shelves.  Throughout the school year my students organized my books and placed them in categories according to genre.  I'm trying to make it a goal to read through a fair amount of them this summer.  This is a huge and a bit daunting of a task, but I want to know, I need to know, what my students are reading.  I began with a historical fiction book about a young boy who goes off to fight in the Civil War.  It was okay, but I struggled to get through it.  This weekend I read through two books, both fiction.  One was a ghostly-murder-mystery type book (I can't remember the title) and it kept my interest, but I had bad dreams.  I don't do well with scary stories, movies, t.v. shows, etc.  The other book I read this weekend was The Giver. 

The Giver.  The Giver was an odd book, but I liked it.  I have a class set and would love to read it with  my class, but I don't think it is appropriate for a 6th grader.  The Giver is deep.  The Giver made me question what my life would be like without individuality?  What if I was told who I had to marry, how many kids I could have, or what occupation I would be given?  What if I had to wear the same clothes as everyone else?  What if my birthday was celebrated on the same day of everyone else that turned 32 this year?  What if I couldn't have feelings?  What if I didn't know where I was going after death?  What if I couldn't believe in Christ?  What if...

I know that I would not do very well in a society where I was told what and how to do everything. 

Go read The Giver by Lois Lowry.  It's a great book!  Then please explain the ending to me because I didn't get it.