{The Last Hurrah!}

I'm in denial that summer it over. Say it ain't so. We did squeeze in one last trip to end the best summer ever. We got to go home -- our other home, to Washington! It was exactly a year from when we left, but I was so happy that everything was just the way we left it. We pretty much just invited ourselves to stay at Immer and Jeremy's house, and they were so kind to let us come. Amazing hosts! Our families just work together so well, we're all such good friends. Once-in-a-lifetime kind of friends. Friends that might as well be family kind of friends! We are so blessed. It was so good to be there, and I was having so much fun I got totally camera lazy, and now I'm kicking myself. The one day I was in the mood, I forgot to take it out of our dive bag and Todd had it out on the boat. So most of these shots are from Jeremy (thanks!) and Immer will send me hers any day now -- hint! hint! : )

The road trip... we started out strong with the future looking so bright we had to wear shades. I love these three grinning kiddos!

They did great and we made it in a mere 14 hours -- a record for us! ...I also discovered why they call it "Big Sky Montana" There is nothing else to look at.

Nothing. at. all.

Except there was a cut out silhouette of a buffalo perched up on a hill. Louis says it "bull-a-fo." That kept me entertained for a good while!

Rob and Rachel even waited for us to get there to have their baby. Oh, what makes an amazing trip even better? A newborn, that's what! Congratulations you guys, Rebecca is so sweet, and it was so great to see you again! Thanks for letting "us" bring "you" dinner!

Then there was the diving. You knew you were going to have to hear all about the diving!
Todd and Jeremy did 12 dives and saw 8 ship wrecks in the 5 days we were there. Do the math -- they were exhausted! Todd was such a happy man, I think his gills were drying up! Jeremy has a friend, Jim, that took the whole week off of work so we could go diving off of his boat. He is a super great guy and Todd also dubbed him a "Red-neck Jedi" after he replaced the starter on his truck in the parking lot with a cheap little tool kit. Some guys can just fix anything -- especially when they want to go get wet!

Todd and I on the anchor line (I'm the one in pink, in case you were confused).

Immer, the dainty diver!

We saw tons of these Black Rockfish at one of the barge dives. It's amazing to look out and watch them all swimming -- I can't describe it!

Don't let this big grin fool ya, I was FREEZING!

SEE!?! I really wanted to do two dives that day so I stayed in my wet suit with my little teeth chattering and me a shiverin' and a shakin' while we drove to the next dive site.

Immer was smarter. She's more of a one dive a day, then wrap up in four hoodies to stay warm kind of gal. She also does an amazing Kenny impression!

Ryan was my fellow wet suit popsicle friend. They boys are always trying to give him hypothermia! Last year they talked him into diving with only one glove.... brrr!

Todd and more Todd. He's so comfortable in the water. I seriously need to do this more than once a year.... *sigh*

He's also made himself quite the reputation for grabbing and poking everything he can get his hands on. Here he's managed to grab a hold of a great sculpin! I think Jeremy named this picture "He'll never learn." : ) He's so fun to dive with, though -- I hadn't noticed any sea cucumbers until he threw one at me!

Jeremy is an amazing diver and underwater photographer. These are just a few of super cool sights they saw this week...

Yellow Margin Dorid (hey, I don't name the things, I just watch Jeremy take their picture and Todd poke them!)

Nudibranch -- I just love how tiny and glowy these little things are!

Quillback

Kelp crab

Anemone

The weather was a bit cloudy, and our kids took their turns passing around the 12-hour flu (nothing is more fun that seven kids with the flu!) so we were having a hard time getting out of the house. We finally felt confident that no one would ralf in the pool, so we took them to the Federal Way Community Center. This place is great! It had a water slide, hot tub, splash park, wave pool, and a regular swimming area all in one room. Fun for all!

I'm so glad Jeremy brought his camera... their kids are fishies! Mine, not so much. He had Elizabeth doing things she would never have tried on her own, and she had a blast!

Andre, Elizabeth, and Ariana. See, they are fish!

Caroline is more of a tube, wave pool kind of kid.

Life is good!

Louis loved it all, as long as dad was there to hang out with. Still such a daddy's boy.

The water slide!

It was so amazing to be back there. I can't believe how fast a week can go by. We saw so many of our good friends (Kristie, will you make me a big bag of cookies every time we come for the ride home?) We even drove by our old house and it is for rent again! Oh, the temptation! Thanks everybody for the good times! We love you and miss you all so much!