Pirate Fest

So many things I could say.

SO, so many.

I'll leave it at this: If you are in the Bay Area on Fathers Day weekend, make a trip to Vallejo to attend Pirate Festival.

Bring your camera.

And be ready to be blown away.

These people take piracy very seriously.

Although, some appeared to have missed the Pirate part of Pirate Fest.

(as he was motioning, dripping in sweat, "Come get in the picture with me, beautiful.")

Honestly.

Pirate Fest = Serious Entertainment.

Kindred Spirits

Have you ever met someone and automatically been friends with them?

I met Natalynn at the beginning of our second semester in Dominica and it was obvious we were kindred spirits.

(can you tell I just read Anne of Green Gables?)

Anyway, we spent a lot of time together in Dominica between living in the same apartment complex for a few semesters, both working with the day school kids, and being in the primary presidency together. I can't think of too many things we did without each other.

Every Saturday morning, we walked to the market together. We would catch the free bus into Roseau (the capitol) to go grocery shopping together. We went to the pool, watched movies, and hung out all the time while our husbands studied.

The kids stopped asking me "Where's Keith?" and starting asking "Where's Natalynn?" when they would see me---because that's who I was commonly with.

Often, we would wear the same thing. Sometimes, we'd call each other to make sure we were NOT wearing the same thing.

(Are all of these mushy memories making you want to puke?)

My point is, we are close. And since we have been back in the states, it's been a sad thing to live so far apart from each other.

At the end of May, Keith surprised me with a ticket to fly out and visit Natalynn for a week!

We went to Bronners, which is the worlds largest Christmas store. So many fun things in there.

We also went to a splash pool and splash pad with Kate, but mostly, we did a lot of:

*visiting

*hanging out

*visiting

*hanging out.

IT. WAS. AWESOME.

One night we made cookies and then froze some cookie dough.

We did a few crafty/sewing projects. We made this cute Tutu for Kate.

And these awesome pillows for my couch.

And we got together with other friends from the island.

Natalynn, Me, Paige - (late) the night before I left

The Roy kids at a really fun and free splash pad at one of the parks.

I especially love this picture. Xiomara liked to wear my sun glasses in Dominica and it was fun to find that even after 2 years, not much has changed.

Flash back: Sharing a PB&J (and sun glasses) with Xiomara at PBH.

It was such a great week---Thank you Michigan friends and especially Natalynn for the great visit!