How do you like my first attempt at a slideshow I am pretty proud of myself. I hope everyone is having a great summer.

We are having a great summer. Jacob and Brook here and have been for quite awhile. We have been to the library a few times, the pool at the Cape, Vic's for lunch, the play park a couple of times and of course we have had a few visits into town. Jacob and I went to see Harry Potter with Tracy, Griffin and Dylan. Alister and Dina were also there enjoying the movie. We have been round to Uncle Bill's for dinner and cards. John just started his 3rd week of vacation. We take Brook back to Oregon on Saturday but Jacob is going to stay another two weeks. Julie and Kyle were here for a week and we all really enjoyed that special time. The weather this summer has been terrific with only 3 days rain in two months. We all had a wonderful 4th and it was so great having Julie and Kyle here also. We went to Roche Harbor for fireworks all though it was good not as good as Friday Harbor. The parade this year was the best. We went to the Fire Station for lunch instead of the Pig War Picnic so it also was a change from our normal routine. Kyle and Julie really enjoyed seeing the eagles this year and Julie got some great pictures of them. We all had a lovely time in Oregon at Josh and Shawna's wedding. It was lovely spending time with the family together. Of course it goes without saying I love my special times with Maggie and Heather. We went on the jet boat dinner cruise for John's 60th birthday and that was a great dinner and lots of fun. John, Kyle, Jacob and I also did some river rafting which we all enjoyed and of course we got soaked. Brook has been busy playing with the Cabbage Patch Babies and all the stuffed animals at the moment she is busy shouting at Bliss to get off of something. Brook enjoys playing with Annie and Bliss. This truly is a lovely summer.

I am really enjoying the flowers this year the colors are wonderful. We have had 3 beautiful weeks here in Friday Harbor and the next week is suppose to be terrific. Well it is count down now for Josh's wedding. It is always nice when the family gets together for some fun. We are very excited about Julie, Kyle, Jacob and Brook coming to the Island. We just wish Ashley was coming too. John and I have been busy weeding it seems like a full time job. Well everyone I hope you are enjoying your summer.

Well the weather report says it suppose to be lovely here Thursday thru Sunday so that is something to look forward to. John and I celebrated our 43 rd anniversary today. I must admit I don't remember ever living my life without him. John is still the love of my life. We have always been best friends and he is a great dad and grandpa and the best husband ever.
The girls are coming out on Friday after work so that should be fun and we can always sit round the fire pit if the evening gets cool. Julie just told me that her and Kyle are coming up here after Josh's wedding so I am so excited.

Well Annie had her first hair cut and she hated every minute of it. John really wanted it done and he loves it. See the pictures below. Let me know how you like it.

April 28th, 2009
Maggie, Julie and I spent the day in LA at the Getty Center. What a wonderful place it is, truly amazing. Happy Birthday Maggie, it was so very special to spend the day with you. Wednesday Julie and I did some shopping and relaxing. Thursday, off to Huntington Beach to visit Jimmy and Peggy. Jimmy took us to lunch at Ruby's on Huntington Beach Pier and then a nice dive to Seal Beach.
Friday started off the day with a visit from Becky and baby Chase and Amy with baby Emma. It was so great to be with two such lovely babies. Thank you Becky and Amy for coming to see me. I have to say at this time both Becky and Amy seem very happy with their little bundles of joy. Friday afternoon we were off for a visit to see Kim, JT, Jenna and Jake. Kim is a wonderful hostess so we always have a lovely time there. Jenna was her usual charming little self, I just love talking with her (& watching Bolt). I hadn't seen Jake since he was a little baby, what a surprise, he is now a big boy (sorry Kim). We had a visit with Karen and Kenny on Sunday afternoon they had been to Tom's Farm and had bought a sofa.
Thank you Kyle and Julie for such a terrific holiday. Your home looks lovely and you both have done a wonderful job with all the paint work, floor tiles and woodwork. Love the new carpet. Have to finish off by saying how special Levi, Cooper and Diesel make you feel when you go to visit them. They even sleep with you. Saturday morning came all to soon and it was back to LAX for my flight home. Welcome to Seattle it was raining (surprise) at least I got a chance to try out my new umbrella from Maggie. John, Annie and Bliss were waiting for me and it was off on our usual Cost Co run. Thank you everyone for such a lovely visit.

Garden at the Getty Center

April 28, 2009 at the Getty Center for Maggies birthday

Art at the Getty Center it is amazing

Levi & Diesel

Truffles

Alister

Cooper

Levi and Deisel

John, Tracy and Avril at Tony Romma's

Julie and Avril on Jungle Cruise at Disneyland

Glamour Girls Julie & Ashley at Disneyland

Ashley & I on Monsters Inc. at Disneyland

Birthday at Disneyland

Maggie and Avril

Sergio, Avril, Michael

April 24th, 2009
The shuttle picked me up at the house and took me all the way to Seattle. Everything was on time the shuttle, the ferry, the airplane, my trip to California has begun. I met up with Ashley at LAX. Kyle and Julie picked us up and we made it to Riverside in rush hour traffic in 1 hr. 20 minutes. What a perfect day. We went out to dinner that evening with Maggie, Sergio, Michael and Melissa. The place was TGI Fridays and the food was great. We laughed a lot and had so much fun. How special it was to share this moment with so many wonderful and loved people. Thank you Kyle for such a perfect evening. The next morning bright and early Julie drives us into Anaheim for our day to Disneyland. Kyle's cousin Kevin signed us in to both parks as his guests. We had the best day ever at Disneyland. The weather was warm and the sun was shining. Disneyland was as clean and beautiful as ever. We watched part of the parade which Kevin was in as Gepeto. Our day started on rides in Disneyland and then we went to California Adventure. This was Ashley's 1st time to California Adventure and she loved it. It was such a wonderful time to spend with Julie and Ashley. We were 3 generations having fun together and that we did. We laughed so much and had a great time. I wish you could have been there to see Julie and Ashley on Tower of Terror it was the best. I hurt I laughed so much at their reaciton. Julie says she will NEVER go on that again. Early that evening we left the park and met John and Tracy at Tony Romma's for a delicious birthday dinner. It had been awhile since I had seen them both so that was a nice way to celebrate my birhtday with so much of my family around me. Sunday Julie and I managed to get in some shopping. We started off at Kohl's with the gift card I received from Kyle and Julie for my birthday. Ashley went to spend the day with her mom, but when she returned she gave me my birthday surprise and what a surprise it was a shopping spree at Micheal's. Thank you Ashley, Brian, Tina, Jacob and Brook. Monday came all to soon and off we were to take Ashley to the airport. I was sorry to see her go as I was so enjoying being with her. May I say at this time thank you to Julie for all the driving she did during this visit. Now for some pictures.

Hello from San Juan
Well Ashley and I are very excited about our trip to California. We can't wait to see Julie and Kyle. It has been a few years since I went to Disneyland so I am as excited as a five year old. I love Disneyland it truly is a place like no other the first time I went was with my mom. I am so looking forward to being there to celebrate Maggie's birthday that is very special to me as in years past we have celebrated each others birthdays with such fun and good times. To me seeing family is the best. On this trip I hope to see, Maggie, Sergio, Melissa, Michael, John, Tracy, Julie, Kyle, Ashley and of course Becky and Amy and two lovely new babies.

HAPPY EASTER
I MISS YOU ALL VERY MUCH
ASHLEY, JULIE AND KYLE I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON
IT'S RAINING HERE TODAY ON SAN JUAN BUT CAN'T COMPLAIN THE WEATHER HAS BEEN BEAUTIFUL. BILL AND JANET WERE OVER YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND WE HAD A LOVELY HIGH TEA TOGETHER.

San Juan Island Ferry

Port of Friday

Our house Westcott Drive

Friday Harbor

I found another good old photo I thought you would enjoy. In the front left to right, Avril, Ashley, Julie, John and Jacob in front.

This is a picture of three generations.

John (Grandpa & Dad), John (Dad & Son)

and Cameron (Grandson & Son).

This is and old picture I thought you might

enjoy.

This was a terrific day enjoyed by all. Left to right, Dylan (nephew), Bill (brother), Joan (sister), Josh (nephew), Heather (niece) and Avril/

This is Roche Harbor, San Juan Islands about 1 mile from we live.

Scotland

This is Brian and family. Ashley, Jacob, Tina and let us not forget our cute little Brook.

Beautiful Sunny Day in San Juan

Well I just checked the weather forcast and guess what snow is expected for tomorrow 90% chance of it and it may snow until next week. Did someone say it was March. It's Friday so we are looking forward to the week-end. There is just something about Friday's that always make them feel special.

Mackinnon family photo 1910

This is a picture of My Granny and Grandpa with my mother Annie sitting on Granny's lap. Siblings are: Duncan, Meg, Jess, Kate & Nance.

Well here I am trying to update our blog with a fresh new format give me your input of what you think. It was a beautiful sunny and warm day here in San Juan (45'). Annie and Bliss spent most of the day outside.

Happy Valentine's Day from Friday Harbor

We ate lunch at a lovely outside Bistro, Lorna, Lianne and I in Sluis, Holland. What a special day we enjoyed together. This is cherry beer, it is the best.

A wonderful day in Gent, Belgium with Lorna and Lianne.

Just a few photos taken in Scotland last October. Ardvreck Castle, Jan and I out for a walk with Ellie.

Here are a few more photos taken on Burn's night. In this order Alister, William (Bill in the background), Dina