We went to the west side to visit family and friends, and to get enjoy a change of scenery and a dose of vitamin Sea. What is it about the ocean ~ it has the power to make us want to drive hours and hours with obnoxious small people just to see and smell it and feel it on our feet. We stopped in Snoqualmie for a short-but-sweet visit with my cousin, her husband, and their cutie daughter, Alina. My cousin Miranda is pregnant with their 2nd, and nothing does my heart good more than seeing someone I love rocking the pregnant Mama glow. On our way into Seattle the Blue Angels were flying right over us. An amazing way to be welcomed into the city, and also a little tricky as it had shut down the major roads we needed to use. But we pulled over and oohed and ahhed at the air show overhead, then got back on track to our first stop, the ocean. We went to Discovery Park and could not have hit it at a better time. The tide was out and the shore was teeming with sea creatures galore. The next morning we went to the Point Defiance Zoo, the polar bears took the cake and made the very painful entrance fee worth it {at least I thought so, Todd may have a different idea}. After that, a bite to eat and off to the beach again. Just couldn't stay away. That night was my birthday dinner at Dahlia. I'd been dreaming about those gosh dang donuts that live too far away from here, and I got an order all to myself, the others had to share, suckers. I guess I did give one away, that's how nice I am. We went and swam at the pool and the next morning Katy's friend Joc took our family pics. I love and adore pictures, I know that doesn't come as a huge shock, but I hate having pictures taken. And I was quickly reminded why it had been 5 solid years since we'd done it. I went in without an agenda and I think that helped, but when Mitch laid down on his side in the grass like he was the centerfold for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and asked her to take his picture, I knew we were flying by the seat of our pants on this photo shoot and we would be breaking all the rules. Next up, Charlie used a pot hole in the ground as a pretend toilet and proceeded to pretend poop, grunting and all, so I think that our photographer needed a session of her own after us, with a therapist. So after pictures it was off to see the Ericksons, sweet relief for my heart and soul. When we got to the door, I instantly remembered why I love and crave them so much. We got the kids all suited up and, you guessed it, headed to the beach. Pails and shovels in hand, they took off down the trail to Titlow beach, where they found jellyfish, crabs and special rocks while us big people chatted. Then we walked to Steamers for fish and chips and huckleberry ice cream. Perfection. Our next day was set aside for Aaron and Meg, and we started off with a morning hike out at Camp Arnold with Aaron since Meagan had to work. We rented a cabin there since hotels don't allow 6 people in one room, and it was so nice to be out in the woods and not have to worry about being quiet and disturbing the people sharing walls with us. It was a beautiful morning to be outside, and we loved hearing Aaron retelling stories of his times there at band camp, and Meagan and Aaron also got married on some of the property out there so it was special to be back a year later. All 4 of our boys had fun finding frogs, ginormous slugs, and Aaron was teaching the little brothers all about how to use the plants and berries as medicine or food. We later met up with Meagan in their cute little home town. Orting is the small town with a big view, and boy does it deliver. Mt. Rainier just sticks up out of the sky like a fake movie back drop. We played at the park for a bit and then walked over to their favorite bakery for some treats. Then we had to scoot off to the Space Needle for dinner. The kids have been obsessed about this main event for 2 months! It was a bit of a trek from Orting, and with Seattle traffic, we literally made our reservation by the skin of our teeth. We were technically late but a very sappy phone call I made kept them from giving our table away.Todd and I honeymooned in Seattle but never went up to the top of the Space Needle, and it was breathtaking. A beautiful, clear night with amazing views that changed as the restaurant slowly turned. A fun memory. We ordered the kids a sundae to share and it was served over dry ice, their reaction was priceless and they quickly re-named their dessert "the smoking sundae of death."
The sun is up and so am I. This is not the time I like to start summer mornings, but when a road trip is ahead, I make exceptions;)
Ella and Alina in the rain. This is Snoqualmie so not sure they get any other weather?
Blue skies and Blue Angels. Not a bad welcome!
Vitamin Sea
I will never get tired of seeing my kids play in the ocean
My little lover Dawson made this "Dawson hearts Mom" in the sand for me
The twins had sand in every nook and cranny so they had to strip down to their boxers on the ride back
That arrow points to the 7th level of hell where I slept for two nights, crammed horizontally on the queen sized bed with 3 other boys kicking me in the face, talking in their sleep, grinding their teeth, and snoring. Sleepless {and suicidal} in Seattle indeed
We hit the zoo on one of 2 days of Shark Week. The creation of these horrifying things are God's one and only mistake
These 2 pictures crack me up because it shows mine and Todd's completely opposite personalities;)
This is one of my favorite pictures of the trip, Ella watching the polar bears swim. They kept coming right up to her {most likely because she looked like a snack}
My girl is getting so tall, and OLD
Always posing
Ella asked if she could swim out to the boats, this girl. Fearless
Luckily we had a short walk to Dahlia from our parking spot, we were only stopped by one hobo, a record
Miss cranky pants. She looks cute, but she bites
Waiting for Todd....
My Charlie loves as hard as he plays, and fights. My birthday "kiss" was more like CPR. There are those donuts, I'm so distracted I can hardly finish typing this sentence
Off to the beach, again! This time with the Erickson girls.
Wherever Eda is, you will find Mitch
Jellyfish!
Ila with her crab
Ava and Ella, these 2 could rule the world!
All 4 of these Erickson girls have my heart! Love them to bits and pieces
Morning hike
Todd with his 4 boys
Beautiful morning
Frog finders
Seriously, people get to look at that mountain every day?
This is more our style as far as family pictures go
This is the "I suckered Maggin into carrying me yet again" look
We made it to the Space Needle! Hallelujah! Todd now has an ulcer from the traffic, but we made it! The mountain, the city, the sea, and even an airplane with a banner in one shot. I could get used to this place
We made it to the Space Needle! Hallelujah! Todd now has an ulcer from the traffic, but we made it! The mountain, the city, the sea, and even an airplane with a banner in one shot. I could get used to this place
Very sophisticated with their Shirley Temples
A little better pic of Mt. Rainier. Or maybe I just wanted to take another one, who knows
There's that squeal-inducing sundae!
The sweetest couple kept offering to take a family pic for us. After about the 3rd time we accepted. But we couldn't stop laughing because she was trying everything, literally, to get Todd's head in the picture. The observation deck is so narrow that she couldn't get far enough away to get us shorties and Mr 6 foot 3 inches in the same shot. She practically climbed the wall trying! And never mind that I have wet hair pulled back so I look like a man.
Had to stop at Anthem on the way home. Favorite coffee spot. And pulled pork flat bread pizza with a Coke and a salted carmel for the road never hurt anyone
The kids decided I should add Mt. Rainier to my list of obsessions {clouds, sunsets, sugar...}
Dawson's souvenir, this ridiculous Space Needle cup! The gumballs that filled it kept us occupied on the way home. I made up a new road trip game with them that saved us from stepping across the threshold of hell on the last leg of the drive.
Until the next adventure...
