Our trip to Seattle this year was FULL of fun and adventure! Because my kids are a little older this go-round, we figured we could fill the visit chalk full of various activities, road trips and day outings. And boy did we ever! We didn't even have a chance to get unpacked before heading straight to Mt. St. Helen's to explore the Ape Caves. The kids enjoyed the road trip down-- particularly, splitting up amongst cousins and then spending the night at a hotel. Always a highlight for kids, right? Especially when you can play truth or dare:) We woke up early and geared up in head lamps and warm clothing to go under the ground where lava had formed into caves under the ground. The adventure hit a high point at the end of the cave when everyone turned off their lamps and Uncle Jason told the kids about the darkness that enveloped the earth at the time of Christ's death. He told them about the light that they can contribute to the world through their good works! It was very sweet. We sang together on the way back and enjoyed each other's company... such a fun day.
A treat for me was all of the blackberry bushes in full bloom everywhere you looked! I absolutely adore blackberries and it was so fun to go on hikes collecting berries to eat and for milkshakes. This is one of my most treasured childhood memories for sure and it was so fun to share with the kids. Typically, the blackberries are not ripe when we arrive in Seattle! The kids enjoyed walking all over the place, especially down to Sunnyside beach to look for crabs and skip rocks. They enjoyed blueberry picking as well and of course baking a blueberry pie once all the berries were collected with Grammy! My mom always tries to give each of the kids a special one on one baking session. Grant picked chocolate chip cookies; Dane picked a blueberry pie. This year, Ev skipped the baking in leu of sewing an adorable little doll. This was such a fun project for her and she was thrilled! My Dad taught Evelyn how to make gyoza-- another childhood favorite of mine. He served his mission in Japan and used to make this for us on special occasions. So fun to teach the kids the whole darn process-- which isn't easy at all- ha!
Of course we did our typical traditions of "camping" at Nisqually. The best idea ever in which we stay at the campgrounds all day-- roast hot dogs, eat junk food, float the river, search for frogs, do s'mores, tell ghost stories and then pack up and head home before bed. We spent many a day at the local parks playing crochet, medusa, St. Peter, soccer, and backpack-baby-bull. There was TONS of baby cuddling this year as we had the chance to meet Molly and Mary Lynn for the first time! They are both so cute you can't even handle it. Evelyn was sure in baby heaven. Also so fun to meet my cousin Chelsea's little baby boy as well and to seem my Aunt Dianne. To take a trip up to Seattle to visit Eryn and her kids and then stay the night with Auntie Michelle. Man, her little twins Scout and Olive are the MOST fun little two year olds on earth. We loved every second hanging out with her and the kids. We enjoyed visiting our old stomping ground near UW Dental school! The apartment where we brought Ev home from the hospital and the amazing Lake Washington just behind our place where we spent many a weekend walking and swimming. I love love love Sanpoint area. I missed it so much after our day exploring.
Side note: SUPER scary experience in Seattle when the boys landed in a grounding bees nest and were stung about 10-15 times each. AAAACK! We rushed them to the ER and thankfully all was ok but it was traumatic. SOOOOO grateful it was wasps and not bees. Dane wasn't allergic to them!
Such a blast celebrating Julie's sixth birthday! Since we aren't around for most of the cousins' birthday parties, this was a real treat. Love that little girl and her sisters. The kids were in heaven at Jess and Mike's house for home-made banana pancakes, hash browns and bacon. They love Molly and Wade and could spend hours following them around. Of course Mike always has us laughing. We spent a few nights at J and Jason's house staying up WAAAAY too late watching movies and laughing. Heck, one night we left all the kids home and J, Jason and I went out to see Ghostbusters! Pretty fun for me to escape motherhood for the evening:) Probably the biggest highlights for the kids were The Ol'Swimming Hole and McDebby's farm where the kids all successfully fished! These two traditional summer activities are so fun. The swimming hole is just absolutely gorgeous and it was awesome to have my Dad there this year-- first time ever- since he retired in January! Loved canoeing about and eating our yummy German bakery sausage, cheese and pretzel bread picnic. Anna never surfaced even once. She loved playing in the shallow water at the beach. Ev and Dane and Grant enjoyed jumping off the dock and sliding down the slide into the cold refreshing lake water. The ferry ride over is always a little crazy, but fun. Feel lucky to have been raised in such a beautiful area.
Of course, all of these wonderful activities mean nothing without the people behind it all. My family is pretty special and I love them to pieces. So grateful for each and every one of them. I kind of lucked out in the family department, I'm pretty sure.
