Our annual Washington trip was a huge success in every way. Even if we'd done nothing but hang out with the cousins in the backyard, it would've been amazing. And we knew that many of our typical routine would not necessarily be a go with all of the restrictions and closures due to Covid. So we were prepared for a different-more outdoorsy type of trip this go round. And it was definitely that to be sure! We had so much fun biking, hiking, swimming in lakes, berry picking, picnicking at the lake and the park. We had to quarantine from my two brothers and their families who are dentists and CANNOT shut down their practices again- so we spent a good majority of our time outside. Highlights included using the berries we'd picked to make pies, biking around Lake Wahap with the Stevens, dinners in the backyard with the whole crew, hikes to the stream, visiting an Alpaca farm and touring the production of wool! Jet skiing for Julie's birthday, playing poker and other various games in the park, movie night at Jamie's house! Drive in movie to see Never-ending Story, visiting the lake to swim, kayak, and boat around, a night at Nisqually campground for hot dogs and s'mores and all sorts of fun shenanigans. A fishing trip for the boys with Uncle Mike! A shopping trip for the girls with Grammy and Aunt J and cousin Katie, visiting the farmers market in Olympia! And then a wonderful two day trip to the Olympic National Park!!!!! We loved stopping along the way in Sequim to visit a Lavender farm, and walk around the town, hiking the falls in the National Park, the view from the top at Hurricane Ridge, and then biking the Discovery Trail in Port Townsend on our way home. It was a wonderful two days! The whole trip sped by so quickly! I was so grateful to my mom for planning out each day and making it so special. She had sent out facebook reminders and google calendars to plan around everyone's schedules. It's not easy to coordinate so many people and make a trip like this happen! We loved being with my parents and siblings and of course the cousins.. So fun to see their relationships grow and change over time. Loved every minute. SOOOOOO glad we could go despite the craziness of our pandemic times. It was a special two weeks that we will never forget.
PS we missed Blake terribly but loved that he had a full house in our backyard while we were gone of our friends- ha! And took them out boating! He was missing us, hard at work, but also enjoying our California summer!
