Seattle or BUST!!

We were super excited when my brother matched to a Anesthesiology program in the PNW last year, hoping we would be able to get together more often. Sadly, doctoring and dog walking (darn money making!) got in the way of our plans, but we would not be detoured.

Thanksgiving wasn't going to work for a visit either, so the kids and I drove up the weekend before and played and played and ate and walked and had an all-around blast.

My kids LOVE their aunts and uncles because for so long they were the only grandchildren, with no cousins to play with. Things are a changing!

The drive the Seattle is something I can do without remembering. Even after taking the kids out of school early, traffic destroyed us and it was pouring rain. We pulled in late Friday night.

The Christiansens treated us to chocolate pasta, yum!

The next day was Pike's Place for donuts, flowers, amazing lemonade, seafood and the Gum Wall. 

Dreams come true.

I heard they recently cleaned the gum wall, so lucky us!

Clearly Tessa was the only one into picture taking that day.

Then we went to a really fun park, watched movies and played games, then ate at this awesome super-hero burger joint that I can't remember the name of. I love that my kids are all about trying new things and adventuring in a new place!

This was such a funny picture!

It took muy macho convincing to get Emory to come down this arm slide.

Concern turned to Glee!

Sydney squeezed her way into this mini-elephant and had a hard time getting back out.

Sunday, we went to church on Mercer Island and it was such a fun building and ward. Very different and interesting to visit. Then we did more adventuring, through a walking/bike tunnel to see Lake Washington and then to the Children's Museum.

Train hoarder.

Big Rig heaven!

Monday morning is was super chilly, but we didn't let that stop us on our way out of town. We stopped at another park and it was so dang fun. The kids definitely want to go back in the summer!

Many thanks to Josh and Syd for a fabulous weekend, and to Fiz for putting up with Fischer!

Some of the phone pictures:

Remember to thoroughly check laundry for diapers BEFORE washing.

Halloweenie

We had Halloween Carnival at church this year, and guess who was in charge of it?? I should've taken more pictures but it was a great success and I never want to do it again.

The photobooth.

 The next day my folks flew in for a visit and it was a ton of fun, as usual.

Pumpkin carving, cookie making, and stellar costumes from Grandma, as usual.

 I think one of my favorite things was this veggie skeleton my mom made. 

She's seriously such a fun grandma!

I don't know why, but Fischer loves this tiny parrot costume.

Phone pictures:

 Hungry Hippos with the bum.

Cheese and Crack.