Washington Trip

We've been back for over a week and a half now but it's taken me that long to get caught up on housework, errands, etc. So I'm just now getting around to posting pictures from our trip.

We had such a great time! I really, really miss the Northwest! Even the rain, I don't mind it at all anymore. And, amazingly, it hardly rained at all the first week we were there! I fully expected it to rain non-stop for two weeks straight, it is March after all. But no, we even got a few gorgeous spring days! Lucky us!

The boys loved being around their family too! They have so much fun with their grandparents, aunts and uncles. For some reason, they are always much better behaved too. Maybe it's because they have so many opportunities for attention, they don't need to whine or fight over it? Whatever, the reason, I'm always grateful that they're enjoying themselves so much and that I get so much help taking care of them!

Just a funny picture of Gary and Sari trying to wrangle the boys for a picture together.

One of the highlights for me was getting the chance to see all my friends who still live in Seattle, some of whom I haven't seen in several years. This is my good friend Emily from high school and her son, Jason. It was so great to catch up with her.

And this is one of my best friends and roommate from college, Katey. She and her husband live in Oregon and she drove up for a couple days while I was in town. My awesome in-laws graciously watched the boys and let me spend the whole day and night with Katey and my other roommates, Taja and Lauralee. I never get to go out with friends anymore so it was a dream come true for me. I haven't had that much fun in a looong time!

The boys playing catch with Uncle Scott and Aunt Rachel

Jack looking really ticked off at the playground

The wedding was beautiful and perfect! As you already saw in the video, Jack and Cullen were the cutest ring bearers I've ever seen. Ashlee was a gorgeous bride. And now she and Scott are married! We were so excited that we got celebrate with them!

Family photo at the wedding

The boys were so sick the day of the wedding that they actually missed most of it :-( Rachel played with them in a different room so they didn't disturb the ceremony and immediately afterward, Cullen started falling asleep on my shoulder so Rachel was nice enough to take them back to the rental house so they could nap. They came back at the end of the reception and almost immediately found these sticks with mustaches attached (props for the photo booth). They snatched all of them up and spent the rest of the reception wandering around swatting at innocent people, Grandma Sari in particular.

Brandon left the morning after the wedding and the boys and I went down to Federal Way to spend a week with Rachel. Every time I go back, it's fun because no matter where I drive, I'll pass by places that hold so many good memories for me. I really enjoyed showing the boys the parks that I played at growing up, the houses where Brandon and I used to live, our old church where Brandon and I first met, etc. We also got to visit a few more old friends, including the Badens, my old youth group leaders whose son Colby is only a few months younger than Jack and Cullen. The boys have met before but were only babies so this time they finally got to play together. Colby is a really cool kid, I think our boys would all be the best of friends if we ever live near each other again.

It's literally impossible to get a picture with three toddler boys all looking at the camera, this is the best shot we could get.

It did rain a few days that we were staying in FW, but whenever it wasn't, we took the boys outdoors. One of their favorite places was Redondo, every time we left they'd shout "more water! more water!" Any place that has a beach, boardwalk and playground automatically gets ranked as a favorite place for them!

Chasing pigeons on the pier.

I don't even want to know how much bird poop and fish guts are on that railing

With my cousin Alex and her new baby Max

I was lucky enough to see Shauna twice while I was in town! The first time we met at a restaurant and enjoyed happy hour pina coladas and talked for 3+ hours. My kind of night. The second time, I took the boys over to Shauna's so they could play with Lilly. The picture below is of me with my future daughter-in-law. She and Cullen really hit it off, I think we'll most definitely be planning their wedding 20 years from now ;-)

Lilly kept giving them hugs and kisses. Unfortunately, the boys weren't too excited about it.

All three kiddos together

I just love this picture, it's a keeper. It'll be perfect for the wedding slideshow ;-)

Jack playing with Auntie Anna's phone. Anna has a Justin Bieber ring tone which the boys wanted to play on repeat. By the end of the week, Anna had them shouting "more Bieber!" Thankfully, they now seem to have forgotten all about the Biebs.

At the Brown's Point lighthouse during a rainstorm

The boys inherited their mother's weakness for Emerald City smoothies. Too bad they're crazy expensive now... $6 for a smoothie? Bummer.

One morning Rachel and I were getting ready in the bathroom. Cullen kept saying "Eye, eye, Mommy. Eye!" I looked down and saw this. He must have been going for a dramatic look by piling on the mascara.

Funny face at Redondo. The morning we flew out was so gorgeous! We just had to stop for a quick walk.

And that's it, we're home now. We enjoyed every second of our visit, it was really hard to get on that airplane home :-( Maybe someday, we can call the Northwest home again, I really hope so at least! Except... I was a little weirded out by all those bikini espresso stands that are popping up everywhere now! Do I really want to raise my children in a place where the baristas aren't wearing any clothes?!? I kept trying to peer inside when we drove by, but I never actually saw anybody. So I guess they're easy enough to avoid. Still really creepy though!