Month: September 2013

A Party, Ferry Rides and Fun Road Trips

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 Today was yet another day of fun and excitement for all of us. It was a day of fun, adventure and a party. A party, you ask? Yep, it was Abby’s very first Birthday Party since moving to Seattle! Her new friend at school was having a party and Abby was invited. She couldn’t have been more excited about it.

The party was at the local YMCA and had a princess theme. Everyone was to wear their best princess dresses. . They played in the big playroom, pretended to running through the castle while being chased by dragons and bad guys and did some arts and crafts. After playtime it was food, cake and presents for the birthday girl, Isa! When it was time to go, Abby was a bit sad to leave but so happy that she had been invited and had such a fun time. As a parent it makes me happy to see that my kiddo is settling into to her new home and making friends.
All decked out with her goodies from Isa’s birthday party. Such a happy and excited little party goer.
Even though the party was over, the fun was not! Daddy, Grandma Zoe and Ellie picked us up from the party and we were off for an adventure together in the car. Today, despite the rain, we thought we would take Grandma across the sound to Kingston and over to Port Gamble. We wanted to show her a new favorite spot of ours and do a bit of exploring too. The ferry ride was wet and choppy, so we opted to stay in the car most of the way over.
We stopped in Port Gamble expecting it to be busy but to our surprise it was quiet. The Lumberjack Festival that was supposed to be running had been canceled. The storm that weekend created some problems and high winds the night before, knocked over one of the carnival rides. The town had to pull the plug on it for the safety of its patrons. A bit disappointing but we still made our time there fun. We went into the General Store, which is full of fun treats and the best hot chocolate and coffee drinks EVER. Grandma Zoe did a bit of shopping and when we had had out fill we hopped back into the car. We had planned to spend more time there but since plans had changed we opted to do some exploring and head to Port Townsend. 
Port Townsend is another beautiful little town with lots of historic charm. Shaun and I had been there once before, back during our first adventures in Seattle before the girls were born. Our real estate agent was having an open house for our home that was now on the market, so we took Jack and head out for the day to do some exploring. Our travels took us to Port Townsend and we thought it was a beautiful place. Since our plans today had changed, we thought it would great to head back that direction and it wasn’t too far away.
One of the old ferry docks that still stands in Port Townsend.
Low grasses along the sea edge in Fort Worden State Park
Looking out into the sound towards Whidbey Island and Vancouver Island in Fort Worden State Park. Quite a choppy day but so beautiful
A doe with her two little babies came out of the woods into some of the grassy areas for the evening. The little ones were still young enough to have their spots.
The whole gang enjoying the early evening hours. Too cute!
Port Townsend City Hall and Court House
Lighthouse home on the hill, Port Townsend, Washington

The trip out to Port Townsend was beautiful. It was stormy but the clouds were starting to break up a bit. We drove down Main Street to see the historic buildings and look at the shops. We had hoped to stop and walk through town but because it was later in the afternoon on a Sunday, most of the shops and restaurants were closed. So, we enjoyed what we could see and then drove out to Fort Worden State Park, which has some beautiful scenery and views. We headed down to the lighthouse and stopped along one of the beaches. On a clear day you can see Vancouver Island from that spot. Abby thinks its pretty neat that she can see Canada from there.

After our drive through the old fort and military outpost, (think the Presidio but on a much smaller scale) and spotting a little family of deer, we headed back out and over to Bainbridge Island to take the ferry into the city. We stopped for a bite to eat at the Madison Diner where things got interesting near the end of our dinner. Another storm was blowing in and the power was knocked out while we ate! Ellie could have cared less but Abby was not to thrilled about. Luckily it was out for only a minute and soon we were on our way home on the ferry.

We were all exhausted by the time we got home, but it was for a good reason. We had such a lovely time together! Starting tomorrow its back to reality and school. But good things are ahead of us. Shaun starts his new job this week! More on that later though…

Big Birthday Fun with Grandma Zoe

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This weekend was all about celebration! What are we celebrating, you ask? Abby’s 5th Birthday, of course. She will be five in a few short days! This weekend Grandma Zoe, Grandma Denise, Grandpa Jerry and Auntie Jillian were coming out to celebrate. Unfortunately, due to some big issues at work, the Montana crew had to postpone their trip and will hopefully have the chance to visit in the next few weeks. Therefore, Grandma Zoe gets to have a special one on one celebration with Abby!
Grandma Zoe arrived yesterday in the late afternoon, so we kept the evening pretty low key. Visited, settled in and went out to dinner. The girls were happy and had plenty to talk about. Today was all about fun, excitement and a big surprise. The morning was breakfast, time to play and then the girls got dressed in their best princess dresses, Abby in her Merida dress and Ellie in her own version of a princess. Pretty soon we were packed up into the car and headed to Bellevue!
Dressed and ready for a day fit for a princess!

We headed straight for Bellevue Square. The day was very stormy and the rain was coming down pretty hard so we left home early. Traffic ended up being just fine, so we had some time to use up before the “big surprise”. We took Abby and Ellie over to Top Pot doughnut for a tasty treat, which they loved and then took them up to Dooz 4 Kids for their surprise. An afternoon of princess pampering!

MMMMMMM… Tasty!
She is the biggest cheese of them all!
Abby though it was pretty cool that she was dressed like Merida in her dress and wearing rain boots with it. She said that Merida would think it was perfect.

Dooz 4 Kids isn’t just a kids salon, they do parties and special events for children. Because we are still settling in to school and Abby is just meeting new friends, we decided not to do a party but have a small day of pampering with her sister. Her surprise was a princess hairstyle, an manicure and glitter tattoo!

Waiting for the pampering to begin!
Playing and being a good girls sitting in her chair. A princess hairdo in the making!
Abby is getting the most perfect Merida braids and curls.
Beautiful little Ellie curls!
Beautiful Abby curls! She was so excited to have curls just like Merida’s. I reminded her that she has beautiful curls already but she liked that these ones were bigger and smooth.
The finishing touch, Princess sparkles!
Princess hairdo, done. Now its time for some nail polish!
Beautiful braids and curls.
Pink nails for Abby…
… and a princess sparkle tattoo to match.
Ellie chose purple nails and a unicorn sparkle tattoo.
And top it all off… a balloon and goody bag to boot!
With goodies in tow and all dressed like princesses, its time for some dinner.

After the princess treatment it was off to dinner, Abby’s choice. Red Robin was at the top of her list, so Red Robin it was. She had her favorite dinner and we all enjoyed the time together. Once dinner came to end it was back to our house for some cake and presents!

For Ellie, it wasnt dinner, it was serious business deals. At least that is what this picture makes me think of.
Happy Birthday to MEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
Cake and princesses… Happy 5th Birthday Abby!
Make A Wish, Count to Three and BLOW!
Our happy little birthday girl. All smiles and happy about the wonderful day she had.

After the singing, the cake and some silliness it was time to open presents from Grandma Zoe. Mommy and Daddy were saving their gifts for Abby’s actual birthday. It looks like this special little girl will get a week, maybe more, for birthday celebrations. Who wouldn’t love that? Well, maybe those of us past age 25 but as a kid I think I would have loved to be the birthday girl for a week not just a day. This isn’t something we would normally do but hey, you only turn five once!

Yup, its the Zoo Again!

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Yes… Its the zoo. By now we have used our memberships enough to pay for it two times over. Today was a perfect day to go too! Warm but overcast and this time we got out of the house early to see if we could catch some of the animals we have been hoping to see. (Like the Asian Small-clawed Otter pups that I have been dying to see.) Lucky for us, it all worked out!
All smiles and ready for another day at the zoo.
We cant come to the zoo and not stop to see the penguins! 
After the penguins we made our first big stop to see the Asian small-clawed otters and their pups. During our last trip to the zoo, several volunteers suggested coming first thing in the day to see them and they were right. All of the pups were out running around with mom and dad when we arrived!
The otter pups were so cute and little! You could hear them squeaking and calling for mom and dad. Seeing them made our day!
Oh those faces… Can you see why we wanted to see these guys!?
During a Birds of Prey demonstration, this hawk kept making his presence know. Who could blame him, he is beautiful. 
Silly orangutan.. hiding and snacking.
Even the lion statues need a kiss or two. She sure makes me smile.
“When I was a young warthog!!!”
The new baby giraffe was out of the barn and visiting with the public. I think she needed a bit of a break but was very curious about all of the people watching her.
Mrs. Hippo was moving around, ears twitching and blowing some bubbles. I think her hippo companion was annoying her. 
What a face…
“Yes, we get to ride a hippo again!”
Pretty bird!
Mama and cubs resting with Mama trying to stay awake but dozing off every now and then. As we learned the cub closest to her is the one male of three cubs. Apparently he is a mama’s boy and never leaves her side.
What a beautiful animal. 
Today the wolves were awake and roaming around. I was in absolute heaven! Watching wolves will never get old to me.
Ellie loves watching the fish in the bear ponds, hoping that the Brown Bears might show up for a swim.

As per usual, our trip to the zoo was another fun one! The best part about going with children is that for them, it never gets old. Every trip feels like the first one and they get excited with each and every animal that they see. I love experiencing it all through their eyes. Until next time, which I am sure will be soon!

Ellie’s First Day of School

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Today is Ellie’s very first day of school… EVER! Oh my goodness my baby is already in preschool. All I did was blink and now we live in Seattle and my youngest is starting school. Ellie was so excited and just like her sister it was hard to get her to settle down so that I could get her ready. I have a feeling Ellie will thrive just like here sister when it comes to school.
For her first day of school photo, I asked my little three year old what she wanted to be when she grew up. Without skipping a beat, she looked at me and said “a champion”. That’s our Ellie. She knows exactly what she wants.

Ellie’s first day of school picture. She wants to be a champion when she grows up! Yup, that sounds exactly like Ellie.
Walking into school with Abby and Daddy. She was so proud of her backpack and the fact that she was going to school.

In class, happy and painting… I think she is loving school already.
Enjoying a little bit of paint time on her first day.

When we arrived, Ellie was a little shy and clung to us a bit. By this point I was expecting a tearful meltdown when it was time for us to go. her teachers were great though, allowing us to hang a little and explore the classroom with her. Once we found her cubby and hung up her backpack, we took a look around. Every day when they come in to class they pick up their name tag and they get to choose their “greeting” for the day. They can choose to say hello, give a hug, give a high five, or shake hands with their teachers. Ellie, being Ellie, chose a high five.

After her greeting. Ellie immediately took to painting and seemed to melt right into what she was doing and started to smile and have fun. When it was time to go, she gave us hugs and kisses and said goodbye. We left without a tear. Another confident and happy Wharton kiddo. I was so proud.

At the zoo and so happy! I love this goofy little girl!
In the “penguin caves”. Can you tell Abby was less than a willing participant in this picture. Ellie was happy though!

After school, lunch and a long conversation about her first day of school we headed over to the zoo for member appreciation night. We thought it might be fun to go but soon found that it was a madhouse! I think just about every zoo member was there! We did what we could, visited the penguins and walked around a bit before bailing out on the night and heading home. From what we could tell, the zoo wasn’t expecting the turnout they had. Usually member appreciation night falls during rainy weather and keeps the crowds away, but tonight was beautiful and warm. Oh well… we will give it a try next year. Aside from the that, the day was wonderful and a great start to the year!

Abby’s First Day of School

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Before we made the move, Shaun and I started researching preschools in the area. We found a few and once we landed in Bothell we checked them out and took tours. The decision was quickly made and now its time for Abby’s first day of school! She was so excited to get ready and go, I could barely keep her still long enough to do her hair.
This year Abby is in Pre-K. Yes she turns five in less than a month (Lord help me) but the Kindergarten cutoff for the school system here is September 1st. Shaun and I thought about challenging it but then we realized that this gives her another year to learn and grow, to be a kid a little longer and truly prepare herself for next year. So on to Pre-K it is! Abby will start off in the afternoon class since we enrolled so late in the year, but we plan to move her to the morning class if something becomes available soon.
First day of Pre-K. At this moment, Abby wants to be a doctor when she grows up. It will be fun to see if this changes over the years, as I am sure it does with most kids.
Walking hand in hand with her best pal… her sister.
In her classroom and looking for her spot.
Happy and ready to get going!
Abby’s backpack hook and cubby. Another school year has begun!

When we arrived, Abby quickly settled in finding her cubby and the hook for her backpack. She took off to play and didn’t even look back. I love that she enjoys school this much and I hope that love continues on forever. We did find out from her teacher that a spot opened up in the morning class, so her time in the afternoon will be short lived. Luckily, Abby is adaptable and the quick change will be easy on her. We left without a hitch and let her enjoy the day.

When we picked Abby up she had so much to share with us. She made friends, painted, colored, sang and loved it all. I know because I asked her what her favorite part of the day was and she said “I loved it all!”. So glad to see that Abby is loving life and making herself at home!

Our Weekend in Spokane

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Grandma Zoe made the move up to Washington just a few weeks ago and now that she is settled in a bit, we took to the road to visit her in Spokane. We left Friday afternoon to beat the traffic and were lucky enough not to hit a single slow down. Once over Snoqualmie Pass and out onto the Central plains of Washington it was evident that a big thunderstorm was brewing and we just might be heading into it. Most of what we could see was off in the distance, but it still enjoying the lightening show. However, as we got closer and closer to Spokane it was evident that we might get a nice storm yet. And we did.
When we arrived at Grandma Zoe’s new place, the car was unloaded and we finally had the chance to relax and visit with Grandma. Just after dinner, the storm that we thought might hit the area finally started to blow over and gave us a nice little light and thunder show. It was a nice welcome for us!
The next day we took our time getting up, enjoyed some breakfast and then head out to enjoy the area. Grandma Zoe lives just across the Spokane River near downtown so she wanted to take us over to Riverside Park and show us the area. The day was cloudy, post thunderstorm but it was beautiful and perfect for a day out walking and enjoying what Spokane has to offer.
Crossing over one of many bridges over the Spokane River into Riverside Park and downtown Spokane.
Rain puddles and reflections.
Clock tower and foot bridges. Pretty day in a pretty little city.
If there is a carousel, Abby and Ellie will find it. This one was super fast too!
The carousel in Riverside Park is just over a hundred years old and absolutely gorgeous. The carousel horses still have their original tails made of actual horse hair.
Such an easy place to photograph.
The detail and precision of these carousel horses is amazing. Creating a carousel horse is an art form that has been lost over time. Only one company and maker exist in the United States.
Riverside Park clock tower along the Spokane River.
This bog old goose thought she was park of the Canadian Geese flock and certainly made his presence known.
Tagged Canadian Goose. I wonder what the research can tell us about the places this one goes.
Enjoying the Wagon Slide… Ellie was a bit unsure of it but finally came down.
Its the giant Radio Flyer Slide… so much fun!

Fat goose taking a “gander” at the Spokane River. I know… that was bad.

After our walk through the park, we stopped downtown for lunch and had some very yummy pizza. After we stuffed ourselves full, the walk back to the car was needed. After our afternoon out we went for a nice little drive, exploring back roads, taking pictures and enjoying the scenery. Before we knew it we were back home having dinner and relaxing after a fun day out.

The next day we had a wonderful breakfast and headed out to Green Bluff with the hope of picking apples and enjoying yet another beautiful day. Unfortunately a lot of the orchards were closed to public apple picking but we still enjoyed the day and some of the yummy food these places had to offer. The girls ended up with ice cream and that made their day. The rest of the evening we relaxed, enjoyed the gorgeous sunset and Shaun and I took a drive after the girls went to bed. It was a great last night of our weekend in Spokane.

Ice cream that’s almost as big as my head… hurray!
Eating the whole cone was a big job, but Abby was up to the task.
A rainbow after the storm.
It almost looked like the rainbow was coming from downtown and the old smoke stacks.
Picture perfect sunsets. Even better than a painting.

In the morning we packed our things and prepped to leave. Before we hit the road we went to breakfast with Grandma Zoe, checking out the restaurant just across the street from her place. It was delicious! A perfect way to prep for our drive home. We had hoped to stay a little longer but because of blasting work over Snoqualmie Pass, we had to get going so that we weren’t stuck in a two house wait. Before we knew it, we were on our way home. Traffic was great and the ride was smooth. It was good to get home and prep for the next few days to come… The girls start school tomorrow!

Another Fun Trip to the Zoo

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Still don’t believe me when I said that we would use our memberships to their fullest? Well then maybe this next trip might convince you. Yes, we went again and had a grand time as always. As you can tell, we have our favorites spots to visit. Nothing wrong with that if you ask me. It gets us out of the house, out in the sunshine that will certainly disappear soon and learning lots of new things. Plus, each trip is a different experience depending on when you go. Many of the animals at the zoo have babies and with several of them (the Asian Small-Clawed Otters and the Giraffes) we always seem to miss them. So we go each time with the hope of catching a glimpse of them and other babies as well.
Mama Jaguar resting with her babies. It was on this trip that the cubs consisted of two females and a male. The male cub is a complete mamas boy and never leaves her side. In this picture you cant even see him because he is snuggled up close to her.
Vana White, I mean Abby, showing us a replica of the rocks that can be found where the Humboldt Penguins live.
Penguin Chat
Penguin Bum
Waiting to be fed by their keeper. Some of them were pretty hungry and pushy.
Today on the Northern Trail the Grey Wolves were out in plain sight and easy to photograph. It was a warmer day and humid, so its obvious they were enjoying their rest in the shade.
Classy lady! This is how she rolls and shes not ashamed of it.
Today the two River Otters were out of their dens and roaming around. Love these guys so much! Unfortunately the glass to their habitat was very foggy from the water and humidity so my pictures didn’t turn out as nice as I would have liked. Oh well, still pretty cute if you ask me!
As we sat and enjoyed the area, the two otters started splashing around in the water, tumbling, rolling, and chasing each other for a good twenty minutes or so. Very special to watch since this was the first time we had seen them outside of their den.
Ellie happily watching the river otters swim and chase one another.
Finally a few of the animals from down under were out and about. Don’t be fooled though, this is a Wallaby not a Kangaroo!
We also took a trip to the African Savanna and lucky for us, the lioness was out and playing with her cubs. The cubs are almost as big as she is now but still so very cute and playful. Love to watch lions, especially when they are in a playful mood.
Life is good when you have a tree to wrestle with!
This cub loved playing with the ball, so much so that he would bite any of the other cubs that tried to take it. Proof that sibling rivalry exists in the animal world too!
Per Abby’s request, one of our last stops was to see the gorillas. This female was enjoying a break up in the trees, eating and watching the world go by.
The male of the group was happy to stay separate from the others, cleaning and picking at his nails. I love watching primates and seeing so many humanistic traits.
One last photo with the hippo. Like I said, I think they love the hippo statue more than the hippos themselves.

Our zoo trip today was fun and just as we thought, we had the chance to see some things we hadn’t seen before. I think this has become one of our favorite places in Seattle, aside from the ferries and Puget Sound.

Mowich Lake Adventure

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Today we went on another family adventure! One that was a new experience for all of us. During some internet perusing, Shaun discovered some beautiful pictures of a small lake near one side of Mt. Rainier. Mowich Lake, which can have stunning views of the mountain from one side but also be beautiful covered in hanging clouds and fog, is off the beaten path and not a place that you find the average tourist. The drive can be an interesting one, with the last 15 miles or so on unpaved road but after some investigation we decided we wanted to check it out. Hoping that the labor day weekend didn’t attract too many people we took off for an adventure and ready for just about anything!
The drive up was beautiful, weaving through the low forests along the Carbon River and Carbon River Canyon. The road up wasn’t too bad. We did have to cross a one way bridge that was questionable, but I closed my eyes, held my breath and let Shaun drive and concentrate. Once past the bridge we had a bit more pavement and then it was dirt, gravel and some washboard road the rest of the way up. Up until we reached National Park boundary, the view was a tad depressing at times as due to the fact that most of these forests were used for logging but the closer we got to park boundary the more beautiful it became.
The lake area was a bit busy when we first arrived but the thunderstorm that was threatening to blow in pushed some people away. We decided to stick it out and see what happened. Lucky for us, the thunderstorms held off long enough for us to enjoy the few hours we spent there. 
Dipping toes into the lake and enjoying the beautiful day.
Throwing and skipping rocks along the shore.
Dipping her toes in. Ellie really liked how it felt when the water went into her shoes. 
Someone took a bit of a dive into the water, face first. Oh well, its summer and its warm still.
Admiring some of the late blooming flowers along the lakes shore. Pretty blues and purples.
Mowich Lake
Its tempting to just start walking when you are in scenery like this, but we were unprepared and I am sure the girls wouldn’t last too long.
Driftwood buildup at one of several streams that feed Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake Fallen
On our way back home we spotted several Ptarmigan along the road. More than I have ever seen in one place. This guy took to the trees when we stopped for a photo op. Come winter these guys will turn white to blend with the snow.
Had the chance to snap a photo of the one lane bridge you have to cross to get up to Mowich Lake. This was on the way back and from this side it looks even more ominous. You cannot see the roadway but it was well worn and full of potholes. Had my heart beating pretty fast!

Mowich Lake is part of the Wonderland Trail which traverses around the base of Mt. Rainier. You can do some pretty serious hiking there, or you just enjoy some pretty walks around the lake. We chose a pretty walk around the lake with a few stops to explore and dip our toes into the lake. After a few hours of fun and play we made our way back to the car. Thunderclouds were getting bigger and bigger so it was time to get off of the mountain. The last thing you need up here is a sudden downpour that washes out the roads.

We made it down the roads just fine and into the sunshine again. We stopped for a treat at Sonic and then went home. The girls, tired from all the fresh air and hiking around the lake, passed out within a few minutes after leaving Sonic. It was a beautiful and very quiet drive home for Shaun and I. Fun days out exploring new places have lots of benefits, including tired and happy kiddos. And parents too!

Haircuts, Ferry Rides and A First Trip to Port Gamble

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Today was the day… a year in the making! Abby and Ellie would be getting their first haircut since the snip heard around the world, or Porter Ranch for that matter. If you need a reminder, click here for the story on that one. We found a small place in Inglewood-Finn Hill that was fabulous. Very basic and inexpensive but the ladies who do the cuts are great, especially with kids. The girls were great listeners and sat very still, which as we all know is important for a haircut!
In the chair and doing an awesome job!
Waiting patiently to get in the chair for her haircut.
Haircuts are serious things. So is sitting still so that the lady doesn’t mess up.
Abby was having a great time! Nothing but smiles and giggles!

After haircuts were finished, we treated the girls to another ferry ride. This time we decided that we wanted to take them to Port Gamble, a cute little town north west of Kingston that Shaun and I discovered during our first experience living here on a random drive at Christmas time. We drove through at night while the town was covered in white lights. It was adorable and so charming. Most of its buildings are historically preserved and recognized as well. This trip would be our first that actually involved getting out and exploring the area too!

Today was a bit of a windy one. The water was choppy but the sky was beautifully clear!
Ellie did get a haircut, but the wind is making it hard to tell. Oh well, she was enjoying the sun and the time on the ferry.
Picture perfect… Puget Sound, Ferries and Mt. Rainier.
The Port Gamble General Store. This place has a great little shop, restaurant and lots of fun snacks, ice cream and coffee. A new favorite place to stop? I think so!
The Port Gamble Theater, which has now been turned into smaller businesses.
The Port Gamble Theater, view from the front.
We walked across the street to a small park and picnic area. In one small spot they have a beautiful garden full of prize Dahlias. They were beautiful and in multiple shades of reds, yellows, pinks and oranges.
These Dahlias were my favorite. Loved the fading of colors.
A look up the main street from the park and gardens.
Geological survey markers from 1915. Love little pieces of history like this that remain.
Geological survey markers from 1915. Love little pieces of history like this that remain.
Beautiful and bright pink Dahlias.
Ellie fell asleep in the car, so while we let her rest Abby had the chance to get out and run around for a bit. Love this sweet girl.
Waning sunset on Puget Sound

After a full afternoon, we drove to Bainbridge and headed back to the Seattle side. We missed most of the sunset but, I was able to get a beautiful shot of Mt. Rainier in the fading sunlight. Like I keep saying, I love my new home and I love exploring and enjoying all that it has to offer. Yet another great day of exploring and fun!