A Long But Pretty Detour!

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The day after our adventures downtown was a quiet and relaxing one.  Shaun and I ran some errands that needed to get done while Grandma Zoe stayed with the girls and played. We BBQ’d for dinner that night, making pork chops and steaks from Bill the Butcher. We love that place and the meat from there is amazing. All of their meat, milk and eggs come from local farms that are strictly organic and grass fed. Dinner was amazing!
This morning, Grandma Zoe had to head back to Porter Ranch. Its now her turn to finish packing up her house and load the moving trucks up to Spokane. Before she went to the airport we decided to take her to breakfast at the Woodinville Cafe. A local place that has AMAZING food! We filled up on pancakes and other yummy breakfast goodies and then hit the road for the airport. On the way there we noticed that traffic heading northbound on 405 and 5 was at a dead standstill. Didn’t look good for our trip back home.
At the airport we said our goodbyes to Grandma Zoe and wished her a safe flight home. We had a great time with her and will hopefully see her over the Labor Day weekend! Once we were settled back into the car, Shaun and I checked traffic before leaving and found it was still the same. So, we decided to take a major detour and enjoy the day. We took the Tacoma Narrows Bridge over to the Bainbridge Island and took the ferry back home. The traffic north of Seattle was moving just fine so we figured this would work out best.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge on another beautiful summer day.
The sun and all of the fun left Ellie a tad tired.
A peek at the Seattle skyline with a summer storm rolling in.

Mt. rainier disappearing behind thunderheads.

The Seattle skyline in all its glory. Wishing I could have captured the lightening being produced by the days summer storm.

“Look mommy its the Space Needle!” Seeing the Space Needle and the Seattle skyline never gets old for these two.

The drive over to Bainbridge was sunny and gorgeous with big thunderheads rolling in over the city. This made the ferry ride into Seattle pretty spectacular and the girls enjoyed seeing the city with a few lightening strikes over it. Its too bad the ferry was too rocky and I didn’t have a tripod to catch some of the strikes on film.

I really don’t think ferry rides will ever get old now that we live here. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. What was supposed to be just a trip to the airport turned into quite the adventure and a fun one at that. I guess that’s how us Wharton’s roll.

Pikes, the Space Needle and Ferry Rides… A Busy Day!

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What a busy but fun day! When we woke up this morning we knew we were in for some fun and adventures but we had no idea we would be up to so much!
We had decided to take Grandma Zoe out to the city and do some touristy things that she hasn’t done since her last visit here back in 2008. It was a beautiful day, so we thought heading down to Pikes Place Market would be a great idea. Being that it was such a beautiful day, everyone in Seattle as well as every tourist in the area thought it would be a great day too! Despite it being a week day, Pike’s was packed. But, we made the best of it and had a fun time!
Shaun really wanted to try out a well known, highly recommended and award winning chowder house in Post Alley but that is something we will have to wait until another time. The line to get in was down the alley and the girls were too warm and too hungry to wait. So we tried a sandwich place next door. The food there was good but not great, so I think it made us long for that chowder even more. Oh well, once we were all fed and had something to drink, everyone was happy.
Post Alley shops. The store on the right is one of my favorite kids shops and has special memories as we bought a few things from there just after we found out I was pregnant with Abby.
Just like the sign says… Post Alley, Seattle.
Summer Umbrellas
This gentleman has been performing on this corner near Pike’s for years. I remember seeing him for the first time when we took Auntie Kelli to Pike’s when she visited us here five years ago. Pretty talented guy!
A very talented banjo and bluegrass band playing out on the street. Both Abby and Ellie were brave enough to walk up and leave a little money in their case.

We walked along the street hoping to get inside the market area and check out all of the shops and produce, but after making one attempt at it, we quickly decided just to walk along outside and enjoy the afternoon. It was too crowded within the market to try and keep track of 3 adults, 2 children and a stroller. Another time I guess. We attempted to watch the famous fish throwers too but alas that was overly crowded as well. We did have the time and space to watch a a great little bluegrass band playing on the street! They were great and even had a album to buy, pretty good if you ask me. Abby and Ellie even had the courage to put some money in their case too! Abby had a little help from Grandma because of the dog, but she was still very brave.

From there we left Pikes and decided to go to the Space Needle. Grandma Zoe was about to face her fear of heights and head up to the top! We had to wait for a bit but we enjoyed our time together. Used some of that time to take a look in the gift shop. Pretty soon it was up in the elevator to the observation deck. Grandma Zoe did a great job and made it all the way up. I know for her the view was worth the ride. At the top, we stopped for a bit of lunch at their cafe and then enjoyed the view. It was a perfect day, clear with wispy clouds in a very blue sky. Couldn’t have asked for a better day!

The Space Needle and the EMP (Experience Music Project) Museum
Waiting in the summer heat to head up to the top of the Space Needle!
A little bit of lunch overlooking the Puget Sound
Seattle skyline view

After a breathtaking view of the sound from the Space Needle, we decided to get out of the city and take a ferry ride. It was too perfect of an afternoon not to! Traffic was pretty yucky leaving the city, but it actually worked out in the end. We made it to the ferry terminal in Edmonds and only had a short wait.

Gorgeous summer sunset on the Sound.
A picture perfect sunset on the Sound, ferry included! 
Bubble blowing on the ferry never looked so cute.
My adorable little bubble blower!

The sunset on the very was spectacular. Being stuck in traffic made the timing perfect. Grandma Zoe brought the girls bubbles to play with and they had a blast trying to blow them out on the observation deck of the ferry. When they were able to produce bubbles, the girls couldn’t help but giggle as they blew back into their faces.

After the ferry landed in Kingston, we drove around to Bainbridge and took the ferry back into Seattle. The girls fell asleep in the car and all of the adults were a tad exhausted so we stayed in the car and enjoyed the view from where we were parked. What fun adventures today. So glad we had the chance to enjoy them with Grandma Zoe.

Picnics and First Movies!

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Grandma Zoe arrived today for a visit! She took a break from packing up her place in Porter Ranch to come and see us, our new place and enjoy a bit of a belated birthday trip. Shaun picked her up from the airport in the early afternoon and the girls were thrilled to see her. Abby and Ellie really wanted to jump in and do lots of things but because she had spent most of the day traveling here, we decided to keep things simple for today.
Shaun and I thought it might be nice to get out of the warm and sticky house and enjoy the beautiful summer day. So we decided to grab some lunch at Dairy Queen and head to one of our favorite parks for a picnic. Denny Park sits along Lake Washington and is a gorgeous place for a picnic. Today was so clear that you could see Mt. Rainier from several of the beaches along the lake. We also had the chance to watch the most adorable dog I think I have ever seen. It is very obvious that he loves to play in the water. The minute his person let him off the leash he charged in splashing and barking with each splash of his paws. He tried to bite at the water as it came up and he barked and yipped with such joy. His person called him back to their blanket for a bit and you could tell he wasn’t ready to leave the water. He sat and whined and cried until finally his person caved and let him go. Such an adorable dog! And as I am sure you can guess, he was a Lab.
After some food and the adorable entertainment provided by the cutest dog in the world, the girls wanted to play for a bit on the playground and we were happy to let them do that! Always a good idea to get some of your wiggles about before seeing a movie, right?
Some serious cheeseburger eating during a lovely picnic at Denny Park.

A beautiful summer day along Lake Washington.

Hot! Hot! Hot! That and this slide seems to quickly spit kids into the wood chips!

Climbing is lots of fun, especially for Ellie!

Beautiful bridge and walkway over Denny Creek. Love this place!
After our picnic in the park we decided to head to the movies and enjoy some air conditioning. Now, normally going to the movie is fun but today was extra special because it was ELLIE’S FIRST MOVIE! Yup, this was the first time that Ellie has gone to the theater to see a movie and she was super excited. Today we were going to see Despicable M 2, a movie that both the girls and Grandma Zoe have been wanting to see. So with drinks and snacks in hand we headed to pick out our seats in the theater!
All set with my Icee and some goodies for my very first movie!

In my seat and ready to go! Of course I brought my blankie with me too!

A girl must be prepared to attend her first movie, complete with jewelry, blankie and her purse!

Because it was such a special day, Ellie was give the chance to pick out where we sat. She chose our seats (good ones too, not too close but not too far away) and then made herself comfortable, blankie and all. She did an amazing job watching the movie and only needed to use the potty once. I kind expected that considering she sucked down her Icee.The movie was great and the girls were so well behaved. Ellie did a great job with her very first movie and I think it helped that they loved Despicable Me and the minions. After the movie it was dinner and then home. I have a feeling we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Cant wait!

Heading Home…

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This morning the girls and I left my parents house bright and early after a lovely visit with my parents and sister. As with every trip to Montana, I hated to go but we have to return back to reality at some point. That and Grandma Zoe would be arriving in Seattle tomorrow for a belated birthday visit!
So we headed out jsut after the sun came up. This time I took a back route out to I-90 to see if the bull moose we had seen last night might be out again in the morning. When we got to the river, not even a deer could be spotted. Oh well, it was a hope and even though we didn’t see anything, the back route over was absolutely beautiful during sunrise.
Heading over the Continental Divide at sunrise.

According to Uncle Barry “If you cant find it at Herberger’s, then you don’t need it!”

We crossed the Continental Divide just as the sun was really beginning to rise and we stopped in Butte for some breakfast. Aside for bathroom breaks and a stop for lunch in Post Falls, Idaho the rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. As we drove through the Columbia River Plateau we saw a huge grass fire just starting to gain some strength and create some pretty heavy smoke. My hope is that this fire is put out quickly as it was getting close to several homes and the fields of electrical windmills.

We made it home in the late afternoon after a drive through Fall City, Snoqualmie and Redmond to avoid afternoon traffic. It was a beautiful drive and a nice end to the trip. It was great to be home! Now its time to prep for a visitor!

Visiting Family in Anaconda

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On Sunday Great Grandma Laura, Auntie Diane and Uncle Barry and David came over to Bozeman to have dinner with the family. It was a quick visit but so nice to see everyone. I have not seen my cousin David since our wedding, so it was absolutely wonderful to visit with him. I am hoping that sometime in the near furture we can get all of the family together in one spot!
After a lovely dinner with the family yesterday, we headed out to Anaconda today to visit with Grandma, Diane, Barry and David. Heading out that direction gave us more of a chance to sit and just relax with everyone. Abby and Ellie had the chance to play, chase Sasha the cat around and put on a show for everyone. Great Grandma Laura laughed and smiled the entire time. I know seeing the girls brightens her day, no matter what!
Great Grandma Laura, Grandma Denise, Abby and Ellie. Three generations of family in one place.

Cousins! Although its not complete without Michael. Hope we can all get together soon!

Ellie was putting on a fashion show. She has got the look down!

Fashion show duck face!

Great Grandma Laura, Auntie Jillian, Me, Abby and Ellie. Some very lovely ladies!

The motley crew from Anaconda (and Arizona). Gonna miss these people a lot. Until next time!

As a treat we took Grandma to the Haufbrau, one of her favorite places to eat. The food was delicious and the time spent talking with one another was even better. Anaconda is a very small town and because of that, you get to know a lot of the people who live there. Its nice to head to a restaurant where Diane, Barry and Grandma know so many of the people who work there. Such a sense of family and community!

After dinner it was back to their house to gather our things and say goodbye. I hated to leave, as I felt I needed more time to visit, but we needed to get back to Seattle. I know we will get to see everyone again soon but leaving is always tough. Yet, the show must go on and life isn’t one big vacation!

On the way home we had one last sighting that made us all giddy and happy. Standing out in the middle of  a large pasture was a big bull moose. My parents had seen this moose just a week before standing in the river not far from where this pasture was. Its not common for moose to be down in the valleys and lowlands, especially this time of year, but this moose had been frequenting the area quite a bit. He was a very big guy, even bigger then the one we had seen in Yellowstone several days ago, so I am sure he felt safe enough to stay out in the open. It was near dusk and there wasn’t a safe place to stop the car so that I could grab a picture but it was still a spectacular sight. A nice little parting gift before heading home tomorrow!

Yellowstone! Its Pretty Much A Given…

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Yup, its Summer (not that that matters), we are in Montana, and there is time, so guess what? We took a day trip to Yellowstone! Yeah, its pretty much a given that if we have the means and opportunity, we will take a trip. So blessed that my parents live close enough to take just a day trip to my favorite place on earth!

The day in the park was perfect, a little warm but what can you expect for August! Grandpa let the girls use his binoculars and they were really excited about it. They became our animal scouts for the day!  I worried that constantly looking through them as we drove along might result in the need for some car sick bags.

We started our trip as we usually do, heading out to the Lamar Valley area. Summer time allows for us to go a few extra places within the park, one of which is a favorite along the Blacktail Plateau. Its a nice spot off of the beaten path where you can sometimes see bear, wolves, eagles, hawks, marmots and more. Most of the drive produced a lot of dust on the dry dirt road, a prairie falcon watching us from his rock perch and some pretty wildflowers in the open fields. We had made our way through most of the drive without seeing anything and then, there he was!

A very small group of people had stopped just off of the road near an open field. We were stuck behind a small hill but got out of the car to see what was going on. Just as we made it to the top of the little hill we saw the big bull moose, sauntering across the field. He was less then fifty yards away but well within a safe a difference from us. It has been a long time since we have seen a bull moose and this close too! He seemed content with us nearby and just went about his business walking through the field and up into the trees. We hopped into the car and drove further up the road to a pull out near petrified tree. From there we pulled out our binoculars and watched the moose head to a small meadow. He took his time there, eating and drinking from what must have been a small stream or pond and then decided to lay down for a late morning snooze.

Our animal scouts hard at work.
The beautiful big bull moose came sauntering out of the trees and less then 50 yards from where we were standing.
Such a big and beautiful animal. Its been a long time since I have seen a moose this close and a bull at that.

After the excitement of the moose we continued on our way out to Lamar Valley. Lamar was pretty quiet and the heat of the day was most likely keeping the larger animals in the shade of the trees. We did see plenty of pronghorn, some of the big male bison and an eagle off in the distance. We went as far as we had time for and then turned around. The next plan of action was to find some lunch and hopefully a few more of the big animals. So with that we headed up and over Mt. Washburn and down to Canyon Village for some lunch.

After lunch we headed out to Hayden Valley with hope of seeing more then just bison and other hooved animals. But that was not the case, unfortunately. It was a beautiful drive though. Hayden Valley is just one of those places you have to see for yourself. The wide and meandering Yellowstone River and the rolling green and golden hills are peaceful and stunning. Its one of many reasons Yellowstone is my “Happy Place”.

We could only go so far through Hayden Valley if we wanted to have time to see other things, so we turned around and headed back towards Canyon Village. During the drive back both girls fell asleep. I couldn’t blame them. The day was sunny and warm and there was a nice cool breeze blowing. Who wouldn’t want to fall asleep?

Lots of fun, sunshine and mountain air makes kiddos tired. I know someone else who used to cover herself with a blanket in the car.
This yellow-bellied marmot was one regal looking fellow.
Hands off of my berries!
I think this little chipmunk was hoping to steal a berry from the marmot.

From Canyon Village we drove through Norris and back up to Mammoth. We decided to take one last drive out to Lamar and through Blacktail Plateau. Maybe, just maybe we would see a bear or a wolf. But alas, we did not. The late afternoon drive through Blacktail was beautiful. The sunlight lit up the remaining wildflowers and remnant burned trees from the fire of 1988. It was a wonderful last picture to have before getting ready to head home.

Blacktail Plateau Afternoon Sunlight
The lone coyote spotted by our little hawk eyes!

As one last little jaunt through the park, we took the secret road from Mammoth to the north gate. Last year when we took this same road Abby spotted the bones of a bison sitting right on top of a small hill. She wanted to see if they were still there. As we turned up and around the first hill she spotted them! Some of them were gone, most likely taken by tourists or other animals. Abby was pretty happy and I think she hopes to see them the next time we travel there.

On our way through the narrow, one way road we spotted a young bull elk getting an early start on his harem of ladies. Then Abby started yelling that she saw something. At first we thought that she was being silly because she had been using the binoculars to spot Grandpa Jerry. But she was being serious. Her sharp little eyes found a lonely coyote walking along the hillside. Neither Grandma or Grandpa or mommy had seen it! She spotted her first animal all on her own! What a way to end the trip through Yellowstone.

That coyote was the last animal we saw that day but it was a special sighting. The drive home was peaceful and quiet. The fresh mountain air and the beautiful day had left us relaxed and happy. Can you see why I call this place makes me so happy? No? Well then I suggest taking a trip there sometime, its worth it.

Hyalite Canyon Drive

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Today was pretty quiet and relaxing. Everyone had to work today so the girls and I took some time together to do a little shopping, have a lunch date and then we took a drive up through Hyalite Canyon. Being that its the beginning of August, the wildflowers have bloomed and are starting to fade away but the shaded areas along the canyon walls and the rivers are still hanging on. I stopped for a few pictures although the bees were hard at work collecting pollen, so I didn’t get as close as I might have liked.
They might be weeds to most, but they are still pretty to me!
Love the wildflowers along the canyon.
Hyalite Creek
Hyalite Reservoir on a beautiful summer day.
Cute little smiles from my awesome little traveler.
Smiles from ear to ear!

The drive is a quick one but beautiful in the summer. The road is only open from June until about September, so its nice to actually have the chance to go all of the way up to the reservoir. There were a few people enjoying some time on the lake, but other then that it was quiet and perfect. We didn’t stay too long as Grandpa Jerry was able to get off of work early so we went back to the house and got ready for dinner. It was great to have some time out. Nice after all of the stress of moving. Shaun needs to come out too as I know the stress was even more for him!

An Afternoon at the Museum

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Today was fun one, as always! Grandma and Grandpa had to work today but Auntie Jillian had the day off. SO after a relaxing morning we decided to head to the Museum of the Rockies for an afternoon of fun. The summer exhibit this year was about space travel, one I know Abby would not want to miss. That and I knew the girls wouldn’t stop asking until we went, many thanks to the Yellowstone play area for children.
We arrived just as an afternoon thunderstorm was trying to make its way into the valley. I was secretly hoping that we weren’t inside the museum too long. I didn’t want to miss it! Until then we would enjoy the museum and have a lot of fun.
Afternoon thunderstorm… Love it!
Abby and Ellie standing with Steve Hawley’s flight suite. The very last one of its kind.
Sitting in the kitchen, or a mock up of the kitchen, in the next craft intended for use by NASA.
Touching a real moon rock! Pretty cool if you ask me.
Fishing time! Who will catch one first?
Sisterly Eagle love… hmmm, that sounds awkward, but that’s ok.
Sisters in Eagle masks… AKA personal petri dishes.

The girls had a great time at the museum and really loved the NASA exhibit. They had the chance to see parts of the old shuttles and what the capsules looked like, They also had the chance to see a real flight suite and also touched a moon rock! We even had the chance to walk around in a mock up of the living area of the newest project by NASA. Afterward we headed up to the Yellowstone Adventure area to play for a bit. This is really what the girls came for and the NASA exhibit was a big bonus. As always they had a blast laying around and it was like pulling teeth to get them to go home.

When we left, the thunderstorm that was rolling had decided to get a bit bigger and the wind was blowing like crazy. We stopped for a yummy treat of frozen yogurt on the way back and when we left we had to book it home. Several surrounding areas were reporting major wind gusts and tornado warnings. The wind blew, we had some rain and thunder and continue to have some as we speak but nothing worse then that. It was yet another awesome day and we were so happy to spend it with Auntie Jillian!

A New Road Trip…

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After a lot of time and effort spent unpacking, its time for us to head to Montana for a quick little visit. My cousin David will be in town visiting and I couldnt miss the opportunity to see him. We have not seen one another since our wedding six years ago! 
This trip, the girls and I would once again be flying solo. Its a new one for the girls and its a drive I have done only a few times in my life. It should be quite the adventure. Shaun had planned to come with us but the job search started to heat up, so we felt that staying behind in the event of an interview was the best thing to do. As always I will miss not having my partner in crime on the road with me.
The girls and I left very early this morning with the hopes that we could avoid traffic heading into Bellevue and on I-90 heading towards Snoqualmie Pass. That and the drive is about 11 hours with stops, so I wanted to have plenty of time to travel but still get in at a decent time. So we left home just as the sun was starting to rise and it was beautiful.
Good morning Snoqualmie!

The drive over Snoqualmie was beautiful. It was a cloudy and somewhat drizzly morning, with some low hanging clouds through the pass.The girls quietly watched movies and drifted in and out of sleep. The drive out through central Washington was a smoky one. Fires in the Southeastern Cascades were growing due to the heat of the summer and the wind was blowing east, right into the valleys. It was still a pretty drive and of course I had the stretch of highway, about 18 miles worth, that had all of the local crops labeled. It keeps you busy for a while.

A stop in Spokane for some lunch and gas gave me the break I needed just before heading over 4th of July and Lookout passes. Both have very steep accents and descents, so its nice to rest the brain and the eyes before tackling them. Luckily driving through Idaho’s panhandle and the two passes was a breeze. The weather was beautifully clear and traffic was minimal. My type of driving.

Pit stop just inside Montana State Lines. Even the rest stops here are beautiful!

Heading over Homestake! The last major mountain pass before our destination!

Summer thunderstorm rolling in, so pretty!

The remainder of the trip was pretty uneventful and absolutely beautiful. Its so true that my heart belongs in the mountains of Montana. Every time we visit, I love it more and more. Driving from Seattle now gives us the chance to see more of it too! The mountains, the big beautiful and meandering rivers, and the amount of uninhabited open space. There is just something magical about this place that I just cannot describe.

When we arrived late in the afternoon a summer mountain thunderstorm was rolling in. What a greeting! You could smell the rain in the air and feel the warm temperatures cool a bit. The lightening and thunder tonight have been spectacular and I have a feeling there will be more. Nothing really beats a summer thunderstorm in the mountains. So glad to be here but missing Shaun a lot.

The Cars are Washington Official

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Its official! Well for the cars at least. Both of our cars now have their Washington license plates and just in time for our trip to Montana. I have to admit, it felt pretty good to get those California license plates off of our car. Although now everyone will think we are horrible drivers because lets face it Washingtonians, you cant drive if your life depended on it. I mean that with love but I think you have most others beat. Oh well, it comes with the territory. At least growing up in California I have been taught to drive defensively and expect the worst. Its one of many things to adjust to now that we live here again.

Fairy Beds

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The girls rooms are taking shape! Everything is unpacked, clothes are put away, toys are out! The last thing that needs to go up are the remaining decorations and pictures. We kind of decided that we wanted to give the girls a bit of a theme to their room and since they love fairies and butterflies we did just that. So we found these cools leaves to put over their beds, like canopies, and we made them fairy beds. As you can tell, the girls love them. Their room is really starting to feel like their own!

The Hard Work Continues?

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It was hot today. And humid. So we did some work in the morning and then got out of the house. We don’t have AC, like most homes here and the fans can only do so much. So unpacking in the middle of the day just doesn’t work.  
Instead of unpacking we went to the park for some play time and some shade. Then afterwards we headed over to DQ for a yummy treat. Ellie then discovered her talent of hanging her spoon from her nose and I was lucky enough to capture it. What talent! Love this little face and her sisters too, but she wouldn’t let me take a picture.