Christmas in Port Gamble 2015

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Christmas is only a few weeks away and we have traditions that we must keep up with! Ok, that sounds very serious but since our arrival in Washington we have found some wonderful new traditions as a family. So this year we were off again to Port Gamble for their holiday fair and a trip to see Santa.

This year was fun. We arrived earlier than we have in the past and it made a huge difference. The girls had the chance to do all of the arts and crafts stations in Santa’s house, which included cookies, ornament making, pine cone bird feeders and more! Most years we have arrived fairly late in the afternoon and everything is a zoo. Its pays to be early!

Our usual Santa was not there this year, which was a bummer but the man who came in was very nice. It seems as though things were a little bit scaled back this year, maybe based on last years turn out? Because the crowds had not shown up yet, the girls had the chance to talk a lot with Santa and he certainly made them giggle with silly jokes and songs. Mommy and Daddy also had the chance to hear what they wanted for Christmas, as they haven’t been very helpful on that front.

Abby and Ellie with Santa
Santa had something pretty funny to say!
Making yummy Christmas cookies!
Little cookie monster making her cookie creations.
One of Ellie’s cookie creations… we had to make her finish the other one first even though she wanted to stop and eat the one she had already made.
Abby was very detailed and serious about her cookies. She wouldn’t turn around and smile for me!
Abby’s finished cookies. That’s an upside down silly face on the cookie to the right.

After cookies and crafts it was off to explore some of our favorite shops while we waited for the tree lighting ceremony. Because of a storm that had blown through just several days before, the usual tree was out of commission but the lighting with Santa was still fun for the kids and the anticipation of fireworks kept the fun going.

And there was anticipation…

Lots of it…

Because of winds and some issues setting up, the fireworks were delayed by nearly half an hour. Luckily, we had hot chocolate, warm coats and several shuttles full of people from the local retirement communities to keep us amused. (Apparently they couldn’t find two of the residents, who ended up being on the shuttle the entire time but had fallen asleep. They also took a vote to stay and wait for the fireworks or leave and go home and just as they decided, the show started. It was fun).

The fireworks were fun and pretty. They changed things up a bit this year too! Afterwards we hopped back into the car to warm up and then headed out to find some much needed dinner.

Now that the girls are getting older, I have to say we get the chance to enjoy these events and traditions a bit more. This was the first year that I didn’t feel stressed out and chaotic. I hate to see the girls growing so fast, I really do. I miss their baby faces and toddler years. But I will say that I am enjoying these new stages in their life. The ability to enjoy things with them more, talking with them, and having a greater appreciation with one another. I find that if I learn to stop and appreciate every stage and moment, watching them grow before my eyes hurts a little less. But only just a little.

Now we count down to Christmas!

Busy and So Far Behind.

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Greetings Family, Friends and Faithful Readers!

I know many of you have sent messages asking if I have stopped the blog. Do not fret, I am still working on it but life has been very busy.

Most posts have been started and worked on but need pictures or some editing or both even. Between  jobs and a busy family life, I have just fallen behind and haven’t had time to catch up. My goal is to have everything completed and updated by the end of summer, if not before then. There is a lot to tell and catch up on so please keep checking in. My hope is to do several new posts a day.

Hope you enjoy catching up with us soon and remember to check back often!

Afternoon in Port Gamble

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It was a perfect summer day that could not be spent in the house, so we took off and headed for one of our favorite spots. Port Gamble is always a perfect place to go any time of year but its gorgeous in the summer. Even if its warm, the ocean breezes keep you cool and the smell of the sound is refreshing. Its a favorite getaway spot and one that included a BBQ joint that Shaun still wanted to try. 
In the past, we never made it over to Port Gamble in time. While the restaurant would still be open, everything would be sold out before we could try it. Not this time! Nope… we got an early start and made it just before the lunch crowd and let me tell you, the world was our oyster.
5 Star BBQ in Port Gamble was AH-Mazing!!
They might be weeds to the average adult, but to a child they are magical bouquets of beautiful flowers perfect for wood sprites and fairies.

After a delicious and filling lunch, we walked around Port Gamble and let the girls play in the open fields nearby. We enjoyed the cool air and the break from the heat. Abby and Ellie gathered flowers, searched for fairies and wood sprites and giggled until it was time to head home.

I love our little adventures. It may seem repetitive to some but to us they are irreplaceable memories that I cherish. I also love that my children get to have memories like these.

Poor Elsa…

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I walked into the girls room and this is how I found Elsa. Poor Elsa. Maybe we should turn this into a Disney version of CSI or Criminal Minds. Was it the bubbly yet frustrated sister or the jealous and 12th in line for the throne prince? Hmmm, I wonder.

EMP Museum

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On their final day in Washington, we took the family back to Seattle Center and decided to show them the EMP Museum. Being that music is a very important part of my life and theirs, we thought this would be a great  place to go. That and the current traveling exhibits appealed to all of us!

Public art installment within Seattle Center.
Playing around inside what Abby called the “giant french fries”.
We see you Ellie!
Boo!
Boo Again!
Love the interesting perspective.
Heading up to the EMP entrance… well hello Space Needle!
Sunlight on the EMP

Along with the permanent exhibits that showcase the music of Seattle favorites, Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, we also wanted to see LEGO exhibit as well as the SciFi and Fantasy exhibit. The later being one that I knew my sister would really enjoy. Props and costumes from some of films most well known SciFi and Fantasy films? Yes, please! So to make sure that our guests got to see what they wanted, we headed to this exhibit first!

The working guitar tower.
Watching some of the greatest names in Rock N Roll play in the big screen. The girls had fun just dancing around and rocking out.
The hat belonging to the Wicked Witch of the West in Wizard of OZ
Life size dragon as part of the exhibit… he was breathing and at times would blow smoke from his nostrils.
The wedding dress worn by Robin Wright as “Princess Buttercup” in The Princess Bride. I think I squealed out loud when I saw it
The dueling swords and the glove of the 6 fingered man from The Princess Bride.
Hello again, Mister Dragon
I think this one speaks for itself. As to which Superman wore this, I am not 100% sure. I think it was Christopher Reeves but I could be very, very wrong.
Grandpa Jerry, Abby and Ellie trying to make their own little movies. Its not as easy as it looks!
Uniform worn by Brent Spiner, AKA Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Captain Kirk’s chair and the Tribbles.

After a very long but interesting time viewing some of the goodness from our favorite SciFi and Fantasy movies and TV Shows, we took off to visit the Lego exhibit. Here we had the chance to see famous buildings from around the world made completely of Legos. Shaun and the girls really loved the exhibit and what blew me away was the attention to detail and scale. That and they are made of Legos!

Cant have an exhibit in Seattle without a LEGO replica of the Space Needle.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai and the Empire State Building, NYC
30 St. Mary, London and the Flat Iron Building, NYC
30 St. Mary, London and Big Ben, London
Creating their own LEGO buildings

After all of the Lego building fun we made sure to stop in at the more permanent exhibits. The first of which was dedicated to Nirvana and their short but history making career. Then it was over to the Jimi Hendrix exhibit to view his time period in London and the fame he reached there before ever becoming huge in the US.

Pre-Fame Nirvana memorabilia
Kurts famous sweater and memorabilia from the time around the Nevermind release.

The “french fries” from a different viewpoint.
EMP and the Space Needle at City Center
Getting in a few giggles before heading home.

The EMP was a big hit and everyone enjoyed their time there. After what ended up being a longer than planned day there, we set off for home and some dinner before the crew had to head back home to Montana in the morning. It was a great few days together and worth every moment of time off from work. I am going to miss my mom, dad and sister! But as I always say…. until next time!