Leavenworth in the Fall = Gorgeous!

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The end of September brought the official start to fall and with it came the clouds and rain. This is Seattle after all. After nearly a week and a half of gloom and drizzle, we made the choice to take a trip and find sunshine! Impossible you say? You would have to go too far to see the sun again, wouldn’t you? Nope! All it took was an hour and a half drive into the Cascades to do it.

We had the whole day and decided to take a drive into the mountain to a beautiful Bavarian town called Leavenworth. Leavenworth sits on the eastern side og the Cascades. This might not mean much at first thought, but it means a lot when it comes to weather. While Seattle might be covered in clouds and rain, the passes and eastern side of the Cascades often boast sunshine and clear skies. Today didn’t disappoint. As we started to climb up to Steven’s Pass, the clouds quickly disappeared and pretty soon we saw the sun!

The drive through the pass and into Leavenworth was beautiful. The leaves were changing and the colors were amazing. Once we arrived immediately started exploring the area and of course we had to find something to eat.

We’re here and ready to explore!
Exploring the streets… You truly feel like you are in the Alps when you are here. I can only imagine how beautiful this place is in the winter.

We had lunch at the Baren Haus, which was delicious! I splurged a bit, but it was worth it. We also planned to do a lot of walking afterwards, so I didn’t feel too bad! After lunch we continued on our way to look at te shops, bakeries and other fun places. We found THE BEST Christmas shop, full of amazing ornaments and decorations. I really didn’t want to leave but the girls were getting antsy.

Inside Baren Haus. This place was truly charming and you could hear the band playing in the town square from here.

Sister… AKA Partners in Crime

Looking out towards the cascades. The trees and their colors were amazing to see!

Abby said walking through Leavenworth was like being in Disneyland again.

A picture with the bear was too cute to resist. They loved this guy!

Big Ellie Bear Hugs

Big Abby Bear Hugs

Streets filled with changing leaves and plenty of piles to play around in.

Our beautiful girl enjoying the sunshine and leaves.

Its raining leaves!

I love the fall and the amazing colors it brings!

Fall Sunshine and Mountain Tops

The loves of my life… and boy are they silly!

Rolling down the hills into piles of leaves. The joys of being a kid!

As we explored the streets, the girls took interest in the horse-drawn carriage they kept seeing. Ellie was completely in awe over it and kept beggining us to go for a ride. We held off until after lunch and some sightseeing and then went on a hunt for the carriage. After asking around, we learned that she would pick up at the maypole near town square (how adorable is that?). It was getting late though, and everyone was pretty unsure as to how long carriage rides lasted. We waited and waited some more and still no sign of the carriage. Just as we were about to leave with one broken hearted and crying Ellie, the carriage came around the corner. Talk about luck!

Very excited for a carriage ride around town.

The Wharton’s out on the town… Old Timey Style!

The ride was fun and we had the chance to talk with a very nice woman. Her little dog rides up front with her which is completely adorable. The poor little guy is blind and partially deaf but the cutest thing you have ever seen. A mutt that whimpers every time he smells another dog and is happiest when he is up riding with her. The girls giggled each time he moved and had a great time.

The carriage ride capped off a day of fun and afterwards we headed to the car and went home. The girls fell asleep almost instantly so the ride home was relaxing and quiet. I know that both Shaun and myself cannot wait to come back here again. What a great little escape. Until next time Leavenworth!

Pumpkin Picking at the Farm

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Realizing that Daddy was missing out on all of the fun, the girls decided that they wanted to take him to the farm for some pumpkin picking fun. If Abby and Ellie each had a pumpkin to carve, mommy and daddy needed one too! So off to the farm we went!
When we arrived, the farm was very busy and the day was cloudy and a bit chilly but we didn’t let that stop us from having fun. We found a spot, snagged a wheelbarrow and set out to find the perfect pumpkins for us. The pumpkins weren’t all that important to Shaun and I but the fun being had while searching for them is priceless. 
“How about this one mommy and daddy?!”
The pumpkin patch at The Farm at Swans Trail. What a great place!
“Look, we found some corn!”
A few of the contenders to come home with us.
I think we found a few extra large and odd shaped pumpkins. That’s some heavy lifting!

Sisters in a wheelbarrow
Our cute little pumpkins.

After picking out our pumpkins, we packed them into the car and then took some time to explore the farm with daddy. We decided to check out the animals, the barn and stopped for a few yummy treats in their event barn. Abby even held a kitten all on her own! big steps for our girl.

“Look I am holding a kitten!”
Abby would have taken the kitten home if she could. It was so sweet and cuddly with Abby.
Ellie had the chance to hold the kitten too! With a little help from Daddy.
Yummy caramel apple! As big as my head!
“I cant wait to eat this!”
Maybe if I lick it, I can eat it faster!
We had fun in the barn maze and ended with a fun slide.
Its time to slide!

Our day out at the farm was so much fun. Even though it was busy the day was magical and so much fun. Days like these, the simple ones, are sometimes the best to have. We had the best laughs today!

West Seattle Fun

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Today was just too beautiful of a day to sit around and do nothing at home. So we decided to hop into the car and go for a drive. We didn’t have any thing planned and pretty much made things up as we went. Good thing I always bring my camera with me when we travel like this!
Because of the quick change into fall that was happening all around us, we decided to head over to West Seattle and check out some of our favorite and old neighborhoods over on that side. We knew the fall colors in those areas would be spectacular and it didn’t disappoint. We also knew that the sunny day would give for a great view of the city and of course, it did.
Sunny Seattle skyline from Alki Beach.
It may be sunny but the breeze is a bit chilly. Good thing sisters are great for snuggles.
On the ferry from Fauntleroy to Southworth.

After our stop at Alki Beach we thought about going home and then decided to make an adventure out of the rest of the day instead. So, we headed on over to the Fauntleroy ferry and headed to Southworth which is on the other side of the sound and south of Bainbridge. That was a pretty ride, especially close to late afternoon.

Once on the other side, we quickly stopped to get the girls sweatshirts (we managed to forget them at home and it ended up being pretty cool outside). After a little shopping we continued on and Shaun decided to take a different way home, one that Abby has been very curious about. This time, instead of heading to Bainbridge to take the ferry we headed to Bremerton. Abby always sees the Bremerton ferry during our travels from Seattle to Bainbridge and asks to go on it. Well this time, she did! Its a longer trip and goes past some pretty areas along the sound. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see much. By the time the ferry arrived and we were on it, the sun was setting. That’s OK though, we had a great time anyway! Once again, you never know what kind of adventure we might go on.

Abby’s Trip to the Farm

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After a fun filled weekend, it was Abby’s turn for a trip to the farm. She was very excited and because we found a wonderful babysitter to watch Ellie, it also meant that she had the chance to have some quality Mommy and Abby time. Yup, mommy was excited too! Its not often that I get the chance to have some quality one on one time with my girls.
We were hoping the day would be sunny, it was supposed to be, but the morning brought cold weather and heavy fog. It was chilly, very chilly but that didnt stop Abby from having a great time. She had heard Ellie talk about it so much over the last week and now, she finally had the chance to experience it for herself.

We finally made it! Its cold and wet but Abby is ready for some fun!
First up… the Barn Maze and slide! Abby went down the slide several times before she was told we had to leave.
Abby really loved the goats. She says she wants one. That and a puppy.
Petting the new little kittens at the barn. I was so proud of her for petting them. She also pet the farms old basset hound too! Way to go Abby!
Not only did she pet a kitten, she pet the kittens mommy who was keeping watch near by.
Abby and her buddy Nathan
On the tractor heading out to the patch to find the perfect pumpkin.
Out with all of her classmates, searching for the right pumpkin to take home.
Abby found the one! It was heavy and she wanted to put it down right away, hence the look on her face.
Playing in the corn house with her friends from school.
Wranblin’ some steer on the farm.
Rubber Ducky races…
Abby’s ducky won!
Waiting for the real duck race to begin…
Go Ducks Go!
And they finally pass by. The white duck in the lead, named Aflac, is the one Abby chose. He won!
Farmer Abby is finishing up a few chores before quittin’ time.

The day at the farm was perfect and Abby found a pretty amazing pumpkin. After the tractor ride, the kids had ice cream and then it was time to leave. Now Abby had so much to share with Ellie when she got home. I loved seeing the excitement on their faces when talking about the farm. I have a feeling we will be going back there again before Halloween. Hopefully Daddy will be able to come with us!

A Gorgeous Day for Ferries, Port Townsend and Port Gamble

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After a wonderful day at the zoo, the mall and enjoying more birthday presents we decided that some relaxed sightseeing was in order. My sister, who has only had the chance to make quick and focused visits to Seattle, has never been on a ferry, so we thought that a ferry ride across the sound would be a great idea! So off we set for a day of fun and we would go wherever the wind decided to blow us.

Once again it was a BEAUTIFUL day in Seattle. The sun was shining, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the weather was cool but perfect. The ride from Edmonds to Kingston was windy but stunning. To the north you could clearly see Mt. Baker. To the southeast you could see Mt. Rainier and to the west the Olympics were stunning. I was so happy that it was such a clear day for my sisters first ferry ride.

The Olympic Mountains on a gorgeously clear day.

Auntie Jillian, my sister, on her first ferry ride across Puget Sound. I’m just glad that the sound was calm and she didn’t get seasick.

Shaun with his girls… Love these three with all my heart!

Hello Taylor Family! Its windy but beautiful out. You can see Whidbey Island behind them.

Shocked that we could even get a picture together at all. This rarely happens with anyone! I have yet to capture even a semi-family picture with Grandma Zoe or Grandpa Pat and Nana Fiona. It is my mission to do so. The one big thing missing is my handsome Shaun, who is behind the lens for this one.

After a beautiful ferry ride we headed out from Kingston and decided to make our first stop in Port Gamble. I wanted to show everyone one of our favorite stops, The General Store, and take a little walk around the small park and main street. The girls had the chance to pet and admire two beautiful horses who were waiting patiently for their riders over by the park. We shopped a bit in the general store making sure we didn’t leave without their amazing hot chocolate and mocha in hand.

As we walked along the little park and garden, my dad and Shaun noticed something swimming out in the water. Further investigation revealed that there were not one but two things swimming around in the waves and they were Sea Otters! We hopped into the car and drove down to an old logging dock and lot close to the water where they were swimming. The pair was swimming very close to the shoreline and I was able to snap a quick photo of one before they caught on to us and headed back out into the small bay that Port Gamble sits in.

Watching, feeding and petting the beautiful horses.

Our adorable little otter friend. They were fun to watch, playing in the waves along the shore. Its been a while since I have seen Sea Otters in the wild.

After the Sea Otter excitement, we decided to move on and head to Port Townsend. The sunny day would allow for us to actually get out of the car and do some exploring, which is something we have been waiting to do. Upon our arrival we decided that lunch was in order, so we stopped at the Nifty Fifties Cafe for a bite to eat. The food was simple and easy but very yummy, especially their malts, shakes and root beer floats.

After lunch we set out to explore the streets and look around a few stores that had caught our eye as we drove in. We found a lot of adorable boutiques, toy stores and more. We didn’t buy much, if anything, but it was great to get out and see some things. One of the stores I really enjoyed was a steam punk boutique and I know Auntie Jillian really enjoyed it too. There were a few things I would have loved to take home, like a beautiful leather jacket and some Toms style shoes that had the Union Jack on them, but they were not meant to be and certainly not a necessity to life. Although I almost bought some adorable boots for Abby and Ellie but my realistic side knew that they were novelty items and had zero practical function for them. In laymen terms… They would never be worn.

We walked for quite a while, shopping and taking pictures of the old buildings and charms of Port Townsend. In the late afternoon we made the decision to pack up the car and head out to Fort Worden before the sun went down.

Just one of many lovely and old buildings in Port Townsend. I love this little town!
My lovely sister and family walking the streets of Port Townsend. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day!

As we arrived at Fort Worden, the sun was beginning to set and sporadic clouds were starting to blow in. This made for an amazing and beautiful sunset along the water. We drove around, looking at the lighthouse and more. We stopped along the point where you can see Canada (Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria) on a clear day and drove through the old fort itself, looking at the old buildings. I love this spot, as it reminds me of a much smaller version of the Presidio in San Francisco.

Once the light started to fade we headed out of Fort Worden and back to the ferry. This time we decided to take the ferry from Bainbridge to Seattle so that Jillian could see the city lit up at night. As we crossed, the skyline was perfectly clear and it want too cool or windy to go out on deck for a few pictures.

This sea gull just sat there and watched us as we watched him.

Looking northwest towards Vancouver Island. It was a clear enough day to actually see the island itself!

Gorgeous sunset along the sound in Fort Worden State Park

Picture perfect sunset along the Sound in Fort Worden State Park.

Sunset along the Sound as we crossed over the Hood Canal. This is one of many reasons as to why I love Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Sunset over the Olympics

Seattle Skyline at night.

Jillian and the Seattle skyline.

Ellie and Daddy being super silly. Those big cheesy smiles never fail to make me smile!

My beautiful Abby and the Seattle skyline. Love that beautiful face!

After another fun crossing from Bainbridge to Seattle, we stopped for dinner at the Spaghetti Factory in downtown and then headed home. The Taylor crew had to leave and head home the following morning, so a late night was not in the cards. Oh well, we had a wonderful time and enjoyed the time that we did have together. It may have only been a weekend, but it was a weekend packed full of wonderful new memories.

Birthday Trip to the Zoo

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Grandpa Jerry, Grandma Denise and Auntie Jillian were supposed to come to Seattle for Abby’s birthday last weekend. Due to some unexpected work issues, they had to cancel and miss the festivities with Grandma Zoe, which was a big bummer for them. The plan was to have them come out and visit whenever they could and as luck would have it, the following weekend worked out for everyone. Yesterday afternoon they arrived tired from the road but so excited to see all of us. We hung out, had dinner and caught up with each other. 
When asked by Grandma and Grandpa as to what she wanted to do for her birthday while they were in town, Abby decided that she wanted to go to the zoo. So on their first full day in Seattle we started out early and headed to the Woodland Park Zoo. Thankfully the weather was spectacular and allowed for a beautiful day to see the animals.
We had to stop and see our favorite tuxedo friends

Our fearless leaders showing us the way through the jungles being followed by Auntie Jillian the ferocious beast. Abby and Ellie didn’t have a clue she was there.
The Asian small-clawed otters were out with their babies. Unfortunately they spent most of their time hiding behind the rocks playing in the bamboo.

Standing guard over the family
Meerkat cuddle huddle

Abby really wanted to see the Kimono Dragon and she was surprised with how big they are. There were even babies too!

Lion smiles. These statues are original to the zoo which opened in the early 1900’s.

“Mommy, I want to smile but I cant. The sun is in my face.”

Sleepy lion cubs.

Swimmin’ Hippos

Coming up for a bit of a breather

Pondering the meaning of life… That and picking food from his teeth.

The oldest female Gorilla between both groups at the zoo. She has been with the zoo since 1970.

Afternoon snuggle with mommy Jaguar

Mama keeping a watchful eye on her adventurous cubs
A little cub out for a stroll and a climb, still getting used to those climbers legs

Fall is starting to set in at the zoo.

Trying very hard to sleep until some “local” decides to throw rocks and food at the wolves to see what they would do. Let’s just say I chased down a zoo employee and got them removed from the zoo. Your welcome.

After having a cheeseburger and chips thrown at her, this female was on alert. I am betting she is the alpha of the pack and she was not thrilled about the disturbance.

So beautiful. I could never get sick of watching wolves… EVER.
The Brown Bear out for an afternoon stroll. It was also quite apparent that dinner was coming as this one paced the back of his enclosure.

Auntie JJ taking a rest with a few little monkeys.

 
Crazy squirrel trying to reach a strategically placed ice cream cone.

Before we knew it the zoo was close to closing and it was time to go. On the way home we decided to stop at the mall so that Auntie Jillian could do a little shopping for work clothes and other items at stores that are not located in Bozeman. Hey, when you live in a smaller town its things like this that cause a lot of excitement. If you have seen the mall in Bozeman, you would understand what I mean.

After some shopping we headed out for dinner at Abby’s favorite place, you guessed it, Red Robin! Hey, she is the birthday girl and she gets to pick. After a yummy dinner and some great conversation it was back home for presents. When we arrived, Abby was greeted by a table full of fun and colorful boxes as well as a cute mural and Mario play set made by daddy. She was super thrilled.

All of the lovely presents and play sets!

Abby was pleasantly surprised when she came through the door.

Thank you Great Grandma Laura for the cool shoe piggy bank!

“Lalaloopsy, loopsy Hair!”

All I have to say is that Abby is one lucky and very loved little girl. I am not sure about where all the presents from the last two weekends will go! I am sure we will find a place or two. Happy Birthday little monkey! I wonder what tomorrow has in store for us?

Ellie’s Trip to the Farm

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One of the things we love about the preschool we chose for the girls was the fact that they take the kids on a few field trips during the school year. The first of them comes during the fall. Each class goes to the pumpkin patch to explore and pick their very own pumpkin! Today was Ellie’s class trip and I don’t think she could have been more excited about it. It was mostly rain last night but this morning the sun was out, shining and giving Ellie’s class a perfect morning for an adventure.
Taking mommy through the barn maze. We were in search of the slide at the end of the maze.
We found the slide!
Checking out the goats with a few school friends.
Taking a look at the ponies with her friend Edie.
Checking out the brand new kittens at the farm. Ellie was so excited to pet one.
Giving mama cat a few loves too! And mama was more than happy to get them.
More ponies!
While the class waited to ride the tractor out to the fields to pick pumpkins, they were given the chance to play on the “bubble”. Because of the rain the night before, the bubble was wet and slick but that didn’t stop the kids from having a blast. Ellie and Edie bounced and giggled and had a grand time.
Bouncing and having lots and lots of fun!
Catching some air!
Roar!
Killing some more time in the corn house. What a cool idea! Although I have a feeling we will be picking up dried corn kernels for months after this. Oh well, fun was had by all so it was completely worth it.
Riding along in the tractor with on of her teachers.
Ellie found the perfect pumpkin! Cute as a button just like her!
The sun started to disappear again behind clouds, but it was a beautiful morning at the farm!
Ellie’s preschool class and friends. So cute!
Two beautiful sisters enjoying pizza and some special time with mommy.

After all the fun that was had exploring the barn maze, the farm animals, the “bubble”, the corn house and the pumpkin fields it was time to head back to school and pick up Abby. Ellie was so excited to tell her big sister all about her day at the farm and all that Abby could expect next week when its her turn to go. I took the girls for pizza as a treat and a chance for all of us to talk about the fun day. These are definitely special times to remember with our kiddos.

Birthday Fun!

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When you are a kid, having your birthday during the week on a school day is actually pretty cool. At least Abby thought so. Being that today is her 5th birthday, Abby had the chance to celebrate with her friends at school. She had a whole poster about herself with pictures, she received a special birthday crown and everyone sang to her. A pretty special day for a very special girl.

After school, I took Abby and Ellie for a special birthday lunch at Red Robin. Abby had her favorites and as a special treat, she had an ice cream sundae and several of the ladies sang Happy Birthday to her. She was a little embarrassed but once everyone left, she giggled about it.

All ready for a birthday lunch. She loves Red Robin, can you tell?
Birthday ice cream sundae coma

We went to the park after lunch to play and then came home. When Shaun came home from work we had a lovely dinner together and then opened presents. The big thing that Abby wanted this year was an American Girl Bitty Baby. Abby and I went on a special date day together at the Alderwood Mall, which hosts an American Girl store. The minute Abby saw the store she fell in love. A whole store dedicated to nothing but dolls! Abby’s dream! Bitty Baby, being an actual baby doll, was her favorite and before I knew it she was telling me all of the things that she wanted. At that moment, I knew what we were going to get her for her birthday and we would do what we could to make it happen.

Luckily everything worked for us and we were able to surprise Abby with her very first American Girl doll. She was thrilled so much so that everything else we gave to her paled in comparison. Her smiles were big and her thank yous even bigger. She played with Bitty Baby all night and put her to bed with her.

This is the Bitty Baby that she picked out. I tried to get a picture of her holding the box but she was so excited that the box was opened and Bitty Baby was coming out of it within a minute of it being unwrapped. You could probably say that it was a very quick delivery. 😉

                   

Playing Bitty Baby’s in the midst of opening presents with Grandma Denise and Grandpa Jerry  the weekend following her birthday. (Yes, that would mean I technically have seen into the future or just added this picture at a later time. You choose the one that sounds better.) I barely took pictures the night she opened Bitty Baby and this is the only one I have of her playing with it.
Ellie was a big girl about all of it too. We had worried about her reaction and wanting one of her own. You could see in her eyes that she was a bit sad and envious of her big sister but she handled herself very well for a three year old. She wanted to sit by Abby’s side and help her. Abby told Ellie that she could be Bitty Baby’s aunt and that thrilled her to pieces. Ellie cannot stop talking about Bitty Baby. I guess I know what Santa will be bringing Ellie for Christmas!
Its crazy to think that Abby is now five. My oh my, how she has grown and changed. I hope she wants to play with baby dolls for at least another five years. Shaun and I are trying our best to soak it all in before she trades baby dolls for clothes, make up and all things that “bigger” girls do. Once again, Happy Birthday Punkin! 

Happy 5th Birthday to Our Sweet Abby!

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Happy Birthday to our little Abby. Our smart, funny, creative, imaginative and caring little girl with a heart of gold. Happy 5th Birthday to the little girl who can be as stubborn as a mule and so independent but knows how to make you smile and laugh in an instant with her witty comments and her love of singing just about any song that comes on the radio. Happy Birthday to the little girl who makes her Mommy and Daddy so proud!

Five years old. Can it really be? I know that your daddy and I say it every year, but where has the time gone? So much has happened in five years but it feels like just yesterday I was holding my little 7 pound 7 ounce baby in my arms, sitting in my hospital bed, tears of joy in our eyes and the amazing thought that we were now parents.

Abby we have watched you grow so much in the last five years. From crawling and babbling to walking and speaking in words and sentences that are clear as day. We have watched you learn and discover from feeding yourself and clumsily flipping through board books to knowing your colors, shapes and ABC’s and reading your first books with only a little help from Daddy and I. I cant say that it doesn’t make our hearts ache to know that you are growing up by leaps and bounds, because it does. Don’t take that personally though, I think every mother and father feels that way about their children as they grow. But, that ache is a tiny one, or it seems that way because when we see you write a new word or how you light up with so much pride when you read another new word without our help, our hearts soar.

Daddy and I look forward to the years ahead and everything they will bring. Learning and growing at a whole new level. Pretty soon Pre-K will be over and as you near your sixth birthday Kindergarten will begin. You will start your big journey into grade school, of learning and growing and homework and school activities. There is so much that lies ahead of you and we are excited to be a part of each and every moment. We might ache for what was but our excitement for what might be is far greater.

Our hope for you is that you always embrace the kindhearted and loving kid that you are. That the love and understanding you had for the new little boy in your class this year continues on the rest of your life. That you help and stand up for those who are in need of it and show them kindness when they are scared or being mistreated. We hope that your never ending curiosity stays with you and helps you continue learning, even when your days in school are finished. We hope that your creativity and imagination is never limited and stays with you no matter what you decide to do in life. All too often we lost those abilities as adults and too many of us are afraid to be a kid at heart.

The future is something we are all excited to see but please take your time and enjoy each step of the way. We will remember to do the same. Don’t grow up too fast and love being a kid as long as you can. There is plenty of time to be a grown up, so enjoy your childhood and embrace it. We will do our best to make sure you do and will embrace every moment, even if they are tough ones.

Mommy and Daddy cant wait to be a part of the journey ahead and we love you so much. Happy Birthday Punkin!

Abby, on the day she was born.
Abby on her First Birthday
Abby on her Second Birthday
Abby on her Third Birthday
Abby on her Fourth Birthday
Happy Birthday Abby! We love you so very very much!

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!