Ode To Seattle

We just recently returned from a fabulous trip to Seattle, Washington. I love my visits there. My family that lives there always take me on the best sight seeing ventures! Very memorable. This year, I took Maddy and Harrison. They loved it just as much as I always do! We stayed with Grandma Dee...
Grandma always makes the best breakfasts! My personal favorite is cinnamon toast. Somehow hers is better than my own?! Must be that special "grandma touch". Her coffee tastes better too?! Maybe it's because I'm in Seattle?This was Harrison and Maddy's first airplane ride! On the way home, they got to sit up in the cockpit! The in-flight tv's were a huge hit and kept the kids occupied quite well. Although, Harrison did get motion sickness on the first flight out to Denver. He did a great job using the "barf bag". Needless to say, the flight attendant wasn't happy.
Uncle Dave, Grandma Dee, and my cousin, Aaron spent one day together riding a ferry...Taking in views from atop the Space Needle...Eating fish and chips at Ivar's, then playing in the freezing cold Puget Sound....(those are the Olympic Mountains in the background)One day, we picnicked on the beach of the Puget Sound. Harrison and Maddy enjoyed searching for shells, rocks, and crabs on the beach.
Uncle Steve and Aunt Ruth, along with Grandma, drove the kids and I up to Mt. Rainier one morning. It was a beautiful, clear day and the mountain looked gorgeous! We got to see all sides of it. Steve and Ruth know their stuff too! They were great tour guides explaining every little town, mountain fact, history, etc. Even though it was 85 degrees up there, there was still a lot of snow. Reportedly, the mountain got 78 FEET of snow this last winter! I love that mountain. Steve and Ruth, along with the rest of the family, had a bbq at their home one evening. It was fun getting together with my cousin, Jason, and his wife, Sarah. Sarah is a 2nd grade teacher in near Seattle and Jason is one crazy, kid-loving guy! Maddy and Harrison took right to them! Jason and Harrison goofing around.Steve and Maddy making their special cake!Harrison, my little pet lover, found a slug at Steve and Ruth's that we actually took back to Grandma's house in a baggie. She allowed him to put it in her flower garden, but he couldn't find it the next morning...hmmmmm. Slugs are huge pests to plants ya know. Grandma?

Uncle Dave and his wife, Danna, took us on an incredible hike through the woods to see a waterfall. There are some big trees in Washington! It is so lush there! I love all the plants!
Ferns and fronds up close... Snoqualmie Falls...This was my personal favorite this trip to Washington! The roaring sound that these falls put off was amazing! I could have stayed for a long time gazing at the falls.In Kent, Washington, where we saw the movie "Wall-E", there is this giant marble ball that sits upon flowing water. It will roll when you get it going. Here is Dave and the kids playing in the water. I think Dave is just a big kid! He had just as much fun as the kids and they LOVED him!



As with all vacations, it is always sad to leave. We had such a great time! So many memorable moments! I enjoyed seeing my family and taking in the beauty of Washington! I will be back! Special thanks to Grandma Dee for all that she did to make it a special family vacation! : )