Seattle, Week TWO

Our second week in Seattle was gorgeous. Dave took a week of study leave to prepare for some Fall teaching, and I took advantage of the time to play and rest. Highlights from this week - catching up with several friends, a morning at Kelsey Creek farm with the boys, checking out several new coffee shops, an outdoor kids concert at the marina in my hometown with lots of friends, an evening picnic at a beautiful lake in the Cascades, some shopping downtown, salmon fishing on Puget Sound on two different mornings, a kid free night on the town with the siblings, meeting up with some of our old Wash U college students for church/lunch, and Andrew catching his first fish (a trout) with the help of grandpa and daddy. It was a wonderful week, and we are so thankful for the time we had with everyone.

Catching up with one of my college roomies and her two girls - my boys were quite smitten. Caden wouldn't stop bringing her youngest toys, and I love the pic of Andrew with her oldest...priceless.

More super fun cousin time! Some backyard fun, and a morning at Kelsey Creek farm.

Bathtime fun in Grandpa and Grandma's tub.

Catching up with friends - first a lakeside lunch in Seattle with college friends, and then meeting up with several friends and their kids at an outdoor kids concert at the Kirkland marina. It was a hot day, so our boys ended up in the lake with their clothes on :). We were also extremely excited to be able to see Dave's uncle, who was in town from AZ visiting his daughter and her two kids.

An evening at beautiful Rattlesnake lake for a picnic dinner, swimming, throwing rocks, playing with the cousins, and boat riding. My dear friend Tiffany and her husband Bryan joined us with their little guy, and Andrew loved having the chance to drive the boat (his figure S's made me a bit dizzy).

A beautiful misty morning salmon fising on Puget Sound. The water was crystal clear, seals were swimming around our boat (I loved it, the hard core fishermen didn't like them scaring away the fish). Dave and I caught six fish collectively - it was a SUCH a wonderful morning.

first catch of the day- a wee bullfish, then came the real first catch...

Dave with his catch...

We had so much fun on our kid free (thanks Grandpa and Grandma) night on the town with my brothers and sister in law. Dave was VERY excited to check out the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture park which inlcuded a piece from one of his favorite artists(Richard Serra). We then enjoyed dinner out downtown and dessert in Freemont.

and then Andrew went fishing...

with Grandpa and Daddy

A few last pictures capturing fun at Grandpa and Grandma's house - pulling out Chris and Julie Anne's bouncy, making muffins with Grandma, and playing with fun friends.

Seattle, week ONE

We've been having such wonderful time visiting the Madson family out in Seattle. It's amazing how much you can pack into two weeks! A few highlights from week one - getting away on our first morning for a date at Victors coffee and running into an old seminary classmate, a Tuesday Issaquah Ross run (very successfull), TONS of playtime with cousins, visiting with old friends, a solo outing (for Laura) to the outlets after getting a pedi, a morning dowtown with the kids, dinner and dessert in Freemont with old friends, a morning of salmon fishing for Dave followed by the McDougall family reunion, celebrating my parents 40th anniversary with the Madson family, getting some much needed rest, and drinking lots of yuuuummy coffee.

Date morning destination - yummy coffee and sandwiches
This sign is just fabulous - located in a consignment store next to the coffee shop.

COUSIN TIME!!!


One of the biggest highlights of this trip has been watching the boys enjoy their cousins. They're finally at an age where they get really excited about playing together - and they've eaten up every moment.

Friday morning in dowtown Seattle

Riding the monorail to the Seattle Center, silly Grandpa Jack playing in the fountain.

Date night in Freemont with a dear high school friend and her husband.

McDougall Family Reunion at Laura's cousins' home on Camano Island - we wish we would have taken a picture of the whole crew!

Laura, Grandma Kathy, Cousin Barb - taken by Andrew

Gathering with the Madson family on my parents 40th wedding anniversary. Andrew enjoyed playing a game with Great Aunt Jan, cousin John arrived straight from work in his police car (very exciting), Caden attempted to drink a bowl of sunflower seed butter, and the backyard was packed full of boy cousins.

Grandma Kathy's gorgeous dahlias