What a joy and gift to be able to head West again this year in August for our favorite 2 week Northwest respite.
Boarding the plane! Traveling with these three gets easier every year.
We discovered candy crush (you get desperately bored on these long flights). It's a scary addiction.
Mt. Rainier greeted us beautifully as we approached Seattle.
Will was just so precious walking through the airport. After twelve hours of sleep free travel, he finally crashed 2 MINUTES from my parents house (I kid you not), at almost 1am our time.
The reward after a long day - Grandpa and Grandma spoil us silly. This incredible basket of goodies was waiting for us by our bed.
And we got to sneak away the next morning for a coffee/lunch date. This honey cinnamon latte is out of this world amazing. I haven't stopped thinking about it since last year's discovery.
Back at Grandpa and Grandma's, the cousins reunite!!
Mealtimes were just so exciting.
Since we flew on Caden's birthday, we had a little Seattle celebration that evening.
Our middle boys - they picked right up where they left off.
Bath time at Grandma's is the best.
Loved having a morning with my dear friend Tiffany and her three boys.
That afternoon - How to Train a Dragon 2. Even the movie theater has beautiful views!
More boy fun! My dear friend Amy and her two boys joined the six cousins. This was some serious boy fun.
An adventure with Grandpa to blackberry hill.
Meanwhile, Dave and I snuck into Seattle. Dave visited Uncle Josh while I enjoyed more amazing coffee at one of my favorite parks.
Back home, the boys were getting crazy.
A quick run through the market.
And then dinner at our favorite date spot. These $1 and $2 tacos are to die for!!
Beautiful evening, beautiful city.
We had many lazy mornings like this - their new magically soft carpet seemed to beckon us in to relax.
On Saturday, we embarked on a day adventure to Whidbey Island.
We started the day at Deception Pass - a favorite childhood spot. I love the wooded trails leading down to the water.
Taking it in.
Happy boy.
At the top.
So much beauty to take in everywhere.
The fresh, cool salty air, evergreen lined rocky cliffs - it's hard to capture it here.
This silly boy.
Walking along a rocky edge.
Their six grandsons!
Grandma is magical - she somehow finds hershey kisses falling from the sky everywhere we go.
We came upon some type of sea slug - a variety that's apparently been around since the dinosaurs.
These two - sweet buddies.
Rocky shores, cold waves, happy boy.
Emerging from the woods after hunting for a geo cache.
Playing in the waves.
These two built this fortress.
Cousins on a log.
Love this washed up driftwood.
We walked by as a ranger was starting a presentation on their local wildlife, so decided to sit in.
Caden got to hold a beaver skin!
This boy raised his hand and attempted to answer almost every question - hilarious.
Sharing his extensive beaver knowledge with this little girl.
He was quite the "expert". Who knew he liked to know so much :).
Walking the trails of my youth - love this place.
Just the view from our car.
This eagle was taking flight as we were loading up.
Helping me out.
Us.
Next we headed over to Fort Casey - built in the 1890's to defend Puget Sound. The open fields make it the perfect spot to fly a kite, and the views are breathtaking.
Uncle Chris getting Will all set up.
Love my boys.
Flowers for mommy.
Running to the lighthouse before it was due to close.
We didn't quite make it in time to go up top.
Walking over to the camp.
This area is owned by Seattle Pacific University, and was a common group retreat spot during high school and college. So many sweet memories here.
Making our way back over to the fort.
The old fort - never really used as intended, as the invention of airplanes quickly made it obsolete. But its an incredibly fun night time hide and seek spot.
Views from one of the bunkers.
An old fashion car, with a modern gps ;).
Our scenic ride home.
We never get tired of these.
Super moon rising.
Boys on a ferry.
Sunset on the sound.
The view as we docked.
On Sunday this boy learned how to ride a bike! Uncle Chris is the BEST teacher.
A fun afternoon in their beautiful back yard.
Followed by a fun date night at Snoqualmie Falls.
Such a fun night with these two.
What do you do on a 90 degree day in Seattle?
You head to the lake!
We ventured out to this beautiful lake/park (Pine Lake) just a few minutes from my parents house.
Even the swing area is beautiful.
Dock time.
These boys are getting too big.
Sweet face.
On Tuesday we ventured into Seattle.
We started at the Freemont troll.
Yes, that's an old VW bug behind them, in the troll's hand.
We met up with Kristen for lunch on the waterfront.
A quick walk up to the hammering man at the Seattle Art Museum...
Where we met up with Grandpa Jack!
Who led us to his favorite gelato stop.
We cut through the market on our way back to the car - it seems the flying fish are now officially old news to these guys.
Grandma's Dahlias.
That night I got to sneak out with Tiff - we had to check out one of the Starbucks nearby which offers a wine bar during evening hours.
And this was just week one. More fun pics to come soon!!
