Our Family Trip (not a vacation!)

I keep telling Peter our trip can't be called a vacation because there wasn't enough relaxation involved, therefore I like to refer to it as a family trip. Despite the fact that I came home much more exhausted than when we left doesn't mean I didn't have a great time, cause I did!!!! Oh how I love Seattle. We had a fantastic time visiting our old city and seeing all of our family and friends. (except Auntie Melia, that's how Ayva says it, who was back east mountain bike racing)
We stayed the first couple of days with Grandma Lou at her new home in Tacoma. She was so wonderful to us and we all really enjoyed spending time with her. The girls especially enjoyed their little sleeping and playing nook that Grandma created for them upstairs. She even let them put a tv in there where they could view her many Disney shows. Thanks again Mary Lou!
We also got to spend some time with aunt Abby and cousin Finn. Finn has grown so much since we left and has turned into quite the ham bone. He gives great big, cheesy smiles and loves to giggle at himself. Abby sure has her hands full with him. He was in constant motion 80% of the time and was only still the other 20% because he was strapped into a stroller. Gotta love 1 year old energy...good luck Abby.
We spent one of our days playing the tourist role. We drove out to Bainbridge Island via the new Tacoma Narrows bridge. Then hopped the ferry over to Seattle and spent the afternoon at Pike Place Market. I wanted to get more pictures at the market of all the gorgeous food and interesting people singing for change but it was so crowded and I was either holding Ayva or Bella at all times. Pike Place is definitely one of my favorite spots in Seattle. I think it would be wonderful to live in walking distance of the market and to be able to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and fish everyday. Oh, and the pastries, don't even get me started on the pastries! Even Mt. Rainier came out to welcome us back. That doesn't happen everyday.
On Saturday we met up with a group of friends to enjoy some of the Seafair festivities. Peter and myself ran the Torchlight Race with my good friend Lauren while my wonderful friends, The Blasers, watched the girls. (Thanks again Blasers!) Then we all watched the parade together. I am hoping that this becomes a tradition for us and our friends and that next year we will have even more of us participate in the run. (That is a challenge to Marie and Andy, you can do it!!) (oh and Paige of course who will quickly return to her post-pregnancy physique in 2 weeks)

For the last half of our trip we stayed with aunt Emily and uncle Todd. Isabella was so excited to hang out with her cousins and had a blast learning how to battle from her older cousin Emmett. (all kinds of battling from sword fights to military guys, she learned it all) Unfortunately her other cousin Harrison was at camp so we missed him but she got into enough mischief with Emmett. On our way to the beach one afternoon, Bella and Emmett had some markers in the back seat and decided to color themselves. I don't know how Peter and I both missed that. Sneaky little clowns. (Bella's face is the best. She has marker around her mouth, on her cheeks and on her forehead. Nice work Emmett.)

I just realized this blog entry is turning into quite the travel diary and I have either lost most of my readers or am boring the ones that have stuck around in hopes of an exciting ending so I will wrap it up here with a semi-exciting ending. On our trek back to Salt Lake our car broke down about 20 miles outside of Boise. It was pushing 100 degrees outside and we all sat and soaked as we waited for our tow truck and taxi to come and rescue us. It was too late in the day to find a mechanic who would look at our car so our "family trip" was extended by one day as we stayed at the Shilo Inn, went for a swim and enjoyed our complementary breakfast at the Buck Horn. Luckily it was just the fuel filter and they got us fixed up and on our way the next day.

The End