Northwest Adventure

Our ten-day trip to Snoqualmie focused around a couple events at Spencer's school--an open-house and Grandparents' Day where the grades performed before all visitors followed by Spencer hosting us (including his other set of grandparents) in his classroom. Great fun at Spencer's school.

We arrived a week earlier than the school functions. We joined Spencer and Garrett with their outside activities:

• Tai Kwon Do (Spencer is working on his next belt)
• t-ball (Little League jamboree with parade of teams, practice, game for Garrett)
• ice hockey (both boys are on skates practicing and getting instruction)
• flag football.

In the meantime we worked with Amy cutting some junk trees from behind their house (Garrett thought we were in a rain forest), got our morning Starbucks (rainy weather kept us to only a couple walks), played with boys, allowed the women to beat the men at Euchre, played with the boys, saw IMAX 3D with boys How to Train Your Dragon, and played with the boys! All the while Amy fixed us great meals, found us unique restaurants, and took us shopping with the boys.

This was our longest stay in Snoqualmie but we had so much fun it seemed very short.

Snoqualmie Ridge in November

A week at James and Amy's (Spencer and Garrett, too) in Washington at the beginning of the rainy season. Beautiful weather for our flight out Wednesday (11/4) where we met Brenda at Sea-Tac Airport and picked up her rental car. We couldn't seem to find a place for a late lunch so we went directly to Reagan's house on the Ridge. Late lunch with Amy and Garrett, then on to pick up Spencer at his bus stop. Later to see Spencer at Tae-Kwon-Do class.

Thursday we got the boys off to third grade for Spencer who gets a ride to school with James on his way to work and preschool for Garrett who shares rides with another boy. After we picked up the boys from preschool and dropped off Kyle we were off to do some shopping--the girls to a craft barn and the boys (Garrett and I) off to Home Depot. Then late lunch at a great steak house. We picked up Spencer at his bus stop and were off to home to get Garrett ready for soccer.

Breakfast Friday was in North Bend at George's Bakery for some of their fabulous baked goods, especially their BIG doughnut. Spencer's school had teacher workday so he and G-man (preschool M, T, Th only) had a great time at Imagine Children's Museum in Everett--water discovery; train, plane, and bus exploration; art center; construction arena; rooftop play and climbing; and self-directed theater kept the boys (and adults) busy for hours. Met James at home, the off to Kent for dinner at Spiro's followed by WHL hockey game; Seattle Thunderbirds lost to Spokane Chiefs.

We are now in the midst of some serious rain and on Saturday morning Spencer plays soccer in the water and mud of a nearby park. I am proud he tolerated the cold rain, playing very hard in difficult conditions. We boys watched some college football (which starts 9 am there) including Purdue's win at U of Michigan for the first time in our children's lifetimes! and a nostalgia rush playing vibrating football (called electric football when I was a kid), the game where plastic football players move on a vibrating field until the ball carrier is touched by an opponent. Meanwhile, the women were off to a scrapbook and craft convention and fabulous lunch.

After a lazy Sunday morning we dressed for threatening weather we expected in Seattle for the Seahawks-Lions football game (luckily it was dry, though cool and overcast). Lunch at a Chinese restaurant in the International District, the off to the game where we watched the Lions end the first quarter ahead 17-0 but finally lost 32-20.

Monday found us easily fixing some doors and laundering clothes between transporting the boys. Amy fixed dinner for us and we watched Monday Night Football which begins at 5:30!

Kathy and Amy help at Spencer's school on Tuesday while Brenda works on business and I read my book at a nearby Panera Bread. We pick up Garrett from school along with a friend and his brother who we watch so their dad can work from home. All of us go to a McD with a play area for the boys. Later Mexican cuisine for our last dinner.

Brenda, Kathy, and I go to the airport together early Wednesday, drop off the rental car, and grab a quick bite for breakfast. Brenda got on her flight and we ours a couple hours later--since she had a stopover our planes landed about the same time. A wonderful visit, the first time we'd all been together in well over a year.

Snoqualmie Ridge

Arrived to beautiful weather last Tuesday (it lasted two days followed by 6.5 days of rain).  Amy and Garrett picked us up from airport and we stopped for lunch at Rainforest Cafe, one of Garrett's favorites, and some shopping.  Part of our visit was to help with the boys so Amy could attend a MOPS convention in Texas and James could work. 

Wednesday Amy gave us a preview of the boys' day and we met Michelle who would take Garrett to preschool Thursday. Tai kwon do for Spencer rounded out the day.

Amy was off to Texas by 5 am Thursday. We took Spencer to school and Garrett was picked up for preschool.  That gave me and Kathy time for our coffee at Starbucks and then out to find geocaches--success on two of three.  Then back to meet Garrett after preschool.  Played until we went to pick up Spencer, back for homework and off to soccer.

Only a half day Friday for Spencer and none for Garrett.  James met us after noon and we played with the boys for a while before swimming lessons for both.  They have improved so much since Lake Chelan last summer.  We shopped for baking supplies for Saturday (Kathy's birthday).  The boys picked out their favorite cake mix (FunFetti), frosting (Rainbow Chip--has extra sprinkles), and two numeral candles (if I publish the numerals, I will no longer be able to blog).  Then got ready-to-bake pizza for dinner--fabulous--some of the best pizza I have ever had.  

Saturday was early tae kwon do  for Spencer.  Came back and the boys mixed the batter for Grandma Reagan's birthday cupcakes.  "How old is she, Garrett?".  After thinking a bit the three-year-old answered, "Old enough."  Off to Seattle Center for the LEGO BrickCon convention.  Several thousand LEGO enthusiasts built displays of LEGO cities, Star Wars scenes, artificial intelligence robots, military machines, airplanes, and cartoon renderings to name some.  Though LEGOs are younger than I or Kathy (50 years this past January) the three younger boys have grown up with them and were enthralled by the creations.  Afterward we walked the Center (28 acres of grounds and buildings), grabbed a couple geocaches, and let the boys and Kathy play at the fountain which has intermittent eruptions allowing the adventuresome  (Spencer and Kathy) to run down the embankment and touch the fountain before getting sprayed by the next eruption.  Garrett was kept from making his great circle of the fountain walking on the barrier because when he reached a certain point the strong winds blew the spray on him.  When we got home the boys finished frosting and decorating the cupcakes, put on and lighted the candles, sang Happy Birthday, and let grandma blow them out.  Spencer and Garrett both picked out the ones they piled high with frosting and extra sprinkles--we think they planned that all along.

Sunday we went for breakfast to North Bend at George's Bakery which has big doughnuts the size of a dinner plate and we shared one.  Afterward we went geocaching and found a few around the area, some that were new for James.  Played in the neighborhood park and after Amy returned from her convention trip we went to dinner for barbecue.

Monday it was back to schools and soccer in the rain.  But Tuesday the weather broke in the afternoon and gave winds good enough for fall kite flying, one each for Spencer and Garrett, in the park along with bike riding.  We took Spencer to tae kwon do while Amy fixed dinner. 

Later James took us to the airport for our red eye flight home.  The weather in Detroit Wednesday morning?  What else?  Rain.