Vacation #2: Snohomish, Washington

At the beginning of the month we took another little trip up to the Seattle area to visit Aaron's brothers who live there. Thursday before we left his younger brother, Brent, and his family stopped in on their way up from Salt Lake and spent the night. The afternoon they got here we took the kids to the park that we'd visited with them back in October and let them play in the splash area.











Friday morning we all got up and headed north. Western Washington isn't much to look at, but I've always thought that Eastern Washington is beautiful (even through a filthy windshield).



We managed to hit rush hour traffic driving through Bellevue. I wanted to get a photo of the city and the traffic, but this giant Optimus Prime was blocking my shot! I think you get the idea, though.

We stayed at Aaron's older brother Justin's house (which used to be their parents' house until about a year ago when they moved to California)and that's where we'd all congregate. We played games, talked, laughed, ate, watched the kids play in the back yard, and caught up.

Left to right: Hakan, Jayden, Kaine, Calvin, Oliver, Satyra

We didn't have much time to spend there, so we tried to include a few outings into our visit. The most adveturous one was a trip to a beach that turned out to be at the end of an unexpected 2.25 mile hike through some very steep terrain. Not only did we have to hike the whole way down, but we had to carry all of our beach stuff and try to keep our kids from hurting themselves in the process. The hike was gorgeous, but it took quite a while so by the time we actually got down to the beach, the husbands had to turn around and hike back so they could drive the cars around to the handicapped entrance (which was MUCH closer) to pick up us Mamas and our kids! There was no way we could make it back UP with all our stuff, two babies and 5 tired kids.

Toes in salt water for the first time in forever.

Calvin, Hakan & Uncle Justin

Hakan, Pyper, Vivan & Calvin

From top, clockwise: Brent, Zila, Satyra, Oliver, Pyper, Zakai & Calvin

Finnley and new baby Jovial

Another outing was made to Mukilteo where we had some delicious fish & chips at a little seafood place before taking a ferry boat out to Widby Island.

Left to right: Vivian, Pyper, Hakan, Oliver & Calvin



There was only a small section of public beach, but the kids took advantage of it!



L to R: Vivian, Calvin, Pyper, Oliver, Jessica & Jovi, Hakan

Zakai & Satyra

This is Oliver. He's one of our nephews and is probably the cutest little redheaded boy I've ever met.





BFFs







The Hillgrove brothers: Jason, Justin, Aaron & Brent (We missed you, Gwen!!)

It worked out nicely that our new neice, Jovial, was blessed while we were there, too. We had such a great trip. I think what I liked most was watching all the little cousins play together and get to know one another a little bit more. We don't get up there nearly often enough, but it's nice knowing that when we can go we're sure to have a good time!