Here are the kids with cucumber eye masks. Whenever we go on road trips we try to make things as relaxing and spa-like as possible for everyone. Ha! Just kidding. I think right before we left I cleaned out the fridge and because I didn’t want stuff to go to waste I made them snack on cucumbers and peppers and things before we started in on the treats.
We got to Washington the day before the reunion started and spent the night in Deer Park with Grandma Peggy (Daniel’s grandma on his mom’s side). The younger kids had never met their great-grandma, and it was so great for them to be able to spend time with her. She ended up passing away later on in the year, so all these last memories of the kids with her are extra special.
Daniel’s mom was already at Grandma Peggy’s house when we got there, and she had a whole dinner ready for us and a giant birthday cake for our 4 summer birthday kids.
Eating huge amounts of cake out on the swing-set:
Going on an adventure walk so Grandma Nini (Daniel’s mom) could show the kids all around where she grew up:
Cynthia With Dog and Schoolbus:
Grandma Nini’s Dad bought this schoolbus when she was a little girl, and it has a lot of stories.
The next morning, feeding the horses across from Grandma Peggy’s house:
Playing tetherball and walking Poochie, Grandma Nini’s dog.
Basically from this moment until the time we left Beaver Lodge Cindy didn’t leave Poochie's side. Like, ever.
This was one of my favorite things – the kids all gathered around Grandma Peggy while she played the piano for them. I think it’s good for kids to be reminded that old people can do neat things.
Henry and Cindy having some quiet alone time reading on their beds and not taking a nap since they were “not tired at all, Mom, we promise!”
BEAVER LODGE
The next few days were spent hanging out with Grandma Nini’s family at Beaver Lodge. Most of our time was spent in the water:
Cindy was going through a big “thumbs up” stage. Look closely and you will see so many thumbs ups in this post.
When we weren’t in the lake or out on the dock, Cindy was playing with Poochie:
(sometimes Cindy convinced Poochie to go in the lake, too)
Best pals.
Other fun things:
Playing on the swingset:
Being with Grandma Peggy:
Getting special money every day from Grandma Nini to go buy treats at the Beaver Lodge store:
4-wheeling with Dad:
Staying up way too late and then sleeping in a cabin:
Fishing:
Getting to help with meal prep:
And playing games with new friends:
Here’s the Mott family out on the dock:
And the kids saying goodbye to Grandma Nini before we headed on to Seattle.
DRIVE TO SEATTLE
We decided to take a little detour on our drive across the state and visit Mount Rainier National Park before we headed up to Seattle. There were a few scenic stops along the way.
I think this is the Columbia River we are overlooking?
Hiking in Mount Rainier National Park:
When I was a kid we used to visit the giant sequoia trees in Yosemite and the Redwoods in Northern California, and we’d always take pictures of us trying to reach the whole way around a tree. So of course I had to make my kids do that, too. I’m really hoping they make their kids do this someday. That and stand on the beach all in a line in age order holding hands. You have to carry on sweet traditions like this.
Here you go:
Beautiful Mount Rainier:
SEATTLE
Then we made it to Seattle.
Playing at the park near the Museum of Pop Culture:
Inside the Museum of Pop Culture:
Special exhibit on the Seattle Seahawks, our favorite NFL team (Oliver just happened to be wearing his Seahawks shirt that day):
Star Wars Exhibit:
Horror Film Exhibit, and Cindy being cute by a bunch of guitars:
Henry getting soaked in the International Fountain at the Seattle Center:
Frozen yogurt:
At the top of the Space Needle. Cindy is crying because she got her finger pinched in one of those telescope things. And it looks like Tristan is also wearing his Russell Wilson shirt. I’m thinking they didn’t plan to be twinners.
Swimming at the hotel later that night.
The next day we started out with a harbor tour (we had decided to get City Passes, and this was one of the things). We were going to a Mariners game later on in the afternoon, so everyone was all set in their Mariners gear.
Then a seafood lunch:
The Seattle Aquarium:
Views of Seattle from Kerry Park:
And then it was time for the Mariners game. Here’s Cindy with her friend, Felix.
Getting autographs:
Unlimited refills on soda and popcorn – always helpful for keeping kids occupied and happy during the game.
We love Safeco Field!
The next day we dropped off Daniel and the older boys at another Mariners game, and I took the younger four to the Pacific Science Center.
Double thumbs ups from Cindy:
We met Daniel and the boys after the game back at the park, and he took Lizza and Rachel to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit (we had a few tickets left from our City Pass)
Swimming again on our last night. One of the things our kids were most excited about for this whole trip was the slide at our hotel pool. They thought that was about the neatest thing ever. Then the first time we went swimming we found out that the slide was only open on weekends, so we couldn’t even use it that day. We promised the kids that on the last day we’d get back to the hotel in time for more swimming, since it was a weekend and the slide was going to be open. We hustled back at the end of the day and everyone raced to go change into swimsuits. Then we found out that the hotel treated the slide pretty seriously, and there was a lifeguard in charge of it and everything, and worst of all, Cindy wasn’t allowed to go down it because she wasn’t old enough. She was devastated, and it just felt too sad, so we talked to the hotel people at the front desk and they let us sign a special waiver so she could go down the slide. The lifeguard probably rolled his eyes at us, and she only got to go down one time, but it was enough. Thumbs up, Cindy Lou.
SOME OTHER AUGUST THINGS
The girls at their cousin’s American Girl Doll birthday party. My sister had made a skirt for every girl at the party and a matching one for their doll. I’m not quite sure how we’re related.
Family dinner at my parents’ house to celebrate August birthdays (Oliver and my mom have the same birthday, and my niece and Dad are both within a few days). Some of my sisters were still in town with their families, so the kids had fun hanging out with cousins.
Oliver is just like his dad in so many ways. They are both really good at being recreation leaders and coming up with fun activities to do whenever large groups of people are just hanging around. Here Oliver is directing some relay races/obstacle course competitions between all the cousins.
The next day was Oliver’s actual birthday – 13 years old (in case you’ve forgotten that this isn’t exactly current, he is about to have his 15th birthday now)
All he wanted for his birthday was a new Mariners hat, a fishing vest, and more fishing gear. And to go fishing. Fly-fishing all day every day would be his dream come true.
Then school started. 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade for these three. 7th grade and 9th grade for Oliver and Tristan.
And this little crazy stayed at home with me.
She was lonely without all her friends, but we kept busy with job lists (she’s doing her math worksheet and drawing practice here) and trips to the store with all the babies.
Last August thing – football. Lots and lots of football. Three boys on three different teams, with different practices all during the week, and three different games every Saturday.
Tristan is #8 in the middle.
Oliver
And Henry. In the cutest little football pose you ever did see.
The end.
