more seattle

As promised, here are a few more photos of our trip to Seattle. We spent a lovely week and a half there, stopping by our old ward, catching up with friends, walking around our old neighborhood and hitting up some (ie: many) of our favorite restaurants. We also checked out a few new sites we'd never been to before. Unfortunately, I only brought out my camera on a couple occasions (I've become way too lazy lately, preferring thr convenience of my phone instead), but you get the idea. 

Pike Place Market. Yes, it's the most tourist-y spot in Seattle, but you gotta drop by at least once if you can - if only to get a crepe or Beecher's sandwich. In all the times I have gone in the past, I've never taken a picture with the gold pig. Ethan loves "this little piggy went to market" so I thought it fitting.


Back to Kerry Park, only this time the weather was perfection. Love those clear days when you can see all the way to Mt. Rainier.

Checking out our old turf at the Queen Anne Farmer's Market. Felt like we never left, like we could just go right upstairs to our apartment (wa waaa).

It was our first time back to Seattle since we moved from there a year and half ago, so there were definitely some bittersweet emotions going on. I think we'd love to end up there again someday but for now, we just enjoyed spending time in a city we love. 

seattle meet-up

After spending a week in Spokane with Bret's family, we decided on a bit of a whim to bop over to Seattle. We were hoping to see many friends in the area, including the Christensens who live just north of the city on Whitbey Island. When we talked to them we were excited to hear that our friends the Montierths would also be in town for a couple days, so we booked it cross-state to meet up with them.

Although the weather wasn't amazing that first day (the rest of the week was perfection), we had a delightful time together as we made the rounds to some of the more scenic spots. Ashley Clark and her son Bennett also met up with us for some lunch at the 5 Spot and a stop at Kerry Park. The Clarks were our rocks when we first moved to Seattle so it was great to see them! 

Next we hit up Gas Works Park.We loved meeting little Fara Montierth, such a doll!

The huddle. The boys spent a bulk of their time looking up anything and everything we encountered or talked about on their iPhones and researching it. I think here they are trying to identify which house on Lake Union was the Sleepless in Seattle house. They were successful.

The Fremont Troll under the bridge.

Reading to the children. About poop.

That night we took the Ferry over to Whitbey Island and stayed at the Christensen's scenic home and had a group sleepover. P.S. Bret is growing out his hair if you haven't noticed yet.

The  next day the Christensens took us to a quaint little town on the island called Langley. There we encountered a rather friendly, very musical gentleman. Things got patriotic.

It was a shining moment in our lives. And yes, I'm aware that I CANNOT carry a tune but I sound particularly bad here. Bret on the other hand has great vocal skills that he rarely exhibits outside of church. It gives me some hope for our children.

We're so glad we got to spend time with such good friends. Thanks to the Christensens for accommodating all of us, including our very light-sleeping child. We had a blast! More pictures of our time in Seattle to come.

some good ol' fashioned berry pickin'!

I've always wanted to pick my own fruit off the tree. I worked at a fruit stand during my summers of high school but I've never actually picked the stuff myself, just sat under a canopy and sold/ate it. So I was really excited to do just that on the way up to the Miller's cabin in Deer Lake. Bret's sister, Carynn, and her husband Jamie took us to a couple places in the Green Bluff area, first for cherries and then for strawberries.

 

We even put the kids to work.

Strawberry fields forever.

 

I couldn't believe how good these strawberries tasted, pretty mind-blowing. Just walking through the rows of fruit smelled absolutely incredible. But the best thing of all was how cheap they were! Pretty fun indeed. Thanks for taking us Hudsons!

liberty lake

Bret and I have been on a mini-adventure through the lovely state of Washington. His family lives in Liberty Lake (just east of Spokane) and so we stopped there first and spent a lovely week with the Millers.

Ethan loved spending time with Poppa and Nana.

And being reacquainted with his cousin, Ty (more pictures of the rest of the fam to come). I love both of the expressions here.

Checking out Liberty Lake.

Walking through the reeds.

 Nothing like a nice swing in the hammock at sunset. That view doesn't hurt either.

Thanks for having us Nanna and Poppa, we had a great time!