We enjoyed a whole week with Derek and Amy and their family here in Washington. It has become an annual thing and we love that we pretty much get two spring breaks. This year we didn't tell Baylor they were coming and when they arrived, she had the best and sweetest reaction to seeing them getting out of their car. All the cousins immediately got to playing outside in the backyard and playing games. We just enjoyed a lazy day and we walked with Derek and Amy in our neighborhood. Then to end the day we enjoyed taste testing some different kinds of jelly beans.
Sunday was Paige's birthday! It is amazing to have so much family around to celebrate with her. We finally had some sunshine, so after church we went on a walk on the Soos Creek Trail. We found some horses, a bridge to cross, some ducks, water over the roadway, some tadpole sacks, and some very sly and fast snakes.
We found one little snake and then the more we watched there were so many little snakes, but they were very quick and most of us were way to chicken to try and catch one. Derek and Nate tried for quick a while with all the girls around them pointing and squealing. It was pretty entertaining, but I kept my distance. Nate finally caught one and then tried passing it to Paige who freaked out and dropped it and everyone was scampering around trying to catch it again.
Then we got back and enjoyed some time on Nona and Poop's garage roof and playing outside. The roof was so warm to lay on.
The girls played some games while they waited for dinner.
Paige's birthday dinner request was fettucine alfredo and breadsticks. It was delicious and I had way too many leftover cooked noodles. Baylor and Emily were playing in the backyard so I gave all the noodles to Paige and Juliette and I said food fight. They were surprised but were totally game for it. Watching it all was one of my favorite parts of the whole week. Emily got drilled in the face by Juliette and then it was game on. There were so many laughs and screams.
Then while the donuts were rising we had some fun with the balloons and tried to have a balloon hit into your face while not blinking. It made for some very entertaining pictures. I guess we are easily entertained. :)
Charlotte was by far the most entertaining to watch and was trying so hard but failing at it every time. :)
Then we had a birthday celebration at Nona and Pop's house and had WAY too many donuts.
Monday, Paige and Baylor went to school and Derek had to work so I took Amy, her girls, and McCall and we went up to Seattle. One of Charlotte's favorites movies is "10 Things I Hate About You" and there are so many spots in Seattle where they filmed different scenes so we went searching for them all. We got quite the tour of Seattle. We enjoyed some views of Lake Union and the gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline and then we enjoyed some hamburgers at Dicks.
We got home in time to pick up the girls from school and then it was back to cousin time playing games and playing oner with the balloons.
Then we enjoyed a fire and smores in the evening that Nate and McCall made.
Tuesday was a very rainy day and Paige completed a bucket list item- trash bagging. We got some trash bags and dish soap and the girls had so fun at Lake Meridian Park.
I kept dry under an umbrella and got lots of great pictures. It was super fun to watch!
They were freezing cold and soaking wet by the end and were happy to go home and have a hot shower. After lunch, we did some thrift shopping to finish out our day.
Wednesday was a chill morning and then we went to Family Fun Center. Derek and Amy and their girls plus Paige first did laser tag. They were all on a team together and went up against a group of teenage girls that were there. Derek dominated so their teams won by a landslide even though the other team had 3 or 4 more team members.
Then we enjoyed some lunch there and I stayed with McCall and Baylor and they enjoyed the play place while the older girls went bowling.
Then we made a stop at Value Village to check out their clothes before heading home to make dinner. We made a quick appearance to celebrate Nona's 75th birthday and the Peterson girls got to experience the Smith tradition of dragging candles.
Then Emily and Juliette joined Paige and I at our young women's activity. They made some super cute name pennants and decorated claw clips. They had a lot of fun and it was sweet to hear all my young women telling Juliette that they were all going to figure out a plan to get Juliette to go to girl's camp with us again. They even said they would all drive to Idaho to pick her up!
Thursday's adventures led us to the Green River Gorge. It was just the girls for this little adventure. The river was very high so we couldn't hike very far on the trail but we did get to go behind the waterfall and enjoy the beautiful views.
We made a quick stop in Black Diamond to get some donuts and other treats.
Then the girls got home and made some cute hug t-shirts. They each picked a color of paint and painted their arms and hands and gave each other hugs on their white t-shirts. It was very fun to watch and even Baylor joined in even though she hates hugs. McCall didn't want paint all over her but was fine with it being on her hands so each shirt has two cute little handprints on them.
Every evening was so nice while they were here. We just visited while the girls played outside, played games, did face masks, or whatever else they could come up with. They all do really well together and keep each other busy.
Friday was the nicest day of the whole week so we made a day of it and went out to Vashon Island. The ferry ride over is pretty quick but has the most incredible view of Mount Rainier.
Our first stop was at Point Robinson Park to see the troll, the lighthouse, and enjoy some time on the beach.
We had a picnic before going and doing a quick little stop at the fence of doors. It is an art installation put on by the city and they have artists create famous doors from movies. I knew that Derek and Amy's family would appreciate it since they are a movie family. At first we were trying to figure out which movie each door was from until Paige found the paper that gives you all the information,
Then they each picked a door to reenact or represent something from that movie.
Then I read somewhere online at the community center they had some fairy houses. We got there and there were only two so it was a little disappointing but we enjoyed soaking up the sun and walking around. There was a guy there painting some frames for a community event and he had a very friendly and calm dog that the girls loved and the dog even posed for a picture.
We wandered around some of downtown and through some shops before getting back on the ferry.
Then we had to try out the shoots and ladders that is right by the ferry terminal before heading home. It was so much fun and the girls went over and over. There was also a marina near by that had some seals soaking up some sun on the docks that we got to see.
We made one last stop to see Stadium High School in Tacoma which is also in one of the movie scenes from "10 Things I Hate About You" and is just a very impressive high school to see. We got home in time to eat some dinner and then Nate, Paige, Amy, and I all went and saw our stake's production of "Newsies" that Brett was in. They did an amazing job and the lead was incredible! Derek and I stayed up really late talking for our last night which so nice.
Saturday morning they left to go home.:( We loved every day and every moment with them and we are so grateful that they chose to make Washington their spring break destination. Saturday was another beautiful day so we spent the day cleaning and getting everything put back together after our week of fun. I got the front yard all weeded while Nate cleaned the inside and outside of the van. I was busy doing something and I went looking for Baylor and couldn't find her and I was even yelling her name. I got into her room and she was fast asleep on her bed. She never takes naps so it must have been a very fun and busy week with her cousins. We miss them already!
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