We took a much needed vacation last week to Seattle and had such a fun time. It was so fun to see Elisa and Doug and their girls. Adam also got to see his old roommate Ryan. We took tons of pictures but forgot to take one of me and Elisa and one of Adam and Ryan. We also got to visit my Aunt Janine and Uncle Fred as a last-minute side trip the first day. We ended up driving to Trout Lake, Washington because I have always wanted to take Adam there. I knew he would love it and he did. My aunt and uncle live in a really small town and have a beautiful house in the woods right by a rushing river. My aunt was a wonderful hostess as always and put us up in their Bed and Breakfast room. We slept with the windows open and woke up early in the morning to the sun coming up and the sound of the river. It was so wonderful and relaxing. I think at that point Adam could have stayed there for the rest of the vacation. He was in heaven. Aunt Janine had fun with Emi and Emi snuggled right up to her and fell asleep with her in the hammock. We spent the morning there enjoying Aunt Janine's homemade huckleberry pancakes and relaxing on the back deck.



Emi with Aunt Janine

Tell me this doesn't look relaxing

Look at the sweet view from their back porch

Then we left and headed toward Portland for the day. On the way to Portland we stopped at Multnomah Falls. I have seen it many times from the freeway and have always wanted to stop and take pictures so we did. It is so beautiful and amazing up close.

After that we headed to downtown Portland and shopped on 23rd Avenue, one of my favorite places to go when I'm there. We walked around and had lunch and then decided to head back to Seattle. We got back in time to visit with Elisa and Doug for a little while before bed.

Friday morning we headed out with Elisa and her girls to meet up with Adam's old roommate Ryan at Snoqualmie Falls, another beautiful waterfall. We walked around a little and went down to the base of the falls to take pictures.

cute Kayla and Lauren

That afternoon we headed into downtown Seattle for the first time. Elisa took us to Pike Place Market. I loved it. I LOVE stuff like that so I was in heaven. For some reason I just love busy places like that and looking at all the fresh produce and flowers and random things people sell. They sell huge bouquets of fresh flowers for $5. I had to buy some because it seemed like shame not to. I gave them to Elisa since I couldn't take them home anyway but I sure had fun carrying them around. I couldn't get enough of the market. I had a lot of fun snapping pictures and checking everything out.

this is the fish market where they throw the fish

Emi lounging in the stroller with her foot up...she likes to ride like this

when she wasn't in the stroller Daddy packed her around

me with the $5 bouquet of flowers

FIVE DOLLARS PEOPLE...just sayin

We also drove around the city and checked out the Space Needle, although we didn't go inside.

We finished the afternoon by going down to the wharf by the sound. Another thing I love is wharves (had to look that up...wasn't sure what the plural was...still seems weird...oh well). I just love seeing all the boats docked and the cool buildings by the water. We didn't spend a lot of time there but we checked out a few of the shops and walked around a little.

Saturday, our last day, Doug and Elisa took us to Whidbey Island. It was so beautiful and we ended up spending all day there. We went to a little beach first and hung out for awhile. Then we went to dinner at a delicious seafood restaurant. I am not a seafood fan but I tried Adam's fish and chips and actually liked them better than my chicken fingers (yes, I am one of those lame people that orders chicken at a seafood place thank you very much).

look at that amazing blue water

Emi seemed to like squishing the sand between her toes

Doug and Kayla

Elisa and Kayla

Then we headed over to historic Coupeville to go to the shops but they were closed. I just hurried and took a few pictures of the old buildings and then we left.

Then we rode the ferry back to the mainland. I had never been on a ferry before that you drive your car on. I have been on the kind you just walk on and ride around and come back but that's it, so I was fascinated. Adam laughed at what a nerd I was and how in awe I was of how all the cars were fitting on the boat.

the boys with their baby girls, Emi and Lauren on the ferry

We got home pretty late and had to get up super early Sunday morning to catch our flight. The ride home was a little rough with Emi but it turns out she was getting a cold so that's probably why. She was an angel on the way there though, so I can't complain. I guess we'll bring her along again next time! Thanks again Elisa and Doug for putting us up and showing us a good time. We had a blast!