Washington Trip 2010

We took off again this August for our annual trip to Washington to visit Matt's parents and brother. They had big plans for us as usual- I think we were only at their house 3 days of the week and 1/2 we were there! The first few days we spent in Sequim at a beach house- so relaxing! There was a little trail from the house that led down to the beach, so we played there in the water and on the driftwood, and in the sand and dirt hills. We spent an afternoon at Railroad Bridge Park (a biking trail on a river) where we hiked and played in the river. Then we took a day trip to Rialto Beach on the Pacific Ocean with a lunch stop in Forks, Wa which apparently is where the "Twilight" movies/books are set. I had to bring home a few souvenirs for my girls back home :). We stayed all afternoon, ate a picnic dinner on the beach, and built a fire for s'mores. The beach pics are always my favorite pics from our vacations - I love black and white pics of kids and driftwood.
Then we headed back to Granny and Papa's house, and took a trip to the Pacific Science Center, where there was an exhibit on the science of the circus. They had all kinds of circus acts set up for the kids to do: dress up as circus characters, walk the tightrope, shoot mini canons, etc. We also stopped to check out the butterfly house and the water fountains.
Next we headed to the Seattle Museum of Flight which was amazing! It is on Boeing's property (I think), and they had all kinds of cockpits the kids could climb into. They had a table out with volunteers teaching kids how to make paper airplanes, and then let them fly them from the balcony. This was especially fun because we were able to go with Amber and her girls Alana and Tia- what sweetie pies!
The last trip was to Northwest Trek- a wild animal park with bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars, elk, bison, etc. We rode a tram throughout the park (which Libby slept through) and camped out for a picnic and ice cream.
Our last adventure was an obstacle course the dads made at the house for the kiddos -They loved it! They started on their bikes, rode to the forrest trail, ran the trail to the wheel barrows where the parents pushed them to the grass where they ran along a winding hose in the grass, on to the aid station, ran the hoops in the grass, shot the nerf arrows at the targets, over the balance beams, climbed up the climbing wall, slid down the slide, tossed the balls in the bucket, then finished on the slip and slide! Libby did a "I won, I won" chant at the end of each race :)
Overall, we decided we had to come home to rest from vacation, but before we left Jacob checked with Granny to make sure they were'nt going to ever sell their house "cause this place is fun!" We agree. We love you Granny and Papa!