This week...
...we took a ferry to Whidbey Island, visited the Lego store for the first time, and played at a real beach. We made a trip to Everett to see our friends Kyle and Heidi Lublin and their family. I grew up with Heidi. We played barbies together when we were little (and the Sabins had THE best tub of barbies with clothes and accessories). We played sports together in middle school and high school, the best times really. We ran in the Othello Sun run together and tried to go to basketball camp at Eastern University together, but it got cancelled. We graduated together - duh - and went to Ricks together. Those were the days. We caught a ride home with the boyfriend of someone in Heidi's dental hygiene program who we didn't even know. On the way back to Idaho, we spun two or three times and skidded off the road. Heidi and I had to get out and push the car out of the ditch in the snow. We were splattered with mud and slush when we got back in the car, terrified that we wouldn't make it back in one piece. Heidi even drove the car for part of the trip to let the guy rest. We were both white knuckled in the front seats as we prayed our way along. Yes, we've had some good times together.
Jason is really good about staying in touch with his friends that he grew up with and it has been fun for me to get to know them too. I always lament the fact that none of my friends are close or that we don't get much time to visit. So I decided to call Heidi and invite ourselves over. She was more than happy to host us. And I'm so glad she did. It was so much fun. Here's a look at our trip.
There's nothing like a road trip to make you feel happy and free, like you're really on vacation. This is the view as we leave the Mattawa/Dessert Aire area approaching the Vantage Bridge. Can you see the Indian profile in the side of the mountain? I don't know how many times we took this route as a kid growing up, but the Indian was always a favorite to find.
Our view of the Vantage Bridge.
I loved the drive over the pass with all the trees. Such beautiful country.
I even enjoyed the view when we hit the city with all the buildings looming out ahead of us.
When we arrived, Heidi spoiled us with a lunch of homemade corn dogs. They were delish - to put it the way Heidi would.
Then we made our way to Mukilteo Beach. There were toys for the kids to play on and access down to the water's edge. It was a bit rocky, so the kids didn't play down there much.
Claire, Ben, Kate, Paul, and Lindsey making their way on the rocks as the Whidbey/Clinton Ferry takes a group across.
Checking out the beach with dad.
My instagram of Heidi and I trying to stay warm with kid jackets. The weather was so much cooler over there. Arizona had us saying, "We could live here" because of the heat in the fall. Well, Everett had us saying "We could live here" because of the cool temps in the summer.
We had to try for a group shot. We just had to.
Gathering the little chicks...
Almost ready...Benjamin was way over on another rock trying to avoid a picture. I bribed him with two boxes of his favorite granola bars...Yes, two boxes. I had to up the ante when he wasn't quite as cooperative as I wanted. ;) I like this one because Heidi is scrambling out of the shot.
Ah, look at that good group. Who would have known it took so much work to get everyone together.
We stood in a long line, albeit a fast moving line, to get ice cream at Ivar's. The kids were so excited for the large cones. The kid cone was bad enough, but Paul got a regular size cone. It was huge!
Enjoying their ice cream while we buy tickets for the ferry.
Lots of ice cream for such a little one.
The kids loved the Ferry. It was such a new experience for them. By default we had fun because we could see their excitement. We were so excited to watch the Ferry dock in fact that we failed to heed the calls to get off. Oops!
The kids watching the cars come off the Ferry on the Whidbey side.
Re-boarding once all the cars got off.
Our family as we pull away from the dock for the ride back.
After the ferry, we played at the park. We heard a train coming and Ben was up on a rock in an instant to see where it would pass. And then he was off in a flash to see it up close. We weren't sure exactly where he was going and it caused a little panic. We realized what he was doing and found him clear across the parking lot by the fence watching the Sounder go by.
The kids had a fun time climbing on the toys and playing together. You can see to the left, that Claire fell off. And I captured it! How funny! Poor thing.
Chelsea was a mover and a shaker. She's one and has recently learned to walk. She would let me hold her and I loved it.
Heidi said Preston loves his snacks, but I didn't truly understand until I saw him with bag in hand munching on those fish. They didn't stand a chance.
This is Lindsey. She was my little buddy too, holding my hand and letting me give her piggy back rides.
Kate showed us a partial crab body she found among the rocks. We thought it was awesome. Doesn't she look so cute?!
Look at these little monkeys going through the bike rack. It made me laugh because once Ben started doing it, they all wanted to do it. (Ben, Preston, Lindsey, and Lainey)
The next day we went to Howarth Beach. There we found sand and the Sound and seashells. We packed a lunch and stayed to eat it. The kids loved it. We all loved it.
Starting on the path to the beach. They were so eager to get going while their moms and dads collected all the gear.
Walking up above the train tracks to the beach.
Kate and Claire got along great and enjoyed playing together. They were my willing models inside this awesome driftwood.
Me enjoying my toes in the water and sand. Sigh!
The trains would go by as we played. All the kids loved it. As you can see, Jason is prompting a honk of the horn.
Kyle and Jason with the kids as they wade out in the water.
Playing in the sand. Heidi was prepared with sand toys that kept the kids busy.
Emma, Kate, and Ben catching a wave just off the beach.
Claire thought it was great fun to walk back and forth across this log above the rocks. She wasn't scared a bit. Yet, I can't get her to put her face in the water. Silly girl!
Little footprints left in the sand, like memories imprinted on our
hearts of time well spent with good friends. We laughed. Oh, how we
laughed. We stayed up til our eyelids were heavy to open and close and
yawns were more numerous than words. Heidi was sharing her secret
recipes and tricks in the kitchen with me, and I was eating it up. Of course, we got off on
tangents and stories that made the experience all the more rich in the
creating. We got to know each other's kids. I loved that Heidi's kids
let me hold them and buddy up with them. I love being part of their lives. We raced on scooters around their cul de sac and laughed even more at Kyle's quick wit and humor. We heard the account of the latest in their life person to person, face to face. And we can read about it later on her blog.
...we stopped at Snoqualmie Falls. They have changed the paths and viewing areas so much that we got turned around the whole time we were there. Ok, it was just me that couldn't keep their bearings. But there were tons of people and a wedding happening.
...We stopped off in North Bend to visit some of the places Jason visited as a kid. We saw the house where his Grandma and Grandpa Gildersleeve (his mom's parents) lived. You can see part of Mt. Si in the background. We've heard the story about how Janice, Jason's mom, climbed Mt. Si and slid down in her brand new jeans. Great Grandma Gildersleeve was not happy about that. (They're in the process of painting the house.)
Jason and his Uncle Bill. We happened to catch him out mowing his lawn. Good thing he remembered Jason after so long. :o)
Meeting the kids. They weren't nervous at all and came to the door to say hello.
Jason with his Uncle Jim, Aunt Mary, and cousin Elizabeth. They currently live in Great Grandma Gildersleeve's house.
They had a horse in the back. Claire was in heaven. She loves horses. Uncle Jim gave each of the kids an apple that they could feed to the horse. Most of them ended up in the grass because the kids were too nervous to hold it out in their hand when the horse got close.
Jason showed them how to successfully feed the horse.
We walked out to Blue Hole where Jason used to swim when he visited his grandparents and where his mom, Janice, swam when she was little.
The water rushing down into Blue Hole.
They thought it was great fun to throw rocks in the water.
Claire with her daddy. Jason was exploring the swimming hole. There were several houses and one rock barricade too many for what he remembered. Apparently some folks built homes without permits and then piled up the rocks to keep people from wandering around that side of the hole.
What a beautiful place to swim? I love the color of the water.
We stopped at Scott's Dairy Freeze to get ice cream for the second time on our trip. You can never have too many ice cream cones. Grandpa Erickson used to eat here when he worked for the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The WSP office was located right next door to the Dairy Freeze.
...we stopped for dinner at Miner's in Yakima. Burgers, chicken strips, curly fries, ketchup, and fry sauce. Yum!
