Lake skipping and Things

Lots of things happened this past last week. My friend JoLynn asked "Do you ever have a week where nothing happens?" Well my friend, that doesn't exist in our world. Not since we moved up here to Seattle. Believe it or not, being all the way up here in the Northwest pacific, we get more visitors than we did in Utah. My sister is coming out and being with us for the month of July and August. We've got a lot of fun things planned. Seattle is the Emerald City of the Pacific Northwest and it really tries to live up to its name. So much to do here and a lot are free outdoor stuff. We love the outdoors! (FYI for those who live around here or who are thinking about coming here. I just found out that SeattleTour is having a sale right now on their summer vacation tour package on everything 2 for 1 to museums like experience music project for you Star Wars fans and other science fictions fans and waterways cruises which I think is fabulous to do this weekend for 4th of July. Dinner on the lake! Go to www.seattletoursaver.com)

This weeks featured visitor is none other than our best friends, the Frasers. We love these guys! We took them to the lake and almost went swimming. Zach was disappointed I didn't tell him that you could swim in the lake. We went there and there were about 60 people in the water swimming. Well, long pants didn't stop the kids from getting their feet wet. They got in!

Besides eating fresh rolls with fresh strawberry jams we made from our picking, we also went out to eat at their favorite restaurant on the Eastside. What the Pho? The name is what got this place famous. The food was great but the company was even better.

We took them to see our lot on and the area around it. We took them to the top to see the whole view of the Seattle area.

And finally, the other highlight was of course Father's day. Reena and I wanted to make something special for Dan rather than buy something so she and I went to Michaels and made him a card. She did a great job and even wrote "Dad, you are out of this world" and made an alien all by herself. The year round preschool that I started for her and her friends has helped her a lot with her writing. Anyway she was very excited to give her daddy the card and her gift which consisted of putting in things that reminds her of daddy in a jar. The gifts we gave him were small but meaningful. He really deserves much more for being the greatest daddy that he is to our kids.

Some cute pics I took of the kids this week also. Just playing in the backyard will make my kids content.

Our strawberry Jam!

The day the Frasers left we dressed up so cute I decided we should go down to one of the other lakes by our house and take some pictures. Let me just say that I now know why a professional photographer would still need to hire a photographer to do their pictures. It was impossible to get those kids to look at the camera and smile. They turned out ok but could've been a lot better.

Strawberry Festival

They're here! The strawberries are here. Red, fresh and delicious! Today was the first day of the festival so we all went as a family bright and early (hence, the sweatshirts. 10 minutes into picking all seatshirts were off). I just wanted to blog this in so ya'll around here can know about it and huddle your families together and go get some for your family. We picked 16 lbs, enough for some strawberry cheesecake and jam. They're only $1 per lb. Way cheap and you get them fresh! My kids had a blast picking them. Debrie even picked a handful and tried to eat some on the field. I love this area. No where else I know of that I can go pick strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and other fresh fruits and only have to drive 12 minutes from home and go the other direction or 12 minutes and see skyscrapers and big tall buildings. LOVE IT!!

Why are we trying to take a picture?! I'd much rather pick strawberries.

Debrie got a big one! On her own!

The kids had their own bucket.

Getting tired. She sat down! No!! Wrong pants mamma!

Reena washed all of the strawberries she picked! Time for some jam and cheesecake!

Forks, Families, Friends, and Fun

My sister drove up this week with her roommate and our good friend Diana and her sister. They arrived Wednesday night and stayed until Sunday morning. We did many more things with them which we didn't do last time. Each day were full and packed to the fullest and we still didn't get to do half of the things with them before they had to leave. We had plans for whale watching at the San Juan Islands and parasailing but after going to Forks, Kayaking in Lake Union, sight seeing at Newcastle and Alki we ran out of time. Thursday was probably the most relaxed day and that included going to Newcastle for a view of the whole Seattle Metro area and puget sound. We took them to Alki and drove to the usual places we show people when they first come up to Seattle since Diana's sister had never been to Seattle before. She was visiting from Vegas so all this green was really exciting for her. She loved it and they had already planned on somehow getting the whole family up for a reunion up here and possibly living here. I told them that if the rain doesn't bother them, then Seattle is the right place to live. All replies were "better rain than snow" AMEN. That's why I like it. Our Spring and Fall are mild, winter is cloudy, but summer is AWESOME. And that's when the kids have no school! Even more awesome.


Twilight Zone
Forks
With that we rested somewhat early (midnight) for our big trip to Forks and La Push. Those of you who are Twilight fans will be jealous of this. The whole trip was AMAZING. The ferry ride was beautiful and the drive was pretty much on the 101 and all along the coast, the strait of Juan de Fuca, cresent lake and a lot of other water front. We passed Port Angeles, where Bella and her friends go shopping and it was just what I had imagined in my head. Forks was small, very very small. Population 3075 and the whole town was so proud that Twilight took place there. Menus at restaurants for example are dazzled by Twilight. Bed and breakfast houses are named after the Cullens or Swans or some famous character from Twilight.



La Push
La Push was just simply beautiful. The pictures said it all. Many people come here right on the beach to camp out because you really can spent a lot of time here. The drive was all worth it because of La Push.



Our trip home was beautiful as the sky was a clear blue. It was perfect that it was cloudy when we were in Forks for our Twilight experience (Vampires don't like sunshine. They glow) and it was clearer in La Push ever though it was only 20 minutes away from Forks. Seattle was clear and we were able to watch the sunset on the ocean as we drove back and rode on the ferry. We didn't get in until 10:00 that night and the kids had a late night. Dan was home by himself for a long night since he had to work. He had a lot of time to read.
We were so tired and wondered if doing another long day trip to the San Juan Islands was something we could do after our trip to Forks. Turns out that Diana had to meet her brother who is also living up here at 3:00 that afternoon so we opted for kayaking in town instead. We did some sight seeing of lakes around Issaquah and headed to Lake Union for kayaking. Needless to say, we had a blast!
View of Lake Union, where we went kayaking





We ended their trip with 5 dozens of fresh oysters for $18. My sister bought it on accident. She told the guy at the store she wanted to buy 1 dozen and he misunderstood her 1 dozen to 1 bag which has 5 dozens. She didn't look at the receipt until she walked out and saw in front of her a big box that the guy was carrying. At which point she felt bad that it was late already so she abided. We were sick of eating oysters that night. Our whole house had a smell of oyster and we had to boil cinnamon and vanilla for the next 2 days to get the smell out. It was all worth it!!!

Everyone had so much fun and all are sold that after college they want to move here. But for now we must say good bye. The kids really enjoyed having Thanh, Diana and Jessa here. Reena didn't want to say goodbye. She was so sad. She kept asking me if other "friends" and "aunts" will come visit her again. Luckily we do have Aunt Thuyen and Uncle Mike coming next month!!!!



Til then. Sleepless is still Seattle! Where the fun takes away all sleeps.

Recital

This week is a biggy for Reena. She had her dress rehearsal and class picture taken in her cute purple tutu. I did her hair and makeup and had flashbacks of when I was her age getting my hair and stage make up done by my aunts. She did so great at her recital. It was SOOOOOO CUTE! The light was off and when they were walking out to be in position, Reena said out loud "It's so dark in here" The light came on and they were in a lying down position and Reena had her face down and the girl next to her did the same thing so they didn't see that everyone else was already up and watching the teacher for the next moves. We don't know if this was intended, but we're guessing not. But when they realized, they both stood up and everyone cheered, especially us! They started doing what everyone else was doing and it was just so darling!!!




For preschool this week we had a class trip to the PacSci big screen and saw "The Living Sea" in the IMAX theater. Of course the kids also couldn't pass the dinosaur exhibits and the Grossology/butterfly exhibits either. Debrie had a butterfly on her shoulder walking out and we almost missed it. We also saw lots of people tried the balance bike. The kids were in awed.


After Reena's dance recital we went out for milkshakes and a hike to burn off all those calories, which we added right back at a barbecue with our friends after our hike. We went up to our lot in the Highlands to go on the hike into the mountains. This trail is just down the road to the right of the lot. We did not pay an arm and a leg on the lot. We did it for the location. These are the things we're excited about. Tennis court, soccer field, baseball field, the central playground area, the pond, the view of Seattle, and the trail. All of which are yards in front of us.

I do love the colors of the NW homes. From stucco to colorful hardy planks/sidings. We have it all. We're going to try a mix and match on our home.


Dan has been learning about composting organic fertilizer for our garden after he saw me buying organic compost. Here's our garden this year. We have broccoli, lettuce, pepper, pea, cilantro, mint, and green bean, and tomato.

I went to Enrichment or RS social meetings or whatever it is they're called nowadays and got to learn a wonderful way to shape the best looking dinner rolls. The recipe is the best moist pull apart rolls I've ever seen and the best homemade I've ever tried. See for yourself! The recipe is at my KreativeKorner website.

Hope that makes you folks hungry!!