Seattle-Sol Duc

On Sunday we woke up early in the morning and tried our hardest to make it to church. First we swung by Piroshky Piroshky and bought a ton of delectable piroshkies for breakfast. I told Abe to buy enough for us and the Martineaus, and he bought so many they gave him a free tote bag. Sadly, we had zero self control and sampled them all without realizing it. By the time we met up with the Martineaus, there were almost no intact piroshkies left. Oops!

After acquiring our breakfast, we asked the internet to find a church near us. Unfortunately, the interent thought we were still in our Air BnB, and sent us back over the bridge to Bellevue. We did not realize this was happening until we were actually crossing the bridge. (That bridge, by the way, is so scary! There is just a little teensy wall between the road and the water below. Abe and I had a long discussion about what we would do if we were in an accident and flipped into the water. We decided Abe would rescue the kids, none of whom can swim, and I would drown after pushing them up through the sunroof to him. Then Abe got depressed and asked that we stop discussing it.)

When we arrived at the lovely chapel in Bellevue, we learned that the ward there starts at 9:30 instead of 9am. We were trying to meet up with the Martineaus and catch the 10:35 ferry to Bainbridge Island, so we decided to skip church and make our ferry.

Happy to be on the ferry.
Waiting for the ferry to arrive.
Mary does the craziest poses. We don't know where she learned them.
Mary does the craziest poses. We don’t know where she learned them, although this one looks distantly related to a plie?
The dads with the kiddos.
The dads with most of the kiddos.

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When we got to Bainbridge Island, we headed to a nearby beach and let the kids explore and get their wiggles out.

On the way to the beach, all of the girls held hands. This turned out to be a theme for the whole trip. They loved linking up en route to our destinations.
On the way to the beach, all of the girls held hands. This turned out to be a theme for the whole trip. They loved linking up en route to our destinations.

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At the beach Ammon enjoyed learning how to throw rocks.
At the beach Ammon enjoyed learning how to throw rocks.

Mary loves to give us flowers, especially dandelions.
Mary loves to give us flowers, especially dandelions.
Here's Abe being contemplative and decompressing from work stress.
Here’s Abe being contemplative and decompressing from work stress.
Candace and company helped bury Lydia in the sand.
Candace and company helped bury Lydia in the sand.
Abe enjoyed cleaning Ammon off in the grass after the beach.
Abe enjoyed cleaning Ammon off in the grass after the beach.

Then we all headed to a crepe place to eat delicious crepes for lunch.

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Then it was time to drive the gorgeous drive to Olympic National Park. We stayed the night in a cabin at Sol Duc hot springs. The first thing we did after a peremptory unpacking is head for the Sol Duc waterfall hike. The Martineaus stayed behind in Bainbridge for some extra sightseeing, so we had a head start on them. We honestly thought they would miss the hike, but they were so fast and we were soooooooo slow (mostly my fault!) that by the time we reached the waterfall, they caught up! I saw a family with three kids heading toward us and thought, “We’re obviously not crazy to be doing this hike because look! Here comes another family with three little kids!” …And then I realized, with great delight, that they were our friends and had unexpectedly caught up with us!

At the beginning of the hike. We saw a sign at the lodge saying there had been an increase in cougar sightings to to keep kids close on hikes. I told the girls the reason why I wanted them to stay close, and my very safety-conscious kids stayed close the whole hike. Mary kept asking if they were going to get eaten by "OOgers."
At the beginning of the hike. We saw a sign at the lodge saying there had been an increase in cougar sightings to to keep kids close on hikes. I told the girls the reason why I wanted them to stay close, and my very safety-conscious kids stayed close the whole hike. Mary kept asking if they were going to get eaten by “OOgers.”

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Pointing out fungi.
Pointing out fungi.

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Mossy falls early in the hike to Sol Duc Falls.
Mossy falls early in the hike to Sol Duc Falls.

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Sol Duc Falls.
Sol Duc Falls.

I took this right after realizing the approaching family was...the Martineaus! I was so happy they caught up with us.
I took this right after realizing the approaching family was…the Martineaus! I was so happy they caught up with us.
Bentley looking at the waterfall.
Bentley looking at the waterfall.

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At the waterfall.
At the waterfall.

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More pictures of the Falls.
More pictures of the Falls.

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Then on our way back to the cabin, we saw a black bear by the side of the road!

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After that excitement, we ended up by relaxing in Sol Duc Hot Springs. The kids loved playing in them, and the adults enjoyed the rest. I didn’t take any pictures because I feared my phone would get soaked.

Then we went back to our cabin. I headed to the lodge and ordered some food for Abe and me while he fed the kids Trader Joe’s corn dogs that we had brought from home, bathed the kids, and cleaned the entire cabin. I came back with delicious chowder for Abe and me and discovered a sparkling clean cabin, clean and tired kids, and my amazing husband. It was a great day.

I had been terrified that Ammon would not go to sleep in the same room with us because the last time we tried that, he screamed all night. However, he thrilled us all by compliantly falling asleep and sleeping all the night through–every single night of the trip!! What a star.

 

Seattle

Yesterday afternoon we left for our West Coast trip. We first stopped in Boise to stay with our dear friends, the Martineaus. They are caravaning with us for the first part of our trip. We pulled up to their gorgeous home late last night and had a very refreshing (albeit extremely short) sleep before hitting the road together this morning.

Abe took this picture en route to Boise. Lydia is very appreciative of nature and loved watching the last lights sink below the horizon.
Abe took this picture en route to Boise. Lydia is very appreciative of nature and loved watching the last lights sink below the horizon.

Because we all got up at 5:30 am, we arrived in Seattle in time to see a lot. We started at Pike’s Place Market which Abe has always wanted to see in person.

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The kids have known each other almost since babyhood, but they haven't seen each other in a couple years. They reconnected right away and had the best time together.
The kids have known each other almost since babyhood, but they haven’t seen each other in a couple years. They reconnected right away and had the best time together.
Watching street performers in Pike Place.
Watching street performers in Pike Place.

After Pike Place, we headed to the Seattle Center Playground, fountain, and Chihuly Garden.

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Candace is so playful (the most playful mom I have ver met) and suggested that the girls polish the rock with their bums.
Candace is so playful (the most playful mom I have ever met) and suggested that the girls polish the rock with their bums.

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Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass

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After the gardens, we spent some time trying to figure out where to eat dinner with six kids age six and younger. We finally settled on a Thai restaurant close to the city center. There was a fountain in front where the kids raced around while the food was prepared.

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After such a big day, we loaded everyone into the car and drove to our AirBnB in Bellevue. The kids fell asleep in five minutes, and hopefully they will sleep straight through until morning!