Awe, home again. For our third week in the states we drove across Washington state to Seattle. The weather was fantastic and it was so great to be back in what we consider our home city. It was a very busy week seeing family and friends. We tried to fit as much as we could in.....and we left exhausted! I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked as we were too busy having fun. We tried to visit a new playground everyday because Seattle has fantasic playground. And we visited several of the summer kiddie splash paddling pools. Both kids had so much fun.
View to Puget Sound (in the fog) from John and Katie's house. They were kind enough to let us stay in their home for the week. It was a great set-up for the kids and we could give them space while we were there.
Katie and Archie enjoying the view. Archie loves to ask where John, Katie, and Bob the dog are. He loves Bob the dog and by the end of the week was trying to pet him and play with him. It was a big step from being super excited but still too terrified to pet him at the beginning of the week.
Cuddles with Katie
We went to the Lochs where there is a man-made fish ladder for the salmon to swim up to the mountain rivers. It also has a great viewing room that we were able to see some huge salmon. Archie loved to see the fish as well as the bridges for all the boats.
We were super happy to our friends Robyn, Chris, and their son Issac. Archie and Issac shared their nanny, Anna, during our final months in Seattle. They had some fun times together and it was so great to see them play again. We made it to a great playground and then did a swim in the paddling pool. Best Buddies!
We wondered back to our old neighborhood and our favorite cafe. We chatted with the Owner whom we loved to see every weekend when we lived there. The kids enjoyed having straws and coffee cups (with milk) to play with. It brought back nice memories to be there as it was the first place we took Archie after he was born at 5 days old. While in the neighborhood, we had dinner with our next door neighbor Joyce and good friend Steven. No pictures, but it was a nice evening to get together and have some great food.
On our final weekend there, many of our friends gathered for a BBQ in the park with a great playground and paddling pool. It was a great way to see them and all the kids running around playing. As usual, we spent most of the time chasing kids but most everyone else was doing the same. So, I didn't get many photos just this one of Archie playing. I need to work on taking more!!! There is a picture of the kids on the water together that I will work on getting and posting soon.
On our last night, we had a casual BBQ dinner at Eric and Sarah's house. They have two daughters, Hazel and Quinn. It was a great day and really fun seeing all the kids playing together. The food and friends were great and we loved being there.
Another favorite in our old neighborhood is University Village and the water feature with spitting frogs and turtles. They go off at different times and are super fun for kids to play with. This was the first time play in the water when we were there and we went a second time before leaving. On the second visit, we striped him down to his diaper and he ran around in the water. Sylvie looked on like she wanted to join. Next time!
Sylvie and Uncle Jimmy! He hosted a dinner for us where we met up with Auntie Mary and Cousin Kari. It was a really nice evening and great way to catch up. It was really nice being there. When we were living there, we had dinner with Jimmie about every month. We miss spending time with him and his home brew beers!
Auntie Mary and Cousin Kari
Two of my favorite ladies! I was super lucky that I had a girls' night out with Megan, Sarah, and Katie. We went for fabulous Thai food and then drinks in Sarah's garden. It was a fantastic evening with lots of good laughs. I wish I had taken more photos but I am happy I have this one of these two pretty ladies.
I don't have photos but on our last morning, we went to Alki beach and ran into Megan, Tony, and their daughters Malia and Emma. It was so great to see them and have some time to chat. It was a nice cool gray morning and the water was really calm. Next time we are there, we look forward to spending more time with them and snapping a couple photos.
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