Highlights | Summer 2015 Road Trip

  Well, we did it.  All the way up to Seattle and all the way back.  We arrived home around 2:15 p.m. yesterday all in one piece.  I don't want to do it again anytime soon, but it was much easier than expected and we had a wonderful time.  My heart is now aching again for our beloved city, family, and friends.  We were spoiled, and now it is back to reality.  I'm getting my bearings, which is a weird thing to have to do in your own home, but what used to be done without a thought is requiring some thinking so far.  The good news is that I have been rejuvenated and am ready to have a full and fun rest of the summer here in Cali.  More (slightly) in-depth posts of our trip in the future, but for now I wanted to do a quick highlight.

 Up at 4 a.m. and crammed into the car for the trip up.  These poor kids in the back ended up getting car sick twice each.  Those windy roads down from the mountains got them both times.

They didn't sleep until about 8:45 that first trip.  Too much excitement!

I would have enjoyed going up to the Space Needle or catching a fish at Pike Place, the list could go on, but I was happy enough to

be out and about with my faves,

hang out at home and relax,

 eat GOOD food that others cooked for me and that we had at our favorite restaurants, 

play tourist,

take in the sights of Seattle that are just breathtaking even when there aren't clear skies,

enjoy the view from my old stomping grounds for early morning swims,

and most special of all was being able to see our people.

Even if it was for 30 minutes before church on sunday,

after church for a little bit,

 for dinner one night at the pool,

 at a playdate for 1.5 hours one morning,

or for a WOD at the gym (no picture, ugh!), these times were some of my most favorite moments of the trip!

  Driving home was bittersweet and I wasn't necessarily looking forward to another long car ride.  We were even more crammed on the way back since we accumulated some Nordstrom sale goodies, boogie boards, and 4 bags of Juanitas tortilla chips (of which I did not buy a single bag).  We also did some musical chairs hoping to avoid the carsickness, but alas Hannah and poor Joel in the backseat couldn't handle those windy mountain roads.  But these kids are TROOPERS!  We only stopped twice on the way home and made it in 10 hours and 10 minutes from Portland.  My road trip philosophy is minimal stops, lots of snacks, little $1 presents on the hour, and a movie or two at the end.

  Thank you to everyone that accommodated us, made time for us, came to see us, let us invade your space, and treated us like celebrities.  I'm serious, wherever we were, everyone gathered around to see us and hug us and  make sure we were taken care of.  We all felt the love.  Thank you!