Seattle

The kids and I have been in Seattle for almost two months now, and we LOVE it! Unfortunately, my blog has suffered in the moving process, so this post is my way of trying to play catch-up in a non-linear, helter-skelter, over-illustrated manner.

There are so many cool things to do here, which is why we've had so many visitors in just a couple of months. Auntie Courtney was the first to come, just a few days after we got here. She stayed for a week and was my saving grace, watching the kids full time while I shopped, cleaned, unpacked and organized. She took the kids to the park every day and pushed them on the swings at least twice as long as Ryan or I ever would. She taught them how to sing "Pants on the Ground" and at least three Lady Gaga songs and has them both a little afraid of the toilet because apparently a "stinky monster" lives there.

We had short visits from Greg and Simo, but unfortunately no pictures. Uncle Sam came recently for the Red Sox-Mariners series and stayed to play for a whole week. We explored several local parks, the west Seattle tide pools, and Pike Place Market.

Riding the giant piggy bank at Pike Place.

At least one of my kids is enjoying themselves.

The tide pools are the kids' favorite activity so far (although we are trying a whale watching tour this week, so we'll see if it trumps). We find sea stars, jellyfish, crabs of all sizes, plenty of urchin and anemone, and something we call sea squirts, that squirt water at you when you touch them. Totally awesome.

Notice Layla's shiner? She slipped getting into the bathtub. Clutch.

My hump, my hump, my lovely lady lump.

Up close and personal with sea stars.

Bellevue and Issaquah have incredible local parks, and we've taken to exploring new ones whenever we can. I am reminded daily how grateful I am that we no longer live in the desert.

Newcastle Beach Park

Snoqualmie Falls

Chislm Beach Park

Weston with his head stuck in a bucket. Remember the movie Parenthood?