A Surprise Trip to Seattle!

In October we received news that Philip's Grandma had passed away.  We had known she was failing, but the news is always a bit of a surprise when it comes.  We had planned for Philip alone to attend the services, but a door unexpectedly opened for the whole family to be able to go and so, on 36 hours notice, we planned a 10 day trip to the Seattle area.  I was really nervous about traveling with Eliana, especially since our flights both ways included layovers, but it went much more smoothly than I anticipated.  Traveling with that many people does take a lot of bags, though!

Philip's Grandma passed right before her birthday, so we went ahead and celebrated anyway! Her first birthday in Heaven.

One cold morning we visited the Tacoma waterfront near where Philip grew up. So pretty!

Grandma's memorial service was beautiful and full of stories of people whose lives she had touched by her selfless service and love of others.  Both she and Grandpa were life-changers for many.

The four cousins - not often together anymore!

All the second cousins except Eliana, who was totally uncooperative!

 And the whole family.  This is the only occasion we had all been together.  It was really special to have parts of several day to just be together and get to know each other more.

The burial took place in the rain, typical Seattle weather, but we are grateful to know that the Son is always shining where Grandma is forever. 

Since we stayed in the area for over a week, we were able to do some "touristy things."  Here's Eliana checking out the sea urchins at the Seattle Aquarium.

Philip and the boys took on Mt. Rainier it's all it's cold, snowy glory!

We visited Point Defiance Zoo.  Best thing about it - multiple indoor exhibits since it was cool and rainy outside.  Eliana especially loved the monkeys!

Another day we hit Seattle, visiting the Pike Place Market, Seattle Pacific (where it all began one fateful weekend!), Sunny Teriyaki (I LOVE teriyaki and cannot understand why we don't have it NOVA.  I was determined to introduce the boys to it and now they understand why!)

 Nothing like visiting the Locks in the rain.  It was still pretty neat to see and a place I'd never been.

 Our dear friends hosted us the entire visit.  Laura and I have been sharing life since 1995 and are an invaluable part of us.  Visiting with her was a huge bright spot in my fall!

Between us, eight kiddos.  They had a blast together.  Not pictured are their two cats who Eliana couldn't get enough of!

 The iconic Space Needle.  We didn't go up it, but did visit the Pacific Science Center, which sits right beneath it.

On our last day, we tried to go to Mt. St. Helens, but a mudslide closed a road (unbeknownst to us until we tried to take it!) and we wound up rerouting to Mt. Rainier.  The hike was a little more than I had personally planned on due to the snow and slippery trail conditions, but we survived it...and some people enjoyed it.  Here we are at the top of the trial at Van Trump Park. 

 The Happy Hikers

Someone wet her pants due to her parents failure to change her in an appropriate time frame and had to travel down the mountain wrapped in my scarf and Joshua's sweatshirt, but nonetheless, she chattered and sang the whole way down!

A view of the mountain from the drive in.