Frigid Sea-Town in December

Since we arrived the day after Christmas, we got to see the ferris wheel lit up like candy canes! No matter how hard I tried, my phone couldn't capture the red and white stripes, but trust me, they were there!

And Santa Ellen provided us with so much entertainment when she presented these one-piece fleece suits - or as we like to call them "hooded and footeds." Thank goodness Dad was there to take (blurry) pictures...

Matching-ish PJs in wooden rocking chairs from when I was a kid.

SEA-HAWKS! She loved this dress. Put it on and wouldn't take it off. And the slipper socks from Gramma. She does have her own opinions. 

Jayden got this really cool block building game. We've made all kinds of cool things with it, including an airplane on a runway, numbers, letters, fences, couches, bridges, etc. His concentration is very impressive.

And then we went rock climbing. Probably one of my most favorite days, because I watched Jayden's determination, bravery and problem-solving as he made his way up the wall. He's really growing up way too fast.

Even Dakota got in on the action! Until she pooped out and sat on the couch with Gramma reading books.

I climbed with Jayden, which then convinced Ellen to climb, even though she could do without heights. Ellen and I felt seriously weak doing it, but it was exhilarating.

Jayden and Mama, up high!

At the park in the afternoon.

Loving the swing.

And Jayden found a rope to climb down.

And a frog to stand on. It was SO cold.

Her face.

We went to a marine science center. Jayden looked through a microscope at different shells. He was intrigued.

And Dakota eventually put her hand in the (cold) touch tank water.

Giant Dakota.

Yup, this is where I grew up. And why it's so hard to leave every time I go back. 

Got a run in with Lizzle. We weren't as fast as we once were, but it was so good to get out and get moving. And seriously the views.

Carmen was able to join us for a couple of days - so of course we did a whole family selfie. Loving it.

Ellen, Carmen and I got an afternoon in Seattle before we took Ellen to the airport. We hit up the market, and some downtown shopping spots.

AND I got to see Maya. She's so lovely.

Best. Smiles. Ever.

Kiddos on New Years Eve. Best. Kids. Ever.

At "Noon years eve" at Kidimu, the kids museum on Bainbridge Island.

Driving with the kids. Jayden didn't crash once! (it helped that the car didn't move and the background is a painting...)

Jayden rolled golf balls down this track to get over two humps and into a bucket at the end. It was science but he had no idea! Love this stuff.

Balloon drop and juice and cookies! So cute.

Smiles at lunch. Go Huskies!

Carmen moving chairs. Dakota needed a ride.

After the New Years festivities.

The last ferry ride of the trip, heading to the airport.

It was a very rainy day as we flew home. I loved it, and was honestly a little sad to leave.

All in all, it was a great trip. I got great help from my mom, dad and sister, and we really got to enjoy ourselves and relax, and still see a bunch of people we wanted to see. It was wonderful. I did miss not having time at home, and at the same time, wished I could have stayed a couple extra days. But it was so good for the kids to get the time with grandparents and auntie, and to experience different things that we just don't get to do on a regular basis.