July was extra special for us. While we loved all of our travels and fun summer activities, our trip to Seattle and San Juan Island was the most memorable. I'm not sure I can remember a vacation (with kids) that literally brings tears to my eyes when I think back about all we experienced together. Nancy Fisk was hands down the MVP of that trip, the best hostess ever... showing us both the local and tourist versions of Seattle. And it was so so heartwarming to see my kids spend quality time with our cousins, Charlie and Billy.
Happy Birthday, America! Off to Pensacola to celebrate the 4th with the Thomases.
The result of "Fisher, if you take a little nap on the plan, you can play with your iPad afterwards." That sweet face is going to be in Pre-K in just a month from now. Cue the emotional Mama.
Kids' seats for the fireworks. It rained leading up to it, but after a brief rain delay, the fireworks did not disappoint!
Cousin James and watermelon... what could be better for Fisher?!
We wasted no time getting to the beach.
The water and sky are real, so are our smiles:)
Beach bum.
Bama and Papa with their grands. Missing Elizabeth and Thomas:(
Summer garden finally started to produce harvest. Little bitty green pepper!
And the beginning of a cucumber. We didn't fare so well with cucumbers this year.
Dinner and ice cream outing with Eleanor's friend, Francesca, and her family.
A teenager in the making...
All about the accessories.
We made it to Seattle!! After a super early wake up and super early flight, we insisted on a nap. Daddy and Fisher napped just like at home - together on the couch. But here they stepped it up with a sectional!
Rested and ready to get after it! First stop: a very VIP tour of the Space Needle with the one and only Sally Wright. What a special treat!
The Space Needle, in all her glory.
Boys played bags in The Fisks' front yard
Meanwhile, Eleanor colors on the front stoop. My heart is FULL.
Fisher very proud and excited that Cousin Charlie had matching "fast pants"
Pike Place Market. Eleanor's expression is indicative of just how excited she was to be there.
Gum wall... ewwwwwww!
Olympic Sculpture Park
The best version of a country club that I know! The Fisks' Tennis Club was right on the lake. Eleanor had a blast going of the high dive.
Mount Ranier showing off:)
Our kids are obsessed with "teenagers" and whisper the word when they say it like it's an over the top celebrity. So naturally, Eleanor took a liking to Lexie, Billy and Charlie's cousin.
Lexie was sweet enough to watch the kiddos so that adults could hang
Fish with his big boy cousins. Total infatuation.
Golden Gardens Park... Justin actually ran into a old colleague there.
So fun to go out on Dave and Sal's boat. Fisher opted to stay back at their house while Eleanor ventured out with the adults.
Monopoly
Chihuly. Stunning work. We did the super abbreviated tour since we had 2 antsy toddlers in tow.
Next up: Museum of Pop Culture. We went mostly for the Nirvana exhibit, which was super cool.
Heat wave in Seattle = snow cones
E+F driving the "train."
A stroll to the bottom of The Fisks hill and we were quickly at their friend's house boat, complete with paddle boards for adults and floating trampoline for the munchkins. Everyone was happy!
Our transportation to San Juan Island - what an experience to ride on a sea plane!
Views in every direction
Our digs for the week.
First stop, hit up our private beach. The call this Afterglow Beach - very fitting. The colors are unreal.
Nanc and her sweet boys.
Surrounded by amazing natural beauty everywhere. Eleanor, our Nature Girl, was in heaven: wild animals, flowers, water, mountains, fruit bushes, sea life... the absolute best.
Silly boys
Ice cream night cap
The bunk room immediately transformed to the fort room. This trip was a BIG milestone for Eleanor. She's usually very particular about sleeping by herself, not comfortable with slumber parties. The first night at the Fisks, she announced that she wanted to sleep with all of the boys and have a cousin slumber party. I gave it about a 10% success rate, thinking she would end up in a space of her own by the end of the night. She proved us wrong! I think it's a big testament about how much she adored her big boy cousins.
A drive around the island - Driftwood Beach
Whale watching! Not only did we see whales, but also seals, bald eagles, exotic Italian sheep.
Westcott Bay Oyster Farm. Yum!
My shucking hubby
Fuzzy pic, but super cool to see a very rare silver tail fox, right outside our rental house.
The playground at the resort
Parents' view while kids played
The boy loves ribs.
Walk home from dinner.
And we stumble upon blackberry bushes. Ripe for the pickin'!
Blackberry lips:)
See ya later, Roche Harbor... thanks for the memories.
Kids chose the first "row."
Back in Seattle - up in the ferris wheel
Another pit stop at Pike's Place to grab some Elleno's Greek Yogurt
Wow, summer just FLEW by. We kept busy with traveling, camps, work, and Austin fun. I didn't realize just how much we packed in until I went through the photos and videos. Summer will be broken down into 3 installments: June, July, August.
First stop, lunch in Lincoln Park
Prices, Thomases, Hales & Clay
This captures it all... this foursome makes each other giggle until milk is coming out of their noses:)
Next, Arlington Heights to visit The Woods and Aunt Val/Uncle John. We love cousin Elizabeth!
Cousin Thomas letting Fish take a spin in his new ride.
Aunt Val's home cooked meals and being able to run wild in her backyard were instant hits.
Can't miss out on Garrett's!
Maggie Daley Park while Daddy's at his sales meeting.
She loves her rock climbing!
And Fisher loves wheels of any kind.
Millenium Park
Summer swinging with Ryan.
We now share a boat with 2 other families. The kids were in heaven for our first outing.
Our daredevil daughter was a big fan of tubing. The faster and wilder, the better.
Mom's Night Out to celebrate Meghan Hack's birthday. Dinner at June's, followed by drinks at South Congress Cafe.
Swim date with our friends, The Neeces. Francesca was in Eleanor's class, and her sister Tessa joined in the fun.
Dresses himself.
Eleanor's angry message to me after I told her she needed to have some quiet time in her room.
TRANSLATION: "Fire, no rainbows." "No one go in here. Boo hoo, boo hoo because I am very angry!"
More Ryan love. The kids spent a lot of time with Laura and Ryan this summer... those three kids adore each other.
Eleanor all ready for her first camp of the summer. This one was at Mathews and with her kinder teacher, Ms. King. Theme: art+nature (her favorites in life)!
Papaw comes to visit. Fisher was post sugar crash here...
I snuck away to NY to visit one of my good friends, Meredith Aslin, and meet her sweet newborn, Eleanor. Lindsey Clancey met me there from KC. We swept in and did baby bootcamp - helped Mer with a schedule, nursing, taking care of big sis, cooking. It was fun to be able to help out and still be able to sleep!
Dr. Clancey is a pro!
Big sister, Caroline, wanted a swaddle too.
Such a sweet baby!
Lindsey and I stayed in the pool house.
Meredith coordinated for a personal trainer to come to the house. What a treat!
The clubhouse at Nana's has a hot chocolate maker. Nana stepped it up a notch by adding whip cream - my kids couldn't have been happier.
Caroline loves her baby sister.
Off to tennis camp
A swim at Deep Eddy before the storm blew in...
Some climbing at Austin Bouldering Project
A field trip to Georgetown before visiting Aunt Sally and Uncle Jim in Sun City. First stop, toy store for a souvenir + ice cream.
They chose umbrellas as their souvenirs:)
"Mom, take a picture of me... I look really cool!"
