Vacation Part 1 - Seattle

I LOVE family vacation!!! Right now we are in Canada, in the middle of our trip and I wish it would last forever. We have had plenty of ups and downs, to be described shortly, but I love every minute of hanging out with my favorite people, exploring new places and finding fun activities that make everyone smile. Our trip began with a 13 hour car ride. We intended to leave on Friday as soon as Raider got back from highschool youth group camp (around 3 pm). When we called the church to make sure the vans would be arriving on schedule we found out the schedule was not as our son had informed us. The highschool group was actually to arrive back on Saturday at 1 pm!! After a little anxiety attack on my part :) we decided to head on with our trip and fly Raider to Seattle after he returned from camp. Thanks to my Dad for picking him up at the church and taking him to the airport!!!

Then we proceeded on our 13-hour car ride with Haylie and James. Apart from the potty - training 2 year old who had to go the bathroom every 2 hours, it was fairly calm. We arrived in Seattle on Saturday to stay with my good friend Sarah, and Haylie was so excited to hang out with Jack again. We had many adventures in Seattle and the poor kids didn't get much sleeping in! We did the "must-see's" like Pike's market and the Space Needle. We also went to the Seattle Zoo, checked out Lake Washington and walked along the Waterfront. All Haylie wanted to do from the moment we arrived was go to the park with Jack. Mommy and Daddy had much more fun activities planned but after a packed couple days Haylie was still talking about wanting to go to the park with Jack. So...the night before we left Seattle, we all ran up to the park around 8:30 pm. to grant Haylie's one wish. Later when we asked her about her favorite thing in Seattle - you can guess what it was - the park!

Sarah and I on the waterfront

Strolling around in Pike's market before Raider's flight arrived
Raider and his bird friend at the Seattle Zoo
My boys at the Space Needle
Jack, Haylie and I