Grateful Friday: the bluest blue and the greenest green

Tuesday we headed to Edmonds to take the ferry to Kingston on the peninsula.  We were surrounded by blue.

On the ferry, I saw what looked like someone on a kayak.  That didn't make sense.  I kept watching and realized it was an orca.  I saw the flash of white as it flicked its tail and reemerged.  It was far enough away that I couldn't tell if it was the same orca over and over or more than one.

Still, I was excited.  I had never seen an orca in the wild before.

We went to Port Gamble which is a darling little seaside town.  The people who founded it were from Maine so it looked like a New England seaside town.  

Then, we went to Olympic National Park.  We climbed up and up, stopping at a few viewpoints.

The pictures never do mother nature justice and that's sort of wonderful.  Our eyes are pretty great.

Here, I told Emma to look pensive and this was the best she could do.

I am one of those people who can't successfully take a selfie.

We went to Hurricane Ridge, which is above the tree line.  There were some amazing views of mountains and glaciers.

We also saw several deer and a marmot which is a ridiculous looking animal if you ask me.  I think I hate everything that is mouse adjacent.

We were staying in Forks that night.  We checked into our hotel, had dinner and then high tailed it to the beach for sunset.  We got there just in time.

It was delightful traveling with these adult children.  They are interesting and pleasant and funny.

It was just SO pretty!

Jackson is taking a picture and Mark is throwing rocks which was on brand for both of them.

Mark stopped throwing rocks long enough to create this.

For my part, I'm a beach scavenger.  Pretty rocks and seashells and sea glass.  I'm not good at finding sea glass but Geri is and she gives it to me.

Here I am rubbing the sand off a treasure.  

I mostly carry my finds around for a little while and then drop them back on the beach. I keep some of them (for sure the sea glass).

With her artist's eye, Emma took this shot.  These are the rocks Mark hadn't thrown...yet.

And here's Adam's artsy picture:

Adam and I went to the grocery store Wednesday morning to buy stuff for breakfast.  

I couldn't resist texting this picture to our kids:  

When in Rome...

Speaking of the Forks experience, Geri and Adam and Mark and I went to the beach and the rest of the group went "full tourist" as Emma described it.

When they were tweens, Emma and Tali were all in with the Twilight series and they had a chance to revisit their passion.

this sign is at the border in La Push where the reservation starts

To get to the beach, we took a trail through the woods.  So much green!

I think the tall trees made me taller.

The dense trees opened into a wide beach.

And the beach made the small hike well worth it!

This is as much as I got in the water.  It was coooold.  Not like Florida Keys ocean water!

Related:  who wears long jeans and a sweatshirt to the beach in July?  Me.  In the PNW, me.

The tide was out so we got to see all sorts of creatures.

Adam and Mark flew Adam's stunt kite and one of them took this picture so now you know what it looks like to fly a stunt kite.

The beach is always a good idea.

Also, I texted this picture to Braeden and Anna.  I pointed out how white I was that I got a small sunburn in Forks, WA.  It was the setting for Twilight because of its lack of sunshine!

After the beach we went to the Hoh rainforest.  

The trees kept getting thicker if that was possible.

We drove through dense trees and I was looking forward to being in the temperate rainforest (a first for me) but alas, the parking lot was full and the wait was about 45 minutes so we parted ways and our family headed to Portland.

We drove along the Pacific Coast Highway and saw some beautiful ocean vistas, not very well photographed through the windshield, but you get the idea.

We stayed in Portland and the next day drove home.  We drove through the gorge, along the Columbia River.

Another windshield picture....

Mark decided Oregon was Washington light.  Free, he said, but with ads.

Sometimes I'm not 100% sure what that kid means.

So that brings you to the end of our trip.  We packed a lot into a short week.  It was a wonderful time and I'm grateful we got to go!

Here's something else I'm grateful for today:  it is Braeden and Anna's anniversary.  I love those two and I love that they found each other!

 

Seattle Summer

Back to recapping the trip:  Sunday we went to church and I was struck by how few people in Geri's ward I knew.  I used to know a lot.  It was nice to be there together though, and to see a few familiar faces.  Also, I got to sit by Adam during sacrament meeting which is a rare treat.

After church, Brian and his girlfriend, Sam, and her daughter, Ari, came over and we had lunch together.  

(Brian and Sam were sick Friday and Scott had to work Sunday so we were never all together at the same time, but it was still lovely to see everyone.)

Here's another picture of Geri's:

Sam, Megan, Brian, Geri, Adam and me

Later, Mark said, "I forgot how funny Brian is."  It is true; the guy knows how to tell a good story.

We spent an idyllic afternoon in the backyard.  More games and visiting and good food.  It was very nice to be somewhere where it doesn't feel like the summer sun is trying to kill you.

That evening we went to the Jorgensens for dinner.  David and Leif and Freja and Braeden were all in Utah but the rest of us got together.  

I missed the absent kids.  I asked Emma if she was just going to disappear to Freja's room without Freja.

We ate a delicious dinner and had a delightful time catching up.  Adam had to go finish up some work so he left and Eric and the kids played a game and Janet and I sat on the couch and...talked.

About 11:00, I finally came to my senses and gathered up our kids.

Monday morning I had another playdate, this time with Stephanie.  I went over to her house and admired their home renovations and felt a little sad that their dog, Squire, has died.  He used to join us on all our walks and I liked the little guy.  

We went to Mill Creek for lunch and I loved catching up with her.  Stephanie is just this thoroughly good and calm person and I always feel lighter after being around her.

I also feel better.

When we got back to her house after lunch she had me lie on the floor so she could work on my back.  It's hard to put a price on a friend like that.

They had their own fun at Geri's in my absence.

Later in the afternoon, I rejoined the family and we headed to Seattle.  Our first stop was the Ballard Locks.  

Here are the girls:

Talia, Rae, Geri, Emma, Megan and me

And the boys:

It is always fun to go to the Ballard Locks and watch the boats and the ingenuity of the locks.  We decided which yacht we preferred and watched the seals.

I didn't see fish in the ladder but I know there were fish around because of all the seals.

We went to Pike Place Market which was strikingly empty.  Seattle is just opening up and it's still pretty sparse.

These stalls are usually full and the walkway is crowded:

Here they are at the gum wall (picture courtesy of Megan...I avoid the gum wall because it is the gum wall and that is gross).

This is a picture Geri took.  The mountains were very much out.  In Seattle, when the sky is clear enough to see them, people say the mountains are out.

Mount Rainier showing off

The main event was the Mariner's game.  Here's our group: Jenna (Jackson's girlfriend), Raelyn, Jackson, Mark, Emma, Adam, me, Talia and Megan.  Geri was taking the picture.

I have seen that expression of Adam's many many times on Braeden's face in pictures.  Family trait.

I snapped this pictures of the boys.  They had a lot of fun together.

The Mariners were playing the Houston Astros and yes, the cheaters got booed enthusiastically every time they were up to bat.  In the first inning, Houston scored 6 runs and Adam was discouraged.  He said, "We should have come Saturday when they won."

He is a loyal fan, following them from afar, and I felt bad that his one opportunity to watch them play was going to be an abysmal loss.

The Mariners fought their way to nearly tying the game and then hit a home run with the bases loaded.  It was suddenly a very good game to be at.  If the level of euphoria in that stadium could be bottled up, you could change the world.

The Mariners won and we were happy.  Especially Adam.

Twenty-six

Today is our 26th anniversary.   Twenty-six years feels like a long time, but I am grateful for eternity.  Forever feels about right.

Marriage is a good idea.  Marriage to Adam is an even better idea.  A while ago, my dad said that I was fortunate to have married someone so intelligent.

I said, "I knew what I was doing."

Like I deserved the credit.

I don't really think I did know what I was doing though.  I knew I was marrying someone who would be unfailingly kind to me; I knew I was marrying someone who was smart and good and witty.  I didn't know what a good dad he would be.  I didn't know what a pillar of strength he would be to me in trials.  I didn't know that he would always know exactly what food I felt like eating, even when I told him I didn't feel like eating anything.  I didn't know he would know how to set my alarm clock when that thing is a complete mystery to me.  I didn't know that he would be willing, even want to, read all the directions so I wouldn't have to.  I didn't know how much I would appreciate him when everything feels fraught and uncertain.

I'm always certain of him.

Revisiting

 

Saturday we went to the Stillaguamish River.  It is one of our places.  If there ever were a place that makes us drop our shoulders and exhale it is Cascade Park on the Stillaguamish River.  It defines relaxation.  I don't know how many hours I've logged sitting in a chair reading while my family swims but not enough.

I've gotten in the water a few times over the years but rarely because it's rarely warm enough to swim.  My family doesn't need it to be warm to swim.  They just need water.

Geri asked me to take pictures and I did...from my chair.  I don't think I'm the best choice for someone to take pictures.  I don't take good pictures or very many of them.

Here was my view:

The two gingers:  I loved the way Talia's hair was aflame in the sunshine

Geri, Adam and Emma

Megan came too but I didn't get a picture of her.  (Honestly, did I get a good picture of anyone?)  

I read and read my book but was pulled back to reality by a third grader in distress.  Those are my people. A little boy, down the beach a little, got lost from his family and I heard him wailing.  I walked down to him and reassured him that we would find them.  I found out he is going to be a third grader and I told him I'm a third grade teacher.  I walked him to the campsite where his family was loading up and maybe that absolves me a little from when we left Mark in Chelan?

Mark has created a new verb.  For example, when Adam almost drove away from a rest stop in Oregon, without Emma, Mark stopped him.  "Dad?  You know Emma's not in the car, right?"

No.  He did not.

When Emma got in the car, Mark said, "Dad almost Chelaned you."

After the river, we met up with Jackson and went to Mukilteo.  We had pizza at Brooklyn Brothers which is still as good as we remember and then we went to the waterfront to check out the new ferry terminal.

It was gorgeous!  The building is inspired by Coast Salish longhouses.  It featured lots of Native art and was just lovely.  It didn't hurt that there was a beautiful sunset going on.

Geri, Emma, Mark, Jackson, Megan and Adam

I only look awkward in pictures.  It's my talent.  It doesn't help that I'm sure Adam said something to me right before the picture to make me on the edge of laughter.

I loved this picture of Mark and Jackson, bathed in golden light.

It's a beautiful world.

Reconnecting

Thursday we drove to Seattle.  Having four drivers is not bad.  We stopped often (me) and drove fast (me...and Emma) and made pretty good time.  Emma and Mark kept us in music and Adam and I also listened to podcasts when our kids zoned out with their AirPods.  I remember taking that drive and packing diapers, snacks, sippy cups, blankets, toys, DVDs, and CDs along with my desperation.

This is better.  

It was wonderful to go over the mountains into a different world, Western Washington.  There were tears shed and not by me.  

In a rare turn of events.

We almost immediately started watching the Mariners game and it felt like summers past.  We were lounging on comfortable couches in Geri's lovely house.  It just feels reassuring and always has.

I eventually went to bed when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.  There are Mariners fans and then there are Mariners fans.  I'm way less avid than some.

Geri gives up her bedroom to us when we're there and as someone who unfortunately channels the princess and the pea, I'm very grateful.  I sleep well and it helps how cool Seattle summers are.

Friday morning we went to Snohomish and Emma and I went to a few stores.  We soaked in the charm.  I don't even have to buy anything, it gives me a jolt of happiness to see such pretty things.  Mark wanted to have lunch at The Blazing Onion which is a hamburger place.  There are so many good places like that in Utah, that it felt underwhelming by comparison.  Still good though.

They dropped me off at Janet's for a playdate and everyone else went to Martha Lake to swim.  It's a perfect arrangement.

I sat at Janet's counter and she prepped salsa and we talked and talked and talked.

I wonder if the two of us could ever run out of things to talk about?

Adam came and picked me up and we had dinner at Geri's.  Raelyn, Talia and Scott came.  It was fun to reconnect with them.  

I nabbed some pictures of Geri's off Facebook:

Mark wasn't about to stop eating to pose for a picture.  Here's Talia, Emma, Mark and Raelyn

Emma and Scott playing ladder golf

In addition to ladder golf, we played corn hole and Code Names.  And laughed a lot.  

It was wonderful to reconnect.