Seattle 2

Saturday we went back to Pike Place and got there just after it opened.  It was really neat.  Took us hours to explore.  We got to see the fish tossing.  Blake and I got hoodies.  There were some taste testing and so much to see. 

There is a gum wall that was said to be one of the top 10 things to see in Seattle.  It is right next to Pike Place so we went to see it.  The moment I stepped onto the street I almost turned around.  It was so gross.  I thought it was just a single wall, but it went almost the whole block.  Nasty.  We did not stay long, walked very carefully and far from the walls. 

After visiting every shop,  and sure that we were all a little high from second hand marijuana (seriously all over Seattle I swear every person was smoking pot, it was crazy), Blake and Dave tried steamed buns from a street vendor. Then we went to the Seattle Aquarium. It was good timing as it started to rain while we were there.  Just a little drizzle. 

When we had seen all there was to see at the aquarium, we went to Ivar's to eat.  Ivar's was recommended by a few people.  We enjoyed, great view of the harbor and cool place to eat.  Not quite as good as the place from the night before. Next I wanted to see the Vancouver temple.  It was about 1 1/2 hours out of the way. But we had seen so many of the temples that Cora and the boys had worked on that I didn't want to be that close and not go see this one.  Vancouver temple is where she spent most of the summer the year she got married.  We headed to Langley.  It was till raining a bit and the gates were closed.  We did a quick walk around the outside where we could and sent a picture to Cora. 

Back to Vancouver, filled the car with the little gas it needed and back to another hotel. We had an early flight, so went to bed.  Next morning was check out and off we went.  The pilot was determined to make up time.  He said that they had been on the way from Calgary when a lady fell ill and they had to return.  They had gotten word that she was ok.  But they were continuing on to Hamilton from Calgary after Vancouver.  Fastest take off and landing I have ever done.  It was supposed to be and hour and 43 mins, we did it in an hour and 8.  It was funny.  Slid our of our seats as we were coming in. 

It was a fun quick trip.  We didn't try to pack in a ton of things like we usually do, just saw a few things and enjoyed being aways. And we thought it was pretty cool when we realized that we had seen the east coast and the west coast of Canada within 6 months.  Gotta love cheap flights. :)

Seattle 1

I wanted to take a last trip with Blake before he starts working for the summer.  I had wanted a quick hike away somewhere and it turned into a weekend trip to Seattle.  I found wicked cheap plane tickets to Vancouver, hotels with my airmiles, and a discounted car rental.  We left Thursday night.

We left Vancouver after breakfast and travelled to Seattle.  I will never be an electric car person, but the rental we got was brand new and a hybrid.  Blake was so fascinated with all the things it did that he was reading the manual and missing the sights.  But we went Vancouver, Seattle, all over for 2 days, Langley and back to Vancouver and still had gas in the tank.  Barely cost us to fill up.  It was sweet.  We were a little early for the temple, so we stopped at Target to get Blake a swimsuit since he had forgotten one.  Funny but we never ended up using it.  So I guess he just got a new suit.  We got to the temple and walked around a bit.  It was so beautiful and green already.  They had Japanese Cherry trees, which are some of my favorite. Wish I could grow them here.

The temple workers were a little unorganized, but we got our clothes, names, and found where we were supposed to go.  We did the names the temple gave us and then saw an elderly couple come in.  I heard the workers talking about how they wanted to witness their family names being done.  I assumed I was going to be needed and waited to change.  Blake got to baptize Dave for the couple's men names and he baptized me for the girl names.  There were some German names that Dave got to help with the pronunciation of and after the lady gave Blake a letter telling the story of one of the names he did.  It was a neat experience and I was glad we were there at the time to do it. 

After we grabbed something to eat at Dick's burgers.  It was a neat place, still kind of a drive up window type thing with cheap prices. They had a very limited menu and you couldn't change anything.  Very streamlined and fast.  After, since it was a beautiful day, we decided to do outside stuff. We went to the Locks.  That was really neat.  We got to see a seal and watch a lot of boats go through the locks.  As these boats, mostly big yachts, were going through, Blake was commenting how it was such a different life then us. We wanted to know where they were going and how long they stayed.  It was all so neat. 

We could have stayed for hours.  We eventually walked around and went to the fish ladders.  I saw my first rat and was very appreciative of where I live.  Those things are nasty and big.  By this time the boys were getting a little hungry.  We scrambled in a panic to find a charger before my phone died.  It was crazy, the car had new chargers, but nothing that fit my phone.  Blake had a portable, but my battery dies so fast, I had already used it as well.  If it died we literally had no idea where or how to get anywhere.  I didn't even know where or what our hotel was since it was all on my phone.  Typical technology is great until it's not. (Head smack) We took pictures of the directions and airdropped them to Dave, just in case my phone died on the way.  We did make it at 1%.

After crisis averted we went to Pike Place Market. It was after most of the shops were closing and decided to go again in the morning.  We walked down the street and found a place to eat.  The Seatown Rub Shack was sooo good.  Highly recommend.  After eating we strolled around the town and found some beaches.  It was so nice out. 

We were very tired after all our walking and with our new charger working and a long drive up a very very steep hill with multiple read lights, we made it to our hotel.  Watched a tad of TV and had a snack then sleep. 

March Ends:)

Blake was asked to play in the All-Star game.  He was pleased to be asked, one more chance to play.  He had fun and saw some of the friends he had made during the season again. He also had some family and ward members that were able to make it out to watch.  

Tomorrow is the last day of ski season.  Dave and Blake had planned to go, but they have had no new snow and last time they went it was pretty icy.  So last night they decided that they had had a great last ski and that would be the end of their season.  It has been a fun one.  Blake got to go often with his friends and Dave healed enough that he could get a couple of months in as well.  Dave said that Blake's next season he will need new skies for sure.  His are getting mighty old. 

The neighboring town was having an alumni game.  The boys that we watched all through high school that are Leah's friends were playing and one of them had just returned from his mission that morning. I let Leah know and she was immediately down.  I don't think it could be a true Cobra game with out her anyways. :)  Braydon and Ammon came with her and we went over to watch.  It was lots of fun . Leah keeps telling Braydon that basketball is over and that was the last game, he was laughing at the game and saying how she just keeps finding another one.  After they all came to stay at our house for conference.  Cora was in Utah at a mission reunion and to see Jones' again.  

She loved her reunion and loved getting to see them again after so long.  She also got to go to a conference session in the Conference Building.  Cora road tripped down with Maycie and Sarah and had a blast. While she was gone Ammon was hanging out with us.  Blake had gotten his wisdom teeth out that day and so we had soft boring food for everyone that weekend. Also I didn't know they were coming until just a bit before the game.  It was interesting to feed Braydon and Blake all weekend, but we managed and I loved having them all here.  Saturday it was determined that a walk outside was needed.  We had been cooped up to long.  Just then it started to snow, but we went anyways.  It was a beautiful night and a great evening for a walk.  Especially after we turned around and I wasn't getting poked in the eye with snowflakes. Lots of great messages at Conference and the announcement of a Temple in Lethbridge was cool. 

After Cora returned, they were still down this way and she was around to do a birthday lunch with Leah and I.  We meet Leah at this cute little (expensive my word) bistro place by her work and had sandwiches and talked. I love spending time with my girls, they are both pretty amazing people.  Watching them as they have their own lives and families is just truly great.  I am just pleased with how all my kids are doing and their decisions.  They are top notch.  Anyways, I digress.  It was a fabulous lunch and Happy 21st to Leah. 

Yesterday at work one of the girls left Easter eggs all over the clinic.  We found them on our computers and in our purses.  They kept appearing through out the morning.  It was such a fun cute little thing and I loved it.  I was thankful for the little effort that brightened all our days.  I need to remember that it doesn't take much to make some ones day a little better. 

Today is Good Friday.  I have been excited about this day for 2 weeks.  I have nothing planned, absolutely nothing.  We have all had a well deserved lazy day.  Weather is warming up, although windy, and we are relaxing.  Just a little cleaning, laundry, book reading, went for a walk, and Blake has been riding his bike.  He got it out last night and it started right up.  Didn't run great last fall, not sure why it suddenly decided to be excellent.  But none the less, Blake is having a blast. 

The first talk on Saturday in General Conference by Elder Stevenson was very good.  He spoke on making Easter just as big and important as Christmas.  Reading the Easter story, making traditions with family and so on.  It was a good reminder.  I remember when Cora was 18mnth old.  We were at the store buying mini eggs and some lady started talking to her about the Easter bunny coming.  Cora was tiny when she younger, at 18 mnth she barely came up to Dave's knee.  And this little tiny girl turned to the lady and very clearly said, 'Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ' as you can imagine this lady was a little stunned at the big words this tiny soul had just said.  It was kind of funny.  But as Elder Stevenson was talking I started to reflect on our Easter tradition.  I have never done candy and egg hunts on Sunday because that was the special day, I let them do that on Saturday.  And while we can and will still do that, I need to celebrate all week long.  It truly is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He died for me, He lived again for me, and I need to reverence and celebrate that more.

Happy Easter!  May we find new traditions and spend lots of time with family and friends, eating, hanging out, relaxing, and talking of Christ.