Trip To WA, Part II (July)

Jake, Daniel, Janelle, and Jonah after Great Aunt Coral took us out to Sizzler in Lacey

We left Port Townsend and headed across the state towards Clarkston. On the way we stopped in Tri-cities to see our college friends Jeff & Eileen, Sarah and Mons (again), and Nate and Anne... had a bbq @ Nate & Anne's new house. It was so fun to see everyone!!! Except for our kids, Sarah's slightly round belly, and occasional "potty" talk on Daniel's behalf, it was as if no time had passed. Good friends with truly kindred spirits don't happen every day... we are so thankful for our friends, no matter how long it is between visits. We forgot to take any pictures! :-( Next time (when there will be more babies in the pix)!

We celebrated the 4th (Happy Anniversary Angie & Nathan too) with Jake's family, including Jake's parents Bill & Loretta, Jake's brother Jared, Tracy (Jared's girlfriend), Jake's Aunt Darla and Uncle Dean, their kids Brady & Ian, and Jake's Grandma Betty. No surprise, Daniel took a nosedive on the concrete, and scuffed up his nose pretty bad. We met up with Kyra (Jacobsen) M. and met her husband Shawn and their son for the first time the next day. DJ always seems to run into something and injure himself right before we visit people or get pictures. ;-)Deej enjoying the sparklers on the 4th @ Papa Bill & Grandma Retta's house

Jonah loungin' in the swing @ "The Castle Park" in Lewiston when we saw Kyra

While we were in Clarkston, we (our family, Jake's parents, and Jake's brother Jared) took a day trip to Spokane so that Daniel could go to Chuck E. Cheese with his Papa Bill and Grandma Retta, and to visit friends. First we stopped off to see our friend Walter @ his work in Airway Heights. We're missing attending his wedding, :-( but were very happy to get a chance to see him. Congrats, Walter & Amber!!!

After seeing Walter G3, we met @ Holmberg park and got to see Jeff and Monica (and Jamie), Teah (and her little sis), Angela S., and Andi (who brought 2 mo old Chloe w/ her--what a sweetheart!) After that, Sarah (Hall) P. met us @ the cheesy mouse restaurant with her husband and 2 girls. It was great seeing everyone and meeting new family members of my friends. All-in-all, a great day.

Jamie (Jeff & Monica's son) who Daniel has played with every summer since they were born

Teah, Janelle, Angela

Andi with Chloe (2 mo), Janelle with Jonah (9 mo)

It was over 100 degrees F for 5 of the days we were in the valley, I think... too hot for us Alaskans, anyway. We bought a blow-up pool for the kids and Bill and Loretta filled it in their garage so we'd be a little cooler. It was the best $30 purchase I've made in a while. The kids had a great time, and we used it almost every day we were there.

Daniel, Jonah and Janelle

We visited Jake's HS friend Phil N. @ work like we always do, and got to talk to him for a bit. We enjoyed Loretta's cooking, going out to eat, and spending time with everyone. Daniel got to experience his first ice cream truck. Daniel was also allowed to pick (and eat) his Great-Grandma Betty's strawberries. Ian (and my b-i-l Jeff too) had his birthday while we were down, and we ALL (even Jake's Uncle Dwight and a few friends of Brady and Ian's) went out for a pizza party @ Fizzari's. Happy Birthday Ian and Jeff!

Janelle and Daniel @ Ian's party

All of us with Grandma (and Great Grandma) Betty

At the end of the trip, Jake's parents and brother drove with us back across the state, and Jake's Great Aunt Coral treated us all to dinner out. The last time we'd seen her was with Great Uncle Wally (who has since passed) @ Great Uncle Art's Funeral. It was fun visiting with her, and to thank her in person for crocheting some adorable duds for Jonah some months back.
We spent that night @ my sisters house again, and the next day Teya and I had a sister day (Jamba Juice and fresh sushi from Central Market... mmmmm!) while Jake's family, Jake and the boys, and Teya's family all went to "Ride The Ducks" in downtown Seattle. Then everyone helped to get all four of us and ALL of our stuff to the airport. Jonah's two bottom teeth were finally all the way in at this point, so teething worries for the trip home. (Did I mention in the Part 1 post that Jonah cut his 1st tooth ON the flight down from ANC to SEA, and that when my parents watched the boys, Jonah was teething with fevers and all that? Ugh.)

Loretta, Brenna, Jared, Daniel, Jacob, Jonah, Bill, Jeff

We did our normal shopping in Anchorage, and arrived home ready to do some fishing!

More on our summer here in Unalakleet coming up...