June Trip Highlights in Pictures - Part 1

I was going to do ONE entry of highlights from our June trip but quickly realized the trip was TOO GOOD to get by with just one.  In fact, it may take 4 or 5!  We thank God for such an awesome family time and we know we are privileged to have been able to make the trip.

My brother Ryan and his wife Suzan and their two boys, Jonathan and Spencer, have lived in Seattle area for years now and Melissa and I had never had the opportunity to visit them.  So when Jonathan's high school graduation approached, Melissa and I thought, "This would be a good time to go."  (I have sometimes been guilty of missing important milestones, such as weddings or reunions of various sorts, only to deeply regret it later.)  Our reasoning was that if we are going to Haiti (and we are!), it is never going to get MORE convenient to go to Seattle than it is right now.

At first, we thought it should just be Melissa and me going - for the sake of finances.  But it just didn't sit right with either of us to go off for a week without the kids.  So we ultimately decided to fly out to Seattle and, after a week there, rent a van and drive back to Indiana.  (It was like one of those home improvement projects that starts out small and then just keeps growing!)  In the end, we were away from home for just two days under three weeks time.

We hit Seattle at a time when ALL the rhododendrons were in bloom - and they are EVERYWHERE!  And HUGE!  This picture was taken in my brother's backyard.

One of the greatest things about my brother's house is the fact that all it takes is a short (but steep) hike downhill to get to the water.  Several days we were more than content to simply spend time on the beach there at low tide - exploring all the creatures we never get to see in Indiana.

The only down side to our visit was the timing - Suzan and Spencer were in the midst of the final days of school yet and Jonathan was doing all the things a graduate wants to do.  So that left Ryan to play with us - and I have to reluctantly admit that he turns out to be an excellent tour guide.  Here is The Drama Queen (age 10) admiring a view of Gig Harbor.

The one evening our kids got to spend with their cousin Spencer they thoroughly enjoyed.  Ryan and Suzan took us to a Korean restaurant and the kids sat at a separate table with Spencer.  Not sure what was going on at that table, but the kids couldn't stop talking about Spencer afterwards.

There was a big open house planned for Jonathan Friday night after the graduation and Suzan talked me into decorating the cake.

Part of Ryan's expertise as a tour guide lies in his knowledge of all the best places to eat.  The kids all enjoyed a donut outside of Sluy's Bakery in Poulsbo.  You can tell from this picture that Dats (age 11) is eyeing his sister's jelly donut.  He seems to be thinking, "What are the chances I can get my hands on her leftovers??"  Aunt Suzan was laughing at this pic later and Dats exclaimed, "And I got it, too!"

Uncle Ryan earns brownie points with The Princess (age 5).

The handsome graduate with his two beautiful cousins just before leaving for the graduation ceremony.

The graduate with his proud Grandma.

Uncle Ryan treated us to a drive-on ferry ride from Bremerton to Seattle.  Hear the ferry pulls into Bremerton as we get ready to board.

Uncle Ryan bought some popcorn for the kids to throw to the seagulls.  The kids were thrilled - they don't know that seagulls are just rats with wings...

Approaching Seattle from the water.

Melissa wanted to bring back some flowers for Suzan - and Pike Place is certainly the destination for flowers!