McCall, the first

We had a random and sudden opportunity to take a little vacation to McCall.  So we took it!

On our first day, we picnicked and then hit the beach.

Who eats sand like a madperson, every chance he gets?

When we got back to our cabin, we made dinner and had family game night!

U.S.S. Turner Joy

One last thing we did on our way back home from Sequim- we hit up a Vietnam era war ship, the U.S.S. Turner Joy.  Pretty crazy how those poor soldiers lived and went about their work on that ship.  

In the gun mount.

You cannot imagine how tight these quarters are.  Nathan-a large child, but still a child, had a hard time getting up onto that top bunk because of all the pipes and such above it.

Brudders.

This was the favorite place, though.  It was an all red room-the best lookin' "Panic, there's a problem aboard" room.  They ran around and solved problems and launched missiles and read radar and all sorts of fun stuff.

Seqium 2013

 I reiterate my statement of the previous summer: Chetzemoka is the best park in the world.

Other notable Sequim haps include...

The Oak Table.

Ok, last year when we went, I didn't take a picture of what I always get.  But I had to do it this time.  Had to. 

Strawberry Cheese Blintzes, there are no words to describe your amazingness.  It hurts my heart that we live so far away.  

And, though he's only been there twice as compared to my one million, Nathan has also developed a favorite dish that he always orders.  Apple pancake.  As big as his head.  And that's sayin' something.

BB gun shooting-a much anticipated activity.  (And a pretty gorgeous setting, huh?) 

And this time we tried a new activity-crabbing.

(No keepers, but we had a good time and a made new friend in a harbor seal.)

You can understand why the view on the way home looked something like this:

On To Washington!

Now you see why I haven't had time to blog, right?  Summer has just been TOO busy!  So literally one day after our last bit of company left, the kids and I headed to Washington for a wedding and a little Grandma time.


Before the wedding, we busted out to Spokane to see my awesome grandma.  In order to differentiate her from the plethora of other Grandmas and Great Grandmas out there, Cody has just started calling her "Grandma Bacon."

This woman straight up served my children licorice and cookies for lunch, as though it were a natural side dish with sandwiches.  These children were in heaven.  Grandma Bacon-Licorice-Cookies, she'll soon be known as.

We had a great time, Grandma!  Thank you!  And we love you so much!

The wedding was a beautiful wedding in the Seattle Temple.  Matt and Heather were happy happy glowing happy.  It was lovely.

And their car looked lovely also by the time these hooligans were done with it...

The reception was an affair in a class of its own.  Absolutely gorgeous, and if I had any pictures of it, you'd be impressed that I helped with it.  Not that I was the mastermind by any means, that honor goes to Melinda, but I was a solid grunt laborer.  I feel good about that. 

These children are looking pretty happy after being dragged around, dressed up, and their needs generally ignored for a few days. 


After the wedding, we headed to Sequim, spending a day in Seattle en route.

After walking around Seattle for 5 minutes, (those 5 minutes included seeing the Chihouly Glass Gardens, the Experience Music Project building, the Space Needle, the Seattle Center with it's native street musicians, vendors and Seattlite characters) Nathan said, "Wow.  I really can't believe they didn't make Seattle the capital of Washington."  Yep.  It's that rad, isn't it man? 

While there, we hit the Seattle Science Center.

Butterfly House!

One landed right on Leah's flower hair thing-how cute is that??

Grandma and Spenny.  That's pretty cute, too.

But oh the Science Center had five buildings of awesomeness to explore.  (Bless your heart, you sweet little Idaho Discovery Center, we have now been exposed to a REAL science center.)  

They had an awesome live "bug circus," 

A dinosaur room where the dinosaurs move and are amazing..

And an I-Max, as well as loads of other stuff that I did not photograph.  It.  Was.  Awesome.

Then we headed out to the pier for equally awesome fish, chips and clam chowder.  

Ivars, you are so good.  You are really good.  For real.

After finishing as much fish and chips as we could take, we shared a little of the bounty with the seagulls...

(Apparently you must squinch your eyes tight in order to feed seagulls directly from your hand.)  

The Queen of Sheba gets to ride...

Goodbye, Seattle.  We'll eat you up we love you so.

On to Sequim!