Last weekend in Seattle...and so much more

So I have a bit of catching up to do....hmmm where to start. I suppose I should go back a few weeks. The last weekend we spent in Seattle was a blast. We definately put a big kink in the "biggest looser" contest...especially since four of the six contestants were all together and not exercising any restrain. The Friday before we left my sister wanted to take us to The Melting Pot. She's been wanting to take us there for over a year now, so my parents, my sister,Justin and I all went there to eat. Definately a cool place. Afterwards my parents took Justin and I to Benaroya Hall to enjoy Marvin Hamlisch conduct the Seattle Symphony. Pretty cool....there was even a bit of Dueling pianos in there too.

Enjoying the final course at The Melting Pot....hmmmmm....desert!

The next day, after taking the kids to the Factoria Mall Children's Museum so they could meet up with one of their neighbor friends that they played with through out our stay, I FINALLY took Justin to a Mariner's Baseball game with my dad and my sister. It was perfect weather. I've heard of a new food that had become quite popular at Safeco field...but unfortunately I resisted getting the Garlic fries. I would get a whiff of them and think "that smells good" only to realize that it was 50 ft away when I smelled it. When it got closer the garlic was so strong it almost made me want to cry. WOW. I did have to fight some curiousity though.

Watching the game

Dad being.....well....Dad

The after game photo!

So the whole Seattle trip turned out to be a great success and it was actually very bitter sweet leaving. I really could've stayed longer, but then, it's always better to end on a good note, right? lol. Not one person got sick while we were there (it must have all happened in Utah..ugh). I'm really glad that the kids were able to get to know my parents better, and they still ask for Bama and Papa Foli... :)

SOOOO...we got home just in time for Memorial Day weekend, and got to go to the pool with Grandma Lynne and Grandpa Kent. Bug took right to the pool again, like usual...but Tman thought it was too cold and stuck with squirting everyone with water toys on the sidelines, while mommy got FRIED!!!! I'm still dealing with the lovely sunburn.

Last but not least, this last Thursday, Justin and I We SO excited to go to Wicked, and Justin won "The Wicked Lottery" so we got to go with our good friends/neighbors and we had a great time with them. I LOVED the play. I highly recommend it. I'm SO glad we went. So now I think I'm caught up.....sorry to have to cram.

The Weekend With My Grandparents

This weekend we took the kids down to Kennewick to see my Grandparents. My Grandparents haven't seen Bug since she was about seven or eight months old, so it was really fun for them to see her again and to meet Tman for the first time. It was a GREAT visit with them. My grandpa told us stories about his family, and how they met, and I got to spend a lot of time just talking to both of them and getting to know them better. I think the kids had a great time, especially when all my aunts and uncles and cousins came over for a BBQ on Saturday night. We originally planned on driving down Saturday morning and then leave late saturday night, but we were having so much fun that we just stayed overnight at my granparents house. We had a nice relaxing morning with them and I was really hard to tear ourselves away to drive home. I miss them and always get excited every time I get to visit them. So now we are back in Renton and will be home in exactly one week from now. YEAH. It's been a great visit, but I think I'm finally transitioning into "I'm ready to be home" mode. I miss all our friends in Omaha and especially my kitty! He's been so lonely! :(

Grandpa showing the kids around his workshop. He loves to polish rocks and make jewelry out of them, and the kids each got to pick a special rock out of his collection. I always remember getting stuff like that from him!

Some of my cousins.

Bug being a "puppy" and her new found friend/cousin was abliged to walk her.lol

and then they switched. Bug wanted to walk the dog.

I love this picture of me and my grandpa. Isn't he cute!

Pictures before we left. We had to tear ourselves away. We would have stayed there all week if we could! It was so good to spend time with them!

Justin figured out how to use the camera's timer, so we were all able to get into a picture. I'm so glad I remembered to take pictures this time. I already miss my granparenst. At least the kids finally got to meet their great grandparents and it's been documented!

Our Trip So Far

So now that we've been able to settle ourselves in Seattle and take a few pictures, I figure I should give everyone an update. The first two weeks have been very successful, and this is turning out to be MUCH more pleasant than our Utah clinical. The kids have tons to do and thus we haven't had to deal with their boredom tantrums. We have had great weather the majority of the time, and when it has rained, it hasn't been too bad.

The kids LOVE being in the yard and helping with the yard work. (It's so much bigger than our yard in Omaha and there is SOOOO many things for them to explore...T-man has taken quite the liking to pointing out EVERY bug he finds.) Bug even helped Grandma Y plant her annual garden. She got to go to the nursery and grandma let her pick all the flowers.

My parents cats (who are normally quite anti-social with anyone that that is not an adult) are very friendly with the kids. I'm AMAZED at how they've warmed up to them. Normally when there are kids in the house, the cats are no where to be found. But they have even approached the kids and want them to pet them. YEAH.

My parents left to go to Mexico for the week, so this week we have the house all to ourselves. PARTY AT THEIR HOUSE!!! WOOHOOO! jk. (I never did that as a teenager, so I feel like I should make up for that some how...lol)

And finally, J's clinical is going great, and we have two more weeks to go. He gets to meet with a potential residency clinic tomorrow and get a foot in the door for when he has to apply. So in exactly two weeks from now we will be in our very own home, petting our poor lonely kitty! Until then, I'm going to continue to enjoy the time I have here, and soak up all the Seattle greenery!

T-man in the front yard. In the background is the infamous giant tree. It's starting to get it's leaves, and hopefully we'll be able to see it full of life before we leave.

Bug playing in the gravel pile in the backyard. This gravel pile has entertained the kids for HOURS. I'm not complaining. It's been great. Maybe I should put a gravel pile in our backyard when I get home...If it keeps them THIS entertained, then maybe it would be worth it. lol

Bug's Jenga tower. This is how we entertain ourselves while Tman sleeps.

Bug in front of the garden she helped Grandma Y plant. She can even name most of the flowers!

Random shot of Tman on a beautiful sunny day

Bug in front of her FREE play kitchen and fridge. One of my parent's neighbors had these out in their front yard with a free sign and I couldn't pass it up. JACK POT. It has been another GREAT entertainer for them. Play kitchens, gravel piles, dirt...what more could a kid ask for?

Bug and Tman having a picnic in the front yard on a nice day. They are always so cute together. I love sneaking up on them and just listening to them talk and play together. They are SO cute!

Aunt Christy, Tman and Bug sharing a drink at Taco Bell before we drop her off at the airport.

DRINK UP!! (The kids thought this was hilarious!)