Summer Road Trip {Seattle}

Last month, we embarked on a road trip out West.  It was 20 hours of driving and our first destination upon arrival in the Pacific Northwest was the Heaviland Home!  We pulled up to an ambush of confetti poppers and excited cheering!  Jessie and Mark were gracious to host my crew, giving us a total of eight children in the house!  It was a special time to share fun outings and daily life with this dear family.

Heading across the street to a beautiful park with bikes, scooters, game equipment, and a battery-operated car, of course!

Mark and Jessie introduced us a new game that involved empty bottles, ski poles, a frisbee, and fast hands.

My hands weren't fast enough.  

Rooke lost his second tooth in the park!

Saisha and Gretchen were like two peas in a pod.  Sweet girls with vivid imaginations and a love for anything fancy.

Jessie and I had the privilege of a night out by ourselves (while Mark won a Super Dad award for taking care of all eight kids!).  We started at the salon for some hair treatment, and then went to the International District for a progressive dinner because Jessie knows how much I love Asian food.  We started with some yummy steamed dumplings.

While waiting for our Bahn Mi sandwich to go, we opened our fortune cookies and thought this one was particularly appropriate for the evening - ha! =)

We visited the Everett Children's Museum which was by far the best children's museum I've ever been to.  So many fun, working exhibit areas to engage all the children and an incredible outdoor play area on the roof!

Bridgette loved the water area, laughing at herself when she ended up spraying water in her own face!

We were trying to get all eight kids on this play structure for a photo, but the twins weren't having it!

Shave ice treat before movie night

We went to Richmond Beach for some play time, a picnic, and a free concert by the Recess Monkeys.  

I loved watching and listening to these boys play together.

My new absolute FAVORITE photo of our three kids:

Before saying goodbye, James shared one of his favorite food loves with us - Ethiopian food for lunch!  It was a fun new food adventure for the Paynes that we really enjoyed.  

Who takes eight kids out to lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant?  Jessie and I do.  =)

Thank you, Heavilands, for a great start to our time in the PNW.  We love you guys!

Practicing the Discipline of Gratitude {August}

In August, I was thankful for . . .

1.  whatever was in her system that her body didn't like was ALL out, the car seat cover and clothes were in the washing machine, and we ended the day with smiles and laughter as if it never happened.

2.  the lively chaos of a game that everyone can join in on

3.  the kindness of a stranger.  Rooke lost his second tooth at a playground.  

"Mom, did I lose another tooth?  It feels like I did . . . But I don't know where my tooth is . . ."

As we were discussing what he could write as an explanation to the tooth fairy (who he really wants to believe exists, and so does a great job playing along), the woman in the background of this photo walked up to him and said, "This is from the tooth fairy.  She already heard what happened" and handed him a dollar!!  We called her the playground fairy!

4.  to be back in the Pacific Northwest

5.  the deep blessing of time spent with Jessie 

6.  trying something new and discovering we like Ethiopian food!

7.  enjoying a beautiful place with a beautiful friend and her fun-loving kiddos.

8.  it's so good to have fun and laugh together!

9.  picking wild blackberries.  It makes my Northwestern heart go pitter-patter to share this August tradition with my kids! 

10.  sharing the fruits (her hee) of our labor 

11.  Being with my sister!!  20 months is WAY too long to not be with this special gal. 

12.  the pool.  the sun.  the smiles.  the cousins.  the goggles! 

13.  a beautiful evening with almost all of my family. 

14.  Nana, one of my favorite people ever.  And my children get to see for themselves why that's so. 

16.  Big Daddy and cousin giggles! 

17.  a fun hike with the cousins

18.  without many opportunities to be together before now, they have become fast friends 

19.  being woken up from her nap to go straight to the car for an adventure didn't upset her at all.  My happy girl 

20.  the guys watched the kids and gave us a wonderful afternoon together (three generations). 

22.  this spacious vacation house, which two grandparents rented for their kids, and eight grandkids to be together.   

23.  watching his taste for adventure grow 

24.  my sister . . .  and her kids . . . and the spontaneous fun we had at the river! 

25.  six little ducks in a row 

26.  I have the best job! 

27.  a fun time jumping at a trampoline park with my two bigs 

28.  my nephew liked holding my hand 

29.  getting to be my dad's walking partner as he trains for a marathon.  We've walked about 100 miles together . . . . a part of my summer I will never forget. 

31.  technology.  and quiet kids.  =)