A Big Weekend

For us, a weekend on the coast means a mad dash from this to that, trying to fit in as much as possible.  One nonnegotiable criterion is to spend one night in a hotel with a pool.  I'm not sure who gets the bigger kick out of it, Ryan or the kids.

Just after this picture was taken, Logan got his face wet and he was done.  He didn't want anywhere near the pool.  On the other hand, his siblings were much more inclined to swim all night.

My animated little MJ.  She kept up quite the commentary about her Daddy retrieving dive toys. 

The next morning we headed out to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.  We only had a couple of hours before meeting my aunt for lunch and it turned out to be the perfect amount of time for the kids.  Ryan and I could have spent all day in here, especially in the wing housing the planes from both World Wars. 

The main hall filled with every type of plane imaginable.

Lane was in awe of all the planes/helicopters and he loved being a pilot!  Morgan wasn't quite as impressed but she hung in there.(:

The WW1 and 2 exhibits were fascinating and Ryan and I both felt we could have read every placard and watched the dozens of videos that put a human touch on this chapter in history.  This part of the museum was more difficult to explain to the kids and I found myself struggling to help an inquisitive 4 year old understand a very simplified version of an adult concept.  I came away with a new thankfulness for our vets who gave their lives (and the others who survived but whose lives couldn't help but be changed because of their experience) so that our country remains free.

From the main museum we walked onto this covered pedestrian bridge to the sound of Peter, Paul and Mary's famous "Leaving, on a jet plane..."  Of course that meant Mommy had to sing along.  Thankfully our kids aren't quite to age where we embarrass them yet.(;

Pretending to be the President.  This particular plane was used by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson.  The current Air Force One plane is 8 feet WIDER than this one.  That would be an amazing plane to see the inside of!

The view of Seattle's harbor from Pikes Place...just before we got soaked in a downpour.  Welcome to winter in Seattle!

We spent the evening being highly entertained by my childhood friend Sally and her husband Matt. 

It was SO nice to be together again!  Our time sped by and then we piled back into the van to make the trek to Auntie Laurie and Uncle Lance's house...

where we woke up the next morning bright and early to cheer on Kort (with the ball).  He even made this basket!

 Then we hung out and read books on Auntie Laurie's IPad...

and wished the rain would go away so we could go outside and play.

It did, eventually, and we got in on some great clam digging...coming up next!