Seattle trip - Islands

Part of our weeklong trip was spent exploring the surrounding islands. So different from anything here in DC, it made for an amazing trip.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
View of the city from the ferry to nearby Bainbridge Island

One of Aaron's top five all time favorite meals was here, at the Harbor House, on the patio overlooking the marina. Aaron later hounded the chef until he gave us the recipe for his Killer Shrimp.

There were whole hillsides covered with blackberries. We foraged in public - it was fun!


The north side of Bainbridge is a beach reserve that offered one of our most memorable moments of the trip: We had been walking a while and turned around to walk back to the car and saw Mt. Rainier hanging out in the background.

MERCER ISLAND

Mercer Island is a suburb with beautiful homes, impressive water views, and walking trails. Oh, and slugs almost as long as Sarah's foot.

ORCAS ISLAND

The ferry to the SanJuans offered even more beautiful scenery - it was almost mountain/water view overload.

This building welcomes ferry riders to the island.

A side patio of a downtown building on Orcas Island.

Yay - Ice Cream!

Dairy Godmother in Del Ray is our go-to ice cream place.

Don't worry, we share a lot - this isn't just Addie's ice cream.

Addie's new haircut

The G's

Daddy and Nora

 

Hawk

This guy was on our fence - 10 yards from our kitchen window. Cooper's hawk? Sharp-shinned hawk? I can't figure it out.
But he was awesome!

Gammie's Birthday Party

We were able to celebrate Debbie's birthday with the Jacksons. We basically took over Mellow Mushroom. Aaron had the entire restaurant singing to Debbie, who is not used to being the center of attention. I think she secretly, way down deep somewhere, loved it.

The Wilsons - (you really can't beat the Wilsons)

Grammy's birthday in Boone

The time in Boone to celebrate A's mom's birthday was spent at a house in Blowing Rock with a big yard (a new thing for the city-girl Addie!).

No trip to Boone is complete without breakfast at Melanie's Food Fantasy. Mmm.

Addie and cousin Patrick

Birthday girls

Chocolate Cream Cake from Stick Boy. Ahh, Stick Boy - how I wish you were in DC!

Addie and John Thomas bonding over cake.

Goofball

Those are socks, not pants. Weird.

Sisters

Valentine Visit

Addie had a chance to play with her cousins Jenna and Michaela when they came for a dinner visit. The girls played a while and ended up making some sparkly crowns. They're the sweetest family, and we are always so excited when we get a chance to see them.

Nora at 7 months

Now she's sitting in a chairand eating her solids!