finally!

i've been super blog-lazy. everyone keeps asking (or telling me...) to update my blog. it is 7:00am and my kids are still in bed amazingly enough, so i'm taking the time to start updating!

the last bit of june we headed up to seattle to drive nick's mom home and pick up tierra. we broke up the drive with a visit to some old friends in boise and it was fun to see them again. it was funny how as soon as we walked in their door, so many memories flooded back and we had lots to talk about. i can't believe how fast their girls have grown and kristi's fried chicken is every bit as good as i remembered it!

when we finally made it up to seattle, nick's sister had a warm welcome for us with a bbq and bubbles for the kids. the kids LOVED blowing bubbles down on the dock and aunt therese quickly became a favorite (and ammon got to see her again to remember that she does NOT look like santa clause!). we had fun visiting with kayla and seeing how much she is growing up and getting prettier every day. nelson entertained the kids with the computer and movies once they got done with the bubbles.

the next day we all went to pike's place market together. i know it sounds touristy, but ammon remembers nothing from living there and i was excited to show him the guys throwing fish. lucy was pretty amazed by it as well. we stopped by dick's, a seattle institution, for lunch.

that night nick went to the mariner's game with friends and i got to experience why staying at the holiday is the BEST option with kids. we had tried and tried to get into the hilton that therese works at, but we were only able to book one night so we stayed the other two nights at the holiday inn. the best part? KIDS EAT FREE!! so on our solo night from nick i took the kids down to the restaurant for dinner. they had also given me a coupon for the restaurant so i think i paid $10 WITH tip for dinner for all 4 of us! and the kids LOVED it, the meals are very kid friendly and they all got ice cream for dessert and a cute cup to take home! i also received a complement(?) from a stranger while we were eating. he came up and told me his wife thought i was very brave (for taking all 3 kids to dinner by myself).

they gave me another coupon the next day so off to the restaurant again for breakfast! and i have to say, the grown up food was pretty good too! i got a smoked salmon omelet, very seattle-y. that night the whole family went to the mariners game (nick's family too). it was great to be in a real baseball stadium again and fun to see griffey play. lucy loved the music and she got a certificate for her first mariners game. and the best part? THEY WON! the whole crowd was on their feet cheering and yelling, it was great!

the drive home the next day was long and exhausting knowing we were going to pack up the car again the next day to meet my family in park city, but thanks to crystal's dvd player, it went a lot smoother than normal!

thanks rust family! we had a lot of fun!