Easter Eggs and Port Olympia

Yesterday I spent some alone time with Maycen and Brody while Becky was at the dentist.  We had such fun and it was so good to get to know them a little better and observe them in their environment. We had such fun having a tea party, a long bike ride to the park with Maycen wearing her Barbie princess dress and playing Cinderella and leaving her 'slipper' on the stairs for the prince to find.  I was assigned the role of step mother - LOL!

We also had another nummy supper with the kids and colored some Easter eggs, which was serious business and such fun. 

The weather continues to hold, and while cool and often cloudy, the trees and grass are GREEN  so we are able to get our walks in.  Even the weeds are blessed with beautiful flowers!  We were going to Port Townsend today and going to take the ferry to Whidbey Island where son-in-law Dan was stationed 20+ years ago.  We had to change our plans due the massive landslide on the island, which hit the national news as 14 homes unfortunately slid down the hillside and over 34 homes had to be evacuated.

Instead, we went to Olympia to check out one of my favorite Farmer's Market by the sound.  To my chagrin, the market was not yet open. We are two weeks too early! And I was counting on those crab cakes.  

We wandered down to the port and saw some amazing new things...some of the biggest star fish I've ever seen!  The piers are covered with barnacles, starfish and other sea urchins which two inch, clear jelly fish swim around the dock. One of the photos showed the star fish hanging on the pier under water (tough to see).  We hiked around a park along the sound and understand the tide can swing 14 feet sometimes.  

We continue to have lots of fun here and especially love being so close to the kids in this beautiful Pacific Northwest. Campers come and go in the RV park and recently we met a psychologist (who helps soldiers and families when they return from being deployed).  He and his wife have a Class A, are full timers and live on the hill behind  us.  They have a darling cockapoo named Sofie, who put Willie away when she didn't want to play!  So much for our macho dog!  Thanks for continuing to travel with us and reading our blog.

Crystal Mountain

So who goes to a ski area at  the  mountain with a 3 year old and 8 month old?  We do!  The kids were great all day and Becky gave Maycen her first ski lesson at Crystal Mountain (6800 feet).  It went well and seemed so weird that they had boots and skis to fit this little doll.  It was so beautiful and we were fortunate to ride the gondola up to  have lunch at the top of this incredibly steep mountain.  Lots of snow, beautiful scenery and a really huge ski area. filled with more black diamond runs than green!

The ski area is located on the back side of Mt. Rainer (14,400 feet), which was almost 100% visible when we were at the top!  Amazing!  It's really unique to have a real mountain ski area so close to the city...we only traveled about 2 hours to get to the ski area. When we got home Bec had fixed a nummy pot roast in the crock pot, so dinner was awaiting us!  So I'm not sure how she really gets all this organized with two little ones!

Today we went to Leavenworth which is a Bavarian town nestled in the Cascades.  On the way up, we had a beautiful, clear view of Mount Rainier.  It certainly puts life and things in perspective when you are surrounded by all this beauty and towering mountains.  While I love the sea, the mountains had been calling for a long time.  

My long-time friend, Carolyn, lives in Leavenworth and it sure seemed everyone in town knew her.  We saw her beautiful home, with spectacular views of the Wenatchee River and had  a fun lunch followed by walking the main street. I didn't need another nutcracker or lederhosen so we mostly did window shopping at these quaint and fun shops with a stop, of course, at the German bakery.  A fun day which was surrounded by a good friend, streams, sunshine and snow-capped mountains.  It's a very rugged area, steep and frankly really hard to describe.  There is lots of bramble here which is a vine, prickly, rose like growth that is abundant along the roads and in the wooded areas.

The rivers and streams are filled with fresh salmon and are clearer than anything we've ever seen before.  No wonder so many people live in Washington!  i thought a wood pecker was outside our trailer this morning, but it was machine gun fire....OK, Gil quickly reminded me where we are!   LOL! On the last propane tank so hoping we don't run out tonight!  It's been getting down to 29 degrees at night....you'd think we were back in Minnesota!

Beautiful Sunny Pacific Northwest!

It's cool but WHAHOO ----  super sunny and so beautiful in the JBLM (Joint Base Lewis McCord).  Of course these precious grands are the most beautiful of all!  It's been so fun spending time with Maycen and Brody.  Today we went to Tacoma to 'stock up' on a few things from Camping World....don't you always need something from Camping World when you are an RV'er?  Today it was a sewer support system (a big caterpillar type thing to hold the sewer line) and a topper for  the stove.  Counter space is at a premium in the trailer so this will help to prepare a meal like below because I now have more counter space!  In the morning, we watched the kiddos while Becky went to a class.  I must brag, anbd tell you these kids are adorable, so refreshing and fun to be around.  We are loving it!

Yesterday we went to Maycen's school for lunch.  It was fun to see her school and challenging to fit into the little chairs to have a hamburger lunch!  Becky and I had a massage in the afternoon and then met the kids, Gil and Jared for dinner.  It's been so great that we can stay at the Army Travel Camp!  The path below is the way to the laundry.  Yesterday we also hiked about 3 miles to the other side of the lake to check out more of this beautiful American Lake.  

This afternoon we  took a long walk along the Puget Sound in Tacoma near the Port of Tacoma.  It's a long park along the sound with paths, restaurants and tons of people and dogs.  It was amazing to see the snow capped mountains in the distance at the same time that you're standing at the sound.  I should probably mention our tans are fading really fast, we've banned the Costco in Tacoma for crowds and we are so loving living in our trailer with this simple life!  Looking forward to the full moon on American Lake!

Rainy Seattle - Sunny Seattle

On Monday, it was pouring, pouring and pouring buckets of rain so off we went to the movie 'Safe Harbor' in Olympia.  This is one of my favorite towns in the area.  It's  the capital of Washington and close to where Becky and Jared live.  I can't remember the last time I went to a movie at 1:00 in the afternoon!  It's definitely not too crowded at that time of day and the popcorn is surprisingly fresh, warm and good.  We did some grocery shopping and bought tulips to celebrate the first day of Spring!

We found a Trader Joe's and stocked up on the frozen croissants (sooo good and chocolate is my fav and Gil likes the almond).  On the way home, we stopped at the campground laundry to start a load of clothes.  Laundry is absolutely the worst part of this camping/RV'ing thing.  It's like you can't leave your stuff, the machines are somewhat sketchy and they eat quarters like popcorn.  The machines clank and bang and seem to take forever to complete each cycle.  Of course, things never get totally try so we had a laundry drying room in the trailer last night.

Today we went exploring to Gig Harbor, Fox Island and Silverdale.  The sun was out almost all day (again we are so lucky) and it was simply beautiful.  It looks like the weather is going  to be great for the next week..double and triple YAY! The areas were filled with little fishing harbors, dotted with great houses, big boats and quaint shops.  We had a fun time exploring, shopping and diddled the day away.  Do I need to mention that retirement is GREAT! On the way home, I FaceTimed with Xochitl which is just so great to see her smiling, sweet face and hear about her day.  

We came home and fixed a quick dinner to take over to Becky's house and have a little play time with the kids. It's sure nice being so close!

There is so much green here (probably from all the rain - LOL).including the grass, trees and there are tons of flowers in bloom. When the sun is out, you know it's Spring and Easter is just around the corner.   Someone even decorated the bear and cub in their yard with a bonnet and Easter basket.  While I was out taking the picture, a black-tail deer crossed the road right beside me.  Tomorrow we will be here to attend Maycen's school program.  Can't wait!  Special times!

It's Raining, It's Pouring on the Oregon Trail and in Washington

We traveled the beautiful Highway 101 up the coast of Oregon from Honeyman State Park to the middle cut off to I-5.  It was honestly, some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery I've ever experienced.  It totally humbles you to be surrounded by this much beauty and nature.  There are really no words to describe the beauty.  Huge crashing waves capped with white curls on big waves and foam arriving at white sand beaches surrounded by mossy green hills and mountains.  We could have stayed for a longer time and for sure, we'll be back to this area.  These states with large forestry industry have really figured out how to continue these renewable resources.   Hills are wiped clean, re-planted and in various years of growth, keep the countryside and resources abundant.

We arrived around 5:30 p.m  to Dupont, WA where Becky and Jared live.  Once again, Gil wiggled the trailer through the neighborhood to their house. Neighborhoods and freeways are so totally different as you can well imagine!

 I watched the kids while they went to the base to get the 'pass' figured out so we could come and go on the base.  This was not without some drama!  First, we don't carry any type of 'registration' for the car...we have our tabs, but of course, they wanted an official registration.  Secondly, our insurance card expired the end of December and the new one is in the mail at home in MN.  Now one would think you could call your insurance agent and/or go to the website but no that was not meant to be!  It was nowhere near that easy!  

Finally after contacting 'emergency accident claims' we had the document emailed so we could print it out.   The guys left to get the pass.  I was told it was another hurdle getting my name put on the pass because I wasn't physically there in person for the background check.  They talked their way through it with one of the guys in charge, who  goes to Detroit Lakes every summer to visit his parents.  Too funny! 

We arrived at the RV park around 8:30 pm....pitch black dark outside.  I carefully guided Gil, the car and 33 ft rig into the space with a flashlight...a little tricky to keep all the wheels on the asphalt.  Of course this was not a pull through, but a back in!  Gil did it  and his skill continues to amaze me at how he maneuvers this 55 ft  rig into the smallest of spaces just perfectly to hook up sewer, water and cable.  We are right on American Lake on  the Ft. Lewis/McCord military base and will be here until April 7th.  Whew!  We've arrived!

So we awoke to the whoop, whoop, whoop of helicopters and the compression sounds of rounds and rounds of heavy explosions from big guns.  OK, we figured out pretty fast where we were! We also discovered holly growing right outside our window.  We love facing the lake on this spot.   Jared did a fly-over around noon, hovering over our spot...our official welcome!

Today, Becky and I had a wonderful day doing nails and pedi's followed by Thai food for lunch.  We ran a few errands and then picked up the kids on the way home.  Maycen came over to Nana's for a while before Jared picked her up.  It's been so fun being able to see and catch up with these kids who live so far away and who are growing up way too fast!

It's started raining this afternoon and of course is really pouring now.  We know we are in the Seattle area!  Hopefully we'll get a few sunny days.  Warm banana bread is baking, the heavy rain is falling on the roof top and the big guns are still firing!  Thanks again for following our blog and traveling with us as we enjoy all these new adventures and areas.

Checking things off the bucket list!

It's been a super fun and interesting last two days at Horsfall State Park in the Oregon Dunes.  The kids did lots of riding on quads and bikes--- even in the rain all day Saturday.  I had a couple of fun 'firsts' that I'm not sure were really on my bucket list, but here they are....first time ever eating an oyster and first time riding a quad in the sand dunes (that's me alone on the red quad).  Maycen and Jared are also on the red quad.

The oyster was really good and cooked on the grill and smothered with butter, hot sauce and cheese.  I could do that one again!  I totally surprised myself that I actually ate it! Maybe I am getting braver??? 

I borrowed a helmet this morning and Becky took me on the quad out to the dunes, which was like rolling hills that you bump up and over and then a super steep hill.  Way to fast for me up the hill, but I guess you need to make it to avoid falling back down!  The view from the top of the dune was beautiful as the sun was out, the white sand, green pines and blue water...pretty spectacular site I was glad I didn't miss!  

We have had so much fun with the little kids while Jared and Becky rode.  We made 'bead' muffins from the Mardi Gras beads and we just had fun getting re-acquainted again.  Brody has changed so much and is a really such a darling and great baby.  Maycen has a fun and spunky personality and Grandpa and I have really loved spending time in the trailer with her and Brody.  I just love that little knock on the trailer door in the morning, and there is Maycen in her boots and jamies with a 'good morning Nana' greeting.  How special these two little ones are to us.

We left Horsfall around 1:00  today and headed 45 miles north to Honeyman Park.  This is truly a camping in the tall pines kinda state park.  It's nestled in a forest of really pines close to more dunes and the ocean.  We will definitely come back here again.  These state park campgrounds are really more fun than the RV parks.  

We are cleaning out the fridge/freezer so made biscuits, chicken noodle soup and Caesar salad for dinner.  The brownies that are cooking smell nummy as I am am blogging...love being at a full hookup for electric and water!

Not sure we are very Irish, but we are feeling the luck of the Irish to be staying at this park (see the picture of the rig parked in the forest!).  We've learned once again, this country has some of the most spectacular and beautiful places imaginable and they are totally more beautiful with the sun out!  I guess that doesn't happen much here this time of year!  We are just loving the new adventure with every stop! 

Praying hard that our family and friends in the Midwest aren't impacted  too severely by this next round of storms.  Spring needs to arrive so they can keep their sanity!