"Seattle....Spring Break 2012"

We loaded up the kids and Louie and the girls and headed off to Seattle. (Sara had to work!). Weather started off a little iffy. Rain. Wind. Cold. We had a baby in a stroller so we weren't going to last too long in that kind of weather walking around. I forget that you have to PAY to park everywhere in Seattle. Hate that! Even when you park far away and walk........still have to pay! Oh well..........we wanted to take the kids down to Pike Street and show them the market. Experience downtown Seattle. And the Space Needle........

And the gum wall. We walked all over downtown. Thru the market. And then ventured down to the waterfront. It wasn't easy finding a way to get a stroller down. But we just carried it down some stairs and all was good.Even though the weather was questionable when we got there, it was packed! Rain doesn't slow down the tourists!

I love Pikes! So much to look at.

Nicole the "nanny".

We sure didn't get any crab this big when we went to the coast crabbing over the weekend!

The weather started to clear up! Saw some blue sky and it got a little warmer. So happy so we stayed out longer and walked around all afternoon. And most of the streets in Seattle are uphill! Or it seemed that they were all uphill! That's probably because of where we parked, and walked all the way down to the water front.........and then had to walk all the way back UP to the car! With all the kids and a baby stroller! Was fun tho...........

We walked down on the waterfront to look around and find somewhere to eat.

This is the only store I went into downtown. I spotted the green jadite in the window and had to pop in real quick and check it out. Way out of my price range! Really loved the cake stands. And didn't stay in the store for more than a few minutes because my group had 4 kids and 2 husbands. No exactly shopping compatible!

We ended up at the Crab Pot on the waterfront for dinner. Sara met us there after she got off work. It's like my shrimp boil that I cook in the summer! But mine is better. ha! Cool place though.

Everything looked cool at night. Was starting to rain again and the kids were getting tired. So after dinner we headed back to the base.

We headed for home on Thursday. Windy, rainy, cold and dark! Wasn't much better at home. Had a great time with our friends and their kids. Great adventures. Family bonding. Kids got to experience Seattle and the millitary base. Saturday my sister Donna and I headed up to Portland to stay at the Marriott for her birthday. She has all the pics of the shinnanghens so as soon as I get them I will have one last post from Spring Break! We had a great time. Cake, wine, wifi, room service and comfy beds with lots of pillows! Now break is over. Back to work, school and reality............but summer is coming soon!

"Air Force Base....Spring Break 2012"

We finally made it! Our friends Louie and Sara live on the Air Force Base. Sara is an air traffic controller. Pretty awesome.

We stayed on the millitary base and Tyler thought that was pretty awesome. We got to see all the planes.

And go up into the control tower (this is Sara's office!) That is pretty cool. Not too many civialians get to go up in the Air traffic control tower for the United States Air Force!

We got to see a Heavy C-17 plane on the runway. (was just being taxied in, so didn't get to see it take off of land). But Tyler was excited anyways.

What a cool experience to stay on base. Had to have background checks and show ID and our passes everytime we left/entered the base.

Tyler and I braved the rain (rained to hard!!!!) to get some pics with the planes.

We had fun visiting with our friends and appreciated letting us stay with them! They have two little girls (5 and 8 months old) Nicole loved the baby and was the "nanny" while we were there and pushed her all around Seattle when we went.

"Road trip.......Spring Break 2012"

We are headed to Lakewood Washington to visit some friends for a few days. Got the car all packed and ready to go. After we go to the bank. Go to the store. Get gas......geessshhhhhhh.....takes forever to get out of town! And while we are at the bank.........we hear something in the tire. A huge bolt! Are you kidding me? Luckily we were still in town and Les Schwabs wasn't very far away. Of coarse that sent LeRoy into a tizzy. It's ok...........Washington will still be there.....................finally on the road!
We stopped for gas in Chahalis, WA. I forget you have to pump your own gas anywhere but Oregon! Nicole said she wanted to do it. So her dad gave her the "life lesson of pumping your own gas!" ha! She did great! Then I realized I have NEVER EVER pumped my own gas. In my life. But why would I have to? I don't usually go out of state (driving!) with out my husband. I really should learn how. Grown woman and have never pumped my own gas. (one time I went to Seattle with a friend and asked a cute boy at the gas station to help me/pump it for me! hahahahahhaahahah!) Maybe I should learn....................

Good job Nicole! And she looked cute doing it! Off to our next stop!

"Bullwinkles...Spring Break 2012"

Our friend Mark wanted us to go to Bullwinkles Family Fun Center for the day with him and his kids. Nicole and I passed to stay home and get laundry done and pack for our next adventure to Washington the next day. So LeRoy took Tyler. He had a blast! They played mini golf. (Luke and Tyler)
Rode go-carts! (Tyler and Allison)

And it looks like the sun came out!

Boat bumper cars.

And sounds like they played arcade games for hours! Fun day for Tyler doing boy stuff and bonding with his dad. They were gone all day and Nicole and I got our chores done so we could leave on Tuesday morning!

"Spring Break-Crabbing at Newport Beach"

The 1st Saturday of spring break we drove over to Newport Beach. Grandpa Mac had taken his boat to go crabbing. Aunt KayDee and Brandi were camped over there too. We headed over for the day to go out in the boat! Hope to get lots of crab to eat for dinner.

I love going out in the boat. Thanks Grandpa for taking us! It was windy and kinda cold but the boat has an awesome heater. And I sat up in the Princess chair (I think that's my mom's spot but she was gone in Arizona!)

There's the captain!

Crabbing wasn't so good. So we just took pic and ate chips.

And took some more pics. KayDee was the pot-puller! Nicole pulled a few but was more than happy to let Aunt KayDee do it. Crabbing wasn't so great. Got about 5 crab in 4 hours! That makes for expensive crab! Oh well. It was fun and we visited and bonded.

Nicole was camping/staying the weekend with her aunties. So Leroy, Tyler and I went down to the beach. And to our favorite pizza place on Nye Beach.

Cold and windy as usual for the Oregon Coast!

We dilly dallied for a few hours and then went back to camp to visit with everyone and eat some crab.

I had a cocktail with Brandi and we had a ghetto firepit and roasted ghetto smores (so much fun! and good job on the smores Brandi.) We stayed until about 10:30 pm and then headed home. Nicole stayed the night again and had fun. Was fun visiting and hanging out and spending time together.

"Spring Break starts early with snow!"

SNOW! In March! 3 days before spring break???????? Crazy! Snowed so much the kid had Wednesday and Thursday off and went to school on Friday and then Spring Break began!

We had about 4 inches. Very unusual for here! Was beautiful. Peaceful. I made it to work both days, but wished I would have had some snow days home with the kids to play.

Tyler and I went out Wed. night and played and walked around for a few hours.

He loves the snow. He was sweet and cleared off his dad's car and his sisters car (they didn't end up having school) so it would be clear in the morning. I think it was just an excuse to play in the snow!

Doesn't look like we will be laying out in the sun or getting any vitamin D for Spring Break!