Our Long Adventure in Washington

On Tuesday Netty and I returned from a very extended trip to Utah and Washington. I'm sure it wouldn't have felt so long except that we'd never been way from Jonathan for more than a few days at a time. I'm not sure who missed who the most.

The trip was so fun, though. The last time I'd been to Washington was for our second wedding reception just after we got married, and many of my extended family members had not yet met Netty.

 Netty (10 months) and Oliver (2 years) - A frightening thought for me was when I realized that these would be the ages of my children in about a year. My only consolation when Oliver was mauling Netty was that Netty was a novelty to Oliver, who is still the baby in his family until October, and by the time Netty is two, Atticus won't be quite a novelty anymore.

 This is how Netty napped most days. She was such a trooper as we went from house to house visiting friends and family. She probably took three REAL naps the entire trip because we were on the go so much. We also bought her a new car seat just before the trip, and it wouldn't recline enough in HoneyGram's small Toyota Corolla. Netty improvised, though, by using her blanket at a pillow.

Netty and Great-Great-Auntie Blanche - Blanche is my maternal grandma's older sister. She is in her late eighties, though she doesn't look or act like it. Auntie Blanche spent much of my childhood trying to get me to talk to her by giving me presents and treats, and it didn't work. I was grateful that Netty was a lot more receptive to Auntie Blanche, who just loves little ones. 

This was a rare site on our trip: Netty playing without other kids taking away her toys or trying to pick her up. We were at Sarah's house and Sophie was kind enough to share her dishes with Netty. I think Netty's going to need some dishes of her own! 

 Papa wearing Braylin's "Seahawks" helmet - I know it's actually a BYU helmet, but as far as Braylin is concerned, the Seahawks are the only team that matters. The helmet said "One size fits all," so Papa had to test that theory.

 Netty, Ariadne, and the Neverland Pirates - While HoneyGram spent an afternoon at lunch with her best girlfriends, I spent the afternoon with my best girlfriend, Kathryn. It was just like old times, except that we are both mothers now and had to be responsible. Ariadne is only a couple days younger than Oliver, but she has a baby brother. She was much calmer around Netty. Maybe there is hope for me...

 Aunt Sarah was determined to become the favorite aunt, and despite her best efforts by feeding her Dum-Dums, Stephanie is still Netty's favorite person in the whole world. However, Netty thought the drum set in Sarah's new school was pretty great.

 Netty loved the stools in Grammy's kitchen...

...Until they tried to eat her.

POINT DEFIANCE ZOO

Justin and Sarah took a day off work, and Rochelle and LaMar played hookie from school so that we could go to Point Defiance Zoo. It was Netty's first zoo experience. These pictures are all from my phone, but my family has other pictures from that day. Maybe I'll post more zoo pictures when I get my hands on them.

 HoneyGram, Papa, and the Grandkids at the Point Defiance Zoo Entrance

 The kids all in the famous shark's mouth at the aquarium

Oliver loved all the fish

We went into the Discovery Center at the aquarium, where they let you touch some of the sealife from the Puget Sound. Some of the kids loved it. Others wanted nothing to do with them.

Netty and HoneyGram with the elephants

Although it was a long day, Netty was able to sleep a little in the stroller. By the time we got in the car to go back to Grammy's house, she was all smiles for about five minutes. And then she fell asleep again.