Week-End Wonders – Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island

We have been spending a ton of time sight-seeing this gorgeous part of the country since we got here a month ago. It’s actually a little overwhelming thinking of all we have already done, and all there is still to see. We have barely scratched the surface of this beautiful area.

I also get a little overwhelmed at the daunting prospect of scrapbooking. JP takes so many wonderful pictures it’s difficult to even just go through and pick out a few to use in scrapbooks. And now, especially keeping so busy with the kids and traveling I just can’t even think of when I would do it. So, blogging seems like an excellent way to preserve some of the memories along with some journaling.

I’ve discovered a service that can actually turn a blog into a book, so I may try that…I do really like the old fashioned hold a book in your hand (that’s why I haven’t broke down yet and bought a Kindle even though I was really tempted after seeing the lady sitting next to me in church use hers for her Bible…it was really cool!)

This past Saturday we spent the day exploring a very small part of the Puget Sound…the small Norwegian town Poulsbo and the Bainbridge Island.

Poulsbo

We initially learned about this small Norwegian town from our upstairs neighbor who is from this town. Next week-end is their annual Viking festival, which we look forward to attending…so look for more pictures next week from this picturesque town.

We started off by stopping in at a local bakery for lunch. I have to admit that it was only okay…the bread was homemade, but it was very crumbly and a little dry. Even the desserts were just okay in spite of being so delicious looking. I must really be getting spoiled!!!!

Olivia and Poulsbo’s Viking princesses.

A fun park bordering the Sound with these really neat boulders to climb on. Olivia must have spent an hour climbing every single boulder we walked passed.

“Come on guys…buy a boat already!” Oh, what a dream come true that would be!!!

Poulsbo has this teeny, tiny aquarium that was free admission. It had a shallow pool where you could touch the different marine life, a few small aquariums, and a room with a few kids’ activities. But given it’s small size, I was surprised how long the kids were engaged…we must have spent 2 hours in there. And it was the first time Olivia had worked up the courage to actually touch some of the marine life!

Isaiah finally gave it up. I think he has finally resigned himself to a life of naps on the go and will fall asleep just wherever he is and take a nice long nap. I try not to feel guilty about it because he always wakes up happy and energized until it’s time to go to bed.

Still sleeping….even with Olivia loving on him.

Baby crack!!! Love it!!!

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Yes…we got bakery desserts and ice cream…the ice cream was delicious!! And silly Isaiah slept through the kiddos treat of ice cream, but promptly woke up for the adult treat of a wine tasting. It was okay, though…they had a corner set up with toys just for the kids. Most family friendly wine tasting I’ve ever been to.

Bainbridge Island

Well, these pictures pretty much speak for themselves. We spent a couple hours by this beach where there was also a playground for the kids. Right as we were pulling away to head for dinner the rain started.

We ate at a place along the Sound called Dukes. Again, I must be getting really spoiled because I thought the food was only okay. I had Ciopino, which according to the waitress has one numerous awards…yep, I am most certainly spoiled by all this fabulous traveling!

Now, if only housing wasn't so expensive and my grocery bill would drop down to KY prices I would say this is the perfect place to live...of course I might change my mind after our first full winter here.

Rays of Sunshine

I am so thankful for those moments God gives us that are like rays of sunshine peeking through the storm clouds. Because if I may be so bold as to say it...this year, 2011, has been a stormy, difficult year. And in many ways the storm clouds don't appear to be clearing any time soon.

I know, I know...I don't like saying it. But don't we all have stormy seasons of life? Times that we wish we could just skip over. Times that we hope someday we'll be able to look back on and see that God was moving, even though in the midst of it He feels so distant?

Some of our storms are obvious; like moving 2000 miles across country and our 3rd deployment looming over our heads. But we have other storms lingering as well, storms that we aren't likely to openly talk about...family illnesses, marriage difficulties, and child behavior issues.

I guess I want to talk a little bit about our storms (without going into too much detail) because at times I get the feeling that our life looks a little too "picture perfect." JP is a wonderful photographer and captures some of our most beautiful moments, but in reality we are like every other family...one sinner married to another sinner raising sinful children in a very sinful and fallen world. Storms happen...

...but so do rays of sunshine...

...and that's what the above pictures above represent. We spent an afternoon in Seattle the other day going to the Pacific Science Center having a blast looking at the Star Wars Display, playing dinosaurs, exploring all the great hands on activities, and discovering butterflies in the butterfly garden.

Then we went to the public market down by the Puget Sound and indulged ourselves...indulged ourselves in chocolate covered cherries that tasted heavenly, locally grown apples that dripped with sweetness, fresh shrimp cocktail that reminded us why we love living so close to the ocean, and my favorite indulgence: flowers the color of sunshine picked out by my sweet girl especially for me.

The moment she saw the flowers she just had to pick out a bouquet and her face absolutely lit up, and she knew exactly which ones she wanted. And it was a moment of sheer delight for me to accept them from her. You see, our sweet sunshine has a very difficult time with moves, and most days recently a small storm cloud has been following her around. And we're never quite sure when the lightning is going to strike and the thunder roll; we're just sure it's going to happen more often than not. It was this way when we moved from Tennessee to Kentucky...and it wasn't fun...and it wasn't short...but she finally came around; and now we're back at it again, trying to poke holes through those storm clouds for her, pointing out the rays of sunshine God is providing for us here, and praying the Son rolls those clouds away permanently and quickly...

...but in the mean time, we'll soak up the sun for all it's worth when it appears confident that we are not walking alone...that Olivia is not walking alone...that the Son loves us, is protecting us, and is using these storms to shape all of us into His image for His glory...

Apartments & Dogs 101

Apartment living. Someone should write a guide on apartment living. Now we've lived in apartments before, but not with 2 large dogs and 2 small children. I believe each of those are worthy of an entire book of their own: "Never Leave Your House Without a Poop Bag and 1001 Other Tips" as well as "Sleep Training Your Baby for Apartment Living."

This morning I encountered Tip #1 for the dog book: When living in an apartment, if your 2 dogs outweigh you, never (and I mean never) take them for their potty walk together. It may take more time, but it's definitely worth taking them out separately.

Now let me just say upfront...I'm okay. I took a couple advil and a hot shower, but no bruises have appeared and only minimal soreness. But this post will not contain pictures. Thought about doing the re-enactment to let JP capture it on film since he loves photography, but a girl has got to have a few boundaries...the mental image will probably be funnier anyways.

I thought I was doing a good deed this morning. Olivia and I were up watching cartoons, while JP and Isaiah were still snuggling asleep (this is part of the Sleep Training for Apartments book; I'm pretty sure the cry it out method we've had to use on occasion for Isaiah would not be welcome by our neighbors...so we've moved onto the "bring him into bed with us" method...and it appears he likes it quite well).

Anyways, the dogs were crying by the door so I grabbed my shoes and the dog leashes and headed outside for my first dog duty adventure since we moved here 2 weeks ago. And really, for apartment living, we have a great setup. Step out the front door, cross the street, and voila...a huge park with lots of grass (and a playground, which makes for easy child care duty). Lucy, Marley, and I do our jaunt through the park taking care of business fairly quick. I was almost getting proud of myself as we crossed the street. We had made it...I had made it...I can do this next week when JP starts work!

Then I see it. The dogs haven't seen it yet, but I surely have. My mind plays out the whole tragic scene about to unfold, and I try to quickly get the dogs in the door, after all, we're only 10 feet away. But then they see it too...

...a 12 pound fluffly little dog bounding straight for us with a huge smile on his face...

Now if I had stayed on the sidewalk I might have been okay...but at a combined weight of over 160 lbs and puppy energy to back it up, Lucy and Marley successfully pulled me closer to the adorable little dog and onto the grass...the wet grass...you know, from all the rain Washington gets. And my shoes slip out from under me...and I THUD to the ground. It hurt. It startled. But I held onto those leashes.

And then I slid. Yep...holding onto the leashes of 160+ dog power I was dragged across the grass...did I mention it was wet? I am just thankful I wasn't wearing a slick running suit or they might have pulled me clear back to Colorado.

But I was determined...on retrospect I should have been a little less determined...to hang onto those leashes and gain back control. And I did, once that sweet little furball came nose to nose with my two monstrous dogs and turned tail back home. Now Lucy and Marley only had good, playful intentions, but I think when that little fluff ball saw what they had reduced me to he knew he was in over his head.

I got up, brushed off my ego, and got everyone inside. I had held on and I hadn't screamed for help. I had thought about it, but in the moment I still had enough reason to know JP would never hear me and anyone else who came running would only make the dogs go even crazier.

Hoping to get a little sympathy for my ordeal I told my family about it. Olivia wanted to know what the dog's name was (I told her fluffly, or scruffy, or cutie pie...but I think I'll call him Kibble).

And while laying on the floor recovering, Isaiah came over and slapped my knees and yelled "Ow." I think it was some sort of ancient ritual inducting me into a dog walking society; something he most certainly learned from his babysitter Nick Jr during dog appreciation month.

And JP? Well, he did offer to get a pinch collar for the dogs and said I earned some sort of award for my heroism...but I'm still waiting for the award...and there was definitley a hint of laughter behind his words. I think a day at the spa would be perfect!

But at the very least, this should exempt me from dog walking duty, even though I'm going shopping for new shoes with better tread.

Washington!

I almost can't believe it, but we finally made it to Washington! All the details and planning that went into this move are mind boggling and I truly thought we wouldn't make it...but we did...by the grace of God!

Apple Picking

September, the month for picking apples. We're a couple days past September, but we finally got out to the Apple Farm. Boy, what a busy and popular place it was! And we had just enough time to "take care of" the fake farm animals, get a few pictures, play tether ball, eat lunch, drink apple cider, take a tractor ride, and pick apples before the rain started falling.

Happy Birthday to Us!

JP and I have birthdays 2 days apart...JP's on August 7th and mine on the 9th. So, this year we decided to rent a pontoon boat and head out to the lake. A perfect way to celebrate...other than the fact the boat wasn't powerful enough to water ski. And trust me we tried. But no matter how hard you jam on the accelerator the boat only went so fast. JP really wanted to take our dog Lucy and there's only one boat that allows dogs...a very slow pontoon boat (o: We had fun tubing, though...or I should say I had fun tubing. Olivia didn't care for it. Can you believe she prefers to fish than to tube??? Isaiah was a great trooper in his crazy life jacket that went around his head and between his legs. Fortunately he was only required to wear it when the boat was actually in motion. And we all had a blast swimming!!! Happy Birthday to us...and I am not saying how old we are (o: