NEW VISITORS

Well, because we are so popular. We had some new visitors! Hans' parents came to visit us. It was their first time to Washington- EVER! It had a great impression on them too.

They got in Saturday afternoon a couple hours before Hans got off. The girls and I got them settled. I made dinner. Hans got home and we ate. After dinner, we took them to see some of the town. We actually just drove them up to see all the orchards and vineyards that we have around. It got a little harder to see once the sun was setting- so we went and got some frozen yogurt! One of my favorite things. I usually don't get much yogurt though. ; )

 Arlee, Ulla and Alan

On Sunday we decided to go up for a drive. Wanting to keep the Sabbath Day holy still we didn't go to a place where we had to pay. Oh man was there a difference. I wasn't too impressed with this place. I was going to take Arlee down to the water and the people that you can see in the picture were surfing. They had some bungee cord of some sort and they told us that if it snapped then we would get hit where we were. I have to say that it was a bit irritating!

 After taking them to Yakima canyon we decided to go to the Sportsman's Park. On the way there I remembered that Alan and Ulla were asking what the crop was that was growing straight out of the ground. We told them that it was hops and we would go and see some. They just happened to be on the way to our next stop. We pulled over and looked at them. Ulla assured us that we weren't going to pick any and just look at them and take pictures. Well we took pictures and got back in the car. She had picked one (the forbidden fruit). She got a lot of crap from doing so too.

 After her thieving we got to the park and started exploring.

 There was a walking path around the pond.

 We saw turtles!!!!!! My favorite part. I hadn't seen any in the wild before.

 Blackberry bushes

 Enjoyed some too! YUM

 Quacked at the ducks

Took a few pictures

 The next day was Monday. Hans and I planned out the whole week. Most of it went according to plan.

 Alan and Ulla at Rimrock Lake off of highway 12 (white pass)

 Ulla can start a conversation with anyone. The guy in the yellow is not with us, but you wouldn't even guess it. They talked a while about politics- not a fan of this subject!

 After he left we got some more pictures.

 Made a pit stop before heading over to the other part of the Clear Creek Waterfall.

 Precious!

 Upper part. The other was the lower.

 AH!!!! We finally got Alan to see the tip of Rainier! It was clouded over before when we stopped at the view point.

He was a good sport and posed for me like this and the above one as well.

A guy from a Yakima rest home offered to take this for us. The elderly people in the van didn't seem to mind waiting either.

 This is the view point from Lake Tipsoo.

 Alan was on a mission to get a view from the lake. I carried Lydia and pushed Arlee in the stroller. Hans and Ulla headed to the bathroom.

 Wild flowers here are only visible for four months of the year. Last time that we came here it was covered in snow. It was during the same month too. The two times that we have been to this view point they have looked completely different. (This was closed when my mom came in May- it opens up after Memorial day.)

 After Tipsoo we headed to a hike/walk. It is called the Grove of the Patriarchs.

If you haven't noticed yet. I love pictures with the sun coming through. This might not be the right way, but it is my way of capturing a moment.

 Hans and Lydia weren't much help. Arlee and I were carrying all the weight of this tree. Man was it heavy. Don't be fooled by my expression.

 The bridge to get through. Really pretty I must say.

 Me and Lydia on the bridge. This is a one person bridge. Otherwise, I would not be taking this myself.

 Tree that was tipped over. These are the roots.

 You can't even see the top of the tree. They are really thick and very tall.

 Alan and Ulla bearing the weight!

 Rainier is behind us, but you can't really tell. I need a polarized lens.

Hans can't get enough of my eyes. Can you blame him? I look mad, but I am not. HAHA

 Waiting in traffic

 Alan

 Lydia

One of Arlee's favorite things. We did this when we went to the coast with Abbie and Matt in April. She squeezes the life out of you in the process, but her joy and excitement it completely worth it.
Oh yeah and my calves are horribly sore too. Started Insanity (60 day work out program) and it has done it's tole one me.

 Pelicans! Hans kept screaming it. Kind of funny.

 Sad, but it happens. This is a dead seal. It wasn't until we got to the left of the picture that it really started reeking. Man it was foul! I could have thrown up then and there. This is the only one that we saw- which explains why I posted a picture of it.

 Sun coming through the clouds.

 Arlee loved looking for pretty rocks. When we were done she had so many in her pocket. That might explain why she seemed to be so heavy and then light after we took them out of her pockets.

 Hans, Alan and I switched off which child we were carrying, since Arlee can't walk in her cast. Lydia loved her grandpa's sun glass lens case. She was happiest with him.

 Hans and Arlee running from the waves.

 We were planning on walking to these rocks, but it started to rain. And lets face it my calves were yelling at me. We turned around and headed back.

 After turning around it stopped raining. We were able to take a little longer and get more pictures. We are guessing all these huge trees came on the beach from the Tsunami in Japan.

 The girls and I are sitting up on the roots of this tree. It is upside down.

 Arlee and Hans sitting in the whole of this tree.

Standing on this one. It is wider than 6 feet!

 Driving back though Olympic National Forest We got to see the pretty sunset on the lake. It was gorgeous!

 Wednesday, was Pikes Market and Space Needle day.

Since I don't care for fish one bit this was the worst part of the whole trip. As soon as we walked in I wanted to walk out and lose my breakfast. Out of love and curiosity I stayed and endured the task.

 I was surprised at the beautiful arrangements and the low cost of them. This was really the only bargain- Ulla says. I have to lean to agreeing with her. If I had been going some soon I would have brought some. They were amazing! They were also making them right in front of us.

 Tasting the nasty things!

 Lydia and I waiting outside the bathrooms

 There were plenty of artists here. This group was my favorite. They has some hoe down music. They were also pretty animated. The old guy on the very right was a friend to everyone. He was there to simply visit, sing opera and tap his cane to the music. Everyone seemed to enjoy him. Everyone, but Arlee- she would rather he didn't talk to her. HAHA.

Ah yes, the fish throwing!

 The gum wall- pretty gross, but we had to get a picture anyway.

 When we went to the Space Needle last time we didn't need a reservation. We went with my mom in December when Lydia was two weeks old and she was getting on the plane later in the afternoon. Now that it is August you need to have a reservation. Not a surprise, but we didn't even think about it. Now we will because we had to wait until 2:30 to eat lunch. If you know me very well you know this doesn't go over very well. I tend to get cranky even if I am trying my hardest not to.

 While we were waiting for the 2 hours to pass. We tried finding a Neu haus chocolate shop. It said on the Internet that they were there. We got a little excited, but soon found out that they weren't anymore. What a let down! (This is a chocolate shop that can be found in Hans' mission- Netherlands. They seriously are the best chocolate I have ever had.)
Then we decided to go back to the Space Needle and walk around and wait for the rest of the time to go by. They have some really cool things around- art things. They have blown glass sculptures (shown in picture above) huge funky buildings, bands and other things.

 Finally 2:15 came it was time to take the ride up to the top. The elevator goes 10 miles per hour and it takes about 45 seconds to get to the top. The dining room will take 45 minutes to make one full turn. In that time you can enjoy your lunch, send notes to other people since the wall moves/the floor moves and talk amongst yourselves.

One of many views from our table.

 Lydia was pretty fussy until I gave her some of my food. She loved this pickle! Surprising to most- Arlee liked them for a little bit, so I thought she might. And she did. If you took it from her to wipe her face off you were in trouble!

 After lunch you can go up to the observation deck and walk around and get all kinds of views. This is not a rotating platform, thank goodness.

After exploring Pikes and the Space Needle we went to the Bellevue Temple (Seattle).

It was a beautiful day. We had a great time with Hans' parents who left the next day. : ( We were able to see a lot of things and the experience some things for the first time together. We had a great trip. A lot of it is because the girls did a great job powering through all the driving that we did. From the time that we left to our return we drove 856 miles. 

Until next time in Squatch Country (nickname from Ulla. Can you guess why?)...

The Hoges