Seattle Trip!!

Warning! Picture Overload!!

But I had to take lots of pictures, it was sooo pretty, and I am actually kicking myself for not taking more!!

This summer, we decided...well actually, Dustin decided, he wanted to see an Angels game. Well Anaheim is a LONG ways off so we went for the next best thing, 

An Angels vs. Mariners game in Seattle. 

What!?! A trip, to a cool new city, including a ball game, and sightseeing, and beautiful scenery?!!?

Count me in!

But it was a LONG LONG drive. Thank goodness for road side rest stops...they are my friend.

At one, we seen this little swallow that must have fallen out of its nest, it was still downy looking. And the mama was coming a long and feeding it, so the kids wanted to get a picture. None of us could capture the moment quite right.

But Seattle was beautiful. I am a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, so it is kind of fun to see the city where they portray the show. the kids got a kick out of the huge Ferry boats, watching them load and unload dozens of cars. 

We went to a little lighthouse on the bay and were able to climb up inside to the top. It wasn't very big, but cute, and interesting.

Then we hit the ball games!!

Dustin and Brody went to one by themselves and me and the other two kids stayed at the hotel and chillaxed. Brody thought it was pretty neat he got to go with his dad all by himself!!

And then the next day we went to one as a family. It was great to be back in a Ball Park, nothing quite like it!!

After the game, the kids had a chance to run around the bases!! That's two Ball Parks we have walked around the infield on!!

We did alot of walking around. We had almost a week, but really, there is so much to see, its so hard to take it all in!! Pike's Place Market was really neat. Its a Public Farmer's type market with lots of stalls and shops selling everything from Fresh Flowers, Fresh Foods, antiques, jewelry, to fresh fish!! And these were not your everyday fish. I'm talking fish as big as Cooper man!!

We went to the Gum Wall as well. Seattle is a very 'Artsy' town, lots of art, music etc. going on. One alley, by the Market, is the gum wall, where people come from all over and put their gum onto the wall and add to the Public Art. Every one in the family except myself, thought it was gross. I think my male nurse actually almost had a panic attack thinking of all the germs!!

Then we went to the Space Needle!!

I was so glad it was a fairly clear day so we had a great view of the Downtown and surrounding city. Gracie hated it! She is scared of heights and did not like being up there. I finally convinced her to smile for a picture...

The boys thought is was neat, though, and the nerd in me loved all the signs with facts and how it was built and why. I love that stuff.

From the top of the Space Needle, we could see this fountain, so we walked over to explore it. It was huge and sprayed water to music. The kids had fun trying to dodge the streams of water to get close enough to touch it.

We spent another day at this little Zoo. It was fun and relaxing and had a nice little aquarium as well. I think the kids enjoyed the fact we weren't Sightseeing, and doing something a little more fun in there eyes!!

On the way home, we made a stop at Silverwood. I figured with the long weekend, it would be CRAZY!! But it actually was nice, and not too busy. We did the waterpark and then the rides. We convinced Cooper to ty a big Rollercoaster, because he was finally big enough. He was super nervous, but he did it (one big scream at the beginning, eyes closed and death grip on Mom's arm the entire time!!) and when it was done he said:

"Is it going to go fast again?!"

The other kids went on it a couple more times but Cooper declined. He loved the kiddy rides and was so proud of himself because he put his hands in the air on the Little Kiddy coaster.

It was so much fun!

I love taking trips with my little family to new places. I love taking my kids to see new and different things and seeing it through their eyes!! I can't wait to see what our next big adventure will be!!

Sidenote: we seen the building where they make the Boeing Airplanes...biggest building in the whole world. Actually didn't think it was that big when we drove by...until I figured out the 'ants' crawling on the airplanes and the ground were actually employees!!

Day of Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I will admit, I have not been feeling very Thankful this week, and I have a bad attitude and I need to fix it. I have a slight problem when it comes to stress. Just a little one. One that causes me to freak out at the wrong times, over react to stupid things, not sleep, think of the worst possible scenarios, and eat alot of chocolate. I am finishing off a large bag of M&Ms right now as we speak.

And really its kind of stupid. I cannot control everything, but I want to.

I cannot make people get things done faster, but I want to.

I cannot plan out the next few weeks to fall exactly where I would like them too, 

when I would like them to, but I want to.

I have a slight problem with Control Issues.

It is Thanksgiving though. A time to reflect and look at all that I have, all that I have been given by my Heavenly Father. And right now, I need to. Because all I can think about is all the stress in my life, how I can't control it, and how I want to and all the other things that go along with it.

Though I am enjoying the M&Ms...

So here is my list of 10 things I am Thankful for:

1. My husband - He is my strength, and my rock. We have had difficulties and pulled through. I have had difficulties and he pulls me through. He makes myself and the kids laugh, and I will be forever grateful for that...especially with weeks like this.

2. My Gracie - she drives me absolutely bonkers...especially now that we are hitting that preteen era, but she is my sun. She is almost always so happy and carefree. She laughs at everything, and is SO GOOD with her brothers. I wish I could be more like her...that's probably why she drives me nuts!

3. My Brody - He is so smart, and kind and thoughtful...and so much like his dad. The quiet shutdown type when he's upset and mad. But the rest of the time, he is a great kid and such a great helper. He helps keep me sane from the chaos.

4. My Cooper - He is my energizer bunny, and I only wish I had enough to keep up with him. He is so silly and goofy. He keeps us all laughing. I'm also grateful for him, because, being the baby, he has reminded me of how fast time goes, and how much I need to enjoy the little things in life.

5. My House - It is warm, it is dry, it is beautiful. I am not a great decorator, but it is my home. It has our families touches everywhere, and I love that.

6. My Parents - I love my mom and dad. I am so grateful for being able to live close again, and I am so grateful for them being in my children's lives. I talk to my mom almost everyday!

7. Dustin's Parents - I am lucky and I have 2 moms and dads! I am so grateful that there are in my kids' lives as well, and that they are so helpful with them. I am so grateful for them raising the son that they did so that we have the Husband and Father that we do.

8. Our families - I'm talking brothers, sisters, aunts uncles and cousins. I am grateful for being so close to so many of them again. I love watching nieces and nephews grow up. I love having family dinners and evenings playing and enjoying together.

9. Our friends - my adopted family. I am so grateful for my friends. I am especially grateful for my friends in California, the ones who pulled me through some of the hardest times of my life, though they probably didn't even realize it! My friends are the family that I have gotten to pick!

10. Our health - We are healthy, our kids are healthy. We do not have to worry about any major medical concerns and I am forever grateful. 

I know the list is much much longer, but it would take me a LONG time to write ALL the things I am grateful for. But I'm glad I did write these things. Sometimes when life is hard, stressful and not going our way, we tend to look at all the bad stuff and forget all the good things that are happening to us. The little things that make life beautiful. The feel of the autumn breeze on your skin, the sound of my children's laughter, the smell of pumpkin pie in the oven, the taste of ice cream melting in your mouth. All the little things that make the big picture even better. All the little things that make up life. All the little things that make dealing with the stress and confusion all that much easier.

I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for all my blessings that he has given me and helped me obtain. I am thankful for friends, family and possessions that we have. For freedom and the gospel and the knowledge of the truth. For children and laughter and cool breezes and warm sun.

And for M&Ms...