Summer Vacation 2015

While Daddy was away (his own vacation adventures to be chronicled later), Mommy, Sophie, and Cameron enjoyed our own summer vacation with Grandma and Papa.  Time spent with my parents is always special, amazing, and wonderful.  Words cannot even begin to describe how many joyful memories were made.  We had water fights.  We enjoyed dinner out in the garden under the cover of Christmas lights.  The kids had FULL days packed with swimming, with sand, with toys, with love.  We had two bloody accidents, some minor intestinal issues, early morning snuggles and slumber parties, lots of jam sandwiches and Otter Pops, and goodbye tears when we departed.

A little pre-flight reading

And more on-flight reading.  Safety First. 

The trip was divided into three sections: time at Grandma and Papa's house, a girls-only trip, and time at Priest Lake.

In Spokane, the kids spent hours and hours swimming like fish in the pool.  They also matched their swimming time with time playing with Uncle Chris's huge buckets of Legos! It is so relaxing to be home with Grandma and Papa.

The kids and Papa playing "kittens."

In the middle of the vacation, my mom, Sophie, and I went on a girls-only shopping trip to Seattle! We shopped until we dropped! Sophie proved that not only can she shop with the women, but she LOVES it! She loved her lunch at the Nordstrom cafe with our bags stacked high on the empty seat.  She was on fire as a sassy, gracious, and bright girl! My mom and I both marveled at how grown up she is.  We all stayed in a hotel room together, which gave us the best opportunity to introduce Sophie to HGTV and "House Hunters." And Sophie LOVED the shows as much as my mom and I do.  We toured some of our favorite and missed locations in Bellevue-- special parks, breakfast spots, our old neighborhood.  Thanks to my momma for the unbelievably wonderful trip!

the chair that got away.... and the adorable model who is mine forever!

macaroon pit stop

intently watching HGTV 

Lunch with Caroline at the American Girl Store!

And while the girls are away, the boys will play! Papa and Cameron spent a couple days together, and hopefully they didn't throw back too may of these beers:

And then, our summer vacation continued up at Priest Lake.  Perfection.

His love and adoration for her... tear jerking. 

A highlight of the lake experience was the hysterical play written, designed, and performed by Sophie, Cameron, and Papa.  Here they are in their costumes!

This one STOLE the show!

Sophie LOVED her first time inner tubing and even survived when we went outside the wake! 

 
Cameron and I lasted about 5 seconds on the inner tube before he decided that he'd prefer to be the official flagger on the boat! But both of the kids jumped off the boat and the dock, loving the warm water.

Lifetime memories sealed in the memory bank, I tell you.  I can't wait until next summer to hit the REPEAT button!

We finished the trip as it began: reading on-board.