Spring Break in Pictures…. Lots and lots of pictures

This post could be broken down into 3 or 4 different posts…. But it's not, it's just one….. So it's LOOOOONNNNNNGGGG! (and I mean really really long)

Last week was Shawn's spring break, which meant we got him all to ourselves for 9 WHOLE DAYS. Okay, he did have to do some school work, but it wasn't enough to complain about, so I won't.

It started with my trip to CA. Shawn did great with the kids. They went out for ice cream, to chuck-e-cheese, watched endless movies, and even went to church (Shawn gets a pat on the back for that!)

The day after I got home we went to the Oceanside beach

There was a cave that we walked through. It lead to another beach, go figure! Shawn and I thought it was cool, but it was too dark and windy for the kids.

It was a pretty windy day (that's why Reagan is bundled up). We made a barricade of rocks as a shelter for her. But otherwise, it was a beautiful, sunny day!

Finally, out wandering out of the shelter… All it took was a bag of Lucky Charms to make her happy.

The boys and I took a walk and went rock-climbing. We found a little tide pool with one lonely starfish. When the tide was low, we walked to one area of the beach…. Then when the waves came up, the only way to get back was to trudge through this pool of water. Grant didn't want to cross through it, I don't blame him (it was FA-REEZING!) Sorry buddy, you've got to cross it! Maybe we were too harsh. I don't know… but his face is priceless. If only you could hear the screaming (okay, I'll admit, I'm a little cruel)

The boys. They could stay here ALL day (and night) if we let them.

Jefferson and I enjoying the sun

Daddy and Daugher. Reagan is refusing to look at the camera. She's mad because she ate all the marshmallows and I won't give her more Lucky Charms. Do ALL kids do that, or just mine?

Grant, just exploring

The next day Shawn went golfing. He deserved a nice, long break from responsibilities (and us). A friend and I took our kids out to Portland and let them walk the trails of the Arboretum. They had a blast.

On Thursday, we worked on our family garden. We rented a plot of land in a local community garden. It's a pretty big plot, 250 square feet. We're so excited to have the opportunity to use the land. We'd been talking about it to the kids, but telling them we just hoping to get a spot, because we weren't sure they had any land left. After we said that, it was so cute to hear Jefferson praying that "we can get the land to plant a garden to grow vegetables so our family can eat."

On Friday we got up early and drove up to SEATTLE to see our friends from high school, Leia and Jason. It was so nice to visit with them, it had been MUCH TOO LONG! We even got to meet there cat (Rascal) and dog (Coda) who Jefferson LOVED. He is still talking about them.

On our first day up there we met up with Leia at the Imagine Children's Museum (which is AMAZING). It has our Portland Children's museum BEAT.

Shawn and the kids in the 'reading room'

The boys piloting Oceanic Flight 815

Reagan could have stayed in this 'black light' room ALL DAY

Leia and the kids in the 'water room'

Digging for dinosaur bones

And everyone's favorite (okay, just mine)…. The construction room. I helped Grant build a ride-on dinosaur. And Leia helped Jefferson build from his imagination (and it turned out pretty cool).

Jefferson pushing Reagan in his creation

We all went out to eat at Red Robin that night, yum! Then we went to our hotel. I can't remember the last time the kids stayed in a hotel. They loved every second of it. Jumping on beds, watching movies, eating ice chips, playing with the heater, staying up really late... pure kid fun!

The next morning we got up extra early and Leia and Jason took us to see the Fremont Troll. The boys were fascinated. All the way there they had a million questions. They were most concerned whether it was going to eat us…. They were relieved when it didn't.

Then it was off to the Woodland Park Zoo!

It was a huge zoo. Luckily we had our tour guide, who took his job seriously!

We got to see a lot of animals we'd never seen at the zoo before. Like an ostrich, a tapir, and a komodo dragon.

There's something about brass statues that get my kids really excited!

And this was one of the 'good ones'!

We said goodbye to our friends and headed to the Space Needle. The boys were especially excited. They couldn't wait to up into 'space' and see the 'whole world'

But this is as close as we got….

Grant wasn't feeling 100% the whole trip. But right before going up the needle, his lips turned blue and he was BURNING UP! It was time to go home. Jefferson was really bummed, but forgot about it after Shawn bought him some of this…

We'll just have to come back soon! We had so much fun. Thank you Leia and Jason for taking us around your city. We loved seeing you guys!

I would have to say that spring break was AWESOME! Having Shawn all to ourselves is a real treat, no matter what we do!