Summer To Do List

In the Pacific Northwest the summer is our 2-3 month piece of heaven. For 10 months we suffer through freezing rain, gray skies, and rain jackets. Then for 2 glorious months (3-4 if we get really lucky) the Northwest gods reward us with the most perfect weather you could ever imagine. Having just moved to Seattle last year Shawn and I did not fully take advantage of the summer while it was here. So this summer we have made plans to be outdoors enjoying every blissful minute of the sun while it graces us. Here is a small taste of the plans we have for our perfect summer.

Right after our 5k our friend Kyle Hicks is flying into Seattle and will be staying with us for the night until he heads up to see his family in Canada! Cannot wait to see him! He has been in Korea since last year on deployment!

After my 5k I am sooo excited to be headed to Florida to see one of my besties Andie!! Cannot wait for that fun adventure!

Next on my bucket list:

Camping in Middle fork WA.

 

Para-Gliding off of Tiger Mountain, what a view!

Kayaking the Puget Sound with Whales! We are waiting on Keith for this one!

Paddle Board the Puget Sound? Umm Why not?

We are sadly yet to see a Mariners Game, we will be there once it gets a little warmer!

This is Spray Falls one of many hikes we will be taking at Mount Rainier

Check out the incredible Olympic Peninsula when it isn't 40 or less degrees!

You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl! Even Washington has a fun river to float! Headed to Snoqualmie River to float!

Although we haven't decided where a roadtrip to Cali is on our list!

I've heard Lake Tahoe is a place you have to see to understand the beauty. I guess we have no choice but to see for ourselves!

A must do is see my brother and beautiful niece Luna in Tampa. I am hoping it will be a family reunion with both my brothers and my sisters!

As you can see we cannot wait to see all the trails, beaches and mountaintop views that Washington has to offer. This summer should be another to remember! On top of all our to do we still have several friends who have promised to visit and we hope all of you can make it to see our new home!!

Well hello old friends

Since I am yet to write a blog on my visitors since I have moved to Seattle I thought I would catch everyone up!!

Last September Shawn and I had our very first visitor. Shawn's cousin Mac came back last September. Mac and Shawn are the same age and have been close friends all growing up as most cousins do. Although we were still new to Seattle we were still able to show Mac around and have a good time. We were able to go zip lining, bar hopping,  Oktoberfest (right in our neighborhood), take a ferry and well a ton more I honestly don't remember!

For Mac's Birthday we were able to take the Ferry over and go zipping in the San Juan Islands!

Fun bar at Friday Harbor waiting for the ferry home

Oktoberfest fun! 

Mac and Shawn enjoying the variety of beers at Oktoberfest!

In February Keith an old high school friend came to visit for a short trip. Although like Mac, Keith was mostly here for Shawn I still got to hang along and had a blast with them! Sadly since Keith only got to stay for one day we didn't get a chance to take any photos together. He is planning on visiting this summer and this must be remedied!

Great shot of the Troll Keith took. The Fremont troll is a must see in our neighborhood. 

The amazing thai food we were so happy to go eat! We are so happy Keith loves interesting food like we do!

My next visitor was my 15 year old niece Stefanie. Stefanie and I have always been pretty close considering we are only 11 years apart in age. She is so funny, sweet, and is one of the prettiest girls I know. I was lucky enough to be able to fly her up her for her 15th birthday this March and I must say we had a blast! I made sure she got to see as must of the Northwest as we could fit into 4 days! I had such a blast and hope she will be able to make it back next year :) 

For Stef's Bday we visited one of my favorite restaurants- The crab pot! Love crab boils!

Chihuly glass exhibit, what beautiful artwork!

Stefanie rocking out at the EMP

On the ferry on our way to Forks! Couldn't forget about the Twilight Experience!

Unfortunately for us it was soo rainy just like the books claim. We however were determined to stick our bare feet in the ocean!

We found the twilight gang!

My latest visitor was my 77 year old grandfather. That's right my SEVENTY SEVEN year old GRANDPA came to visit me before all of you! Shame, shame on you all! Anyways my grandpa was very excited to see the northwest and this place I like to call home so we planned it out and on he flew to come see me! My grandpa raised me for most of my life so it was a blessing to be able to have him come spend some quality time with Shawn and I. 

If you don't know my grandpa he is not your average 77 year old. He looks like he is 60 and acts like he is 50. He is very "spry" for old man as he likes to say. We were able to go downtown, ride the ferris wheel, and even check out the mountains. The weather was not as cooperative as we had hoped but we still had a great time. 

Grandpa's first day in Seattle eating at our favorite burger place "Uneeda Burger"

Riding the ferris wheel checking out the view!

Grandpa and Shawn enjoying the pier

Checking out Snoqualmie Falls

Milo loved grandpa

As of now these are my Seattle visitors, if you haven't visited yet then you should get your pretty little booty up here! There is so much to see, do, drink, eat, and enjoy!! 

Washington.....The State I'm Good At

Ever since I was a child I have been looking for something I have a strong talent in. Everyone seems to have one thing they shine at. For instance Shawn has always been amazing at baseball. It was his passions since he was a small kid and he shined brightly in it. Me however I have always felt like there was nothing I was a shining star in.

Now this was not for a lack of trying, we will begin with 6th grade basketball.  I can look back at my feeble attempts now and crack up laughing. I was so uncoordinated, so out of shape, and I simply didn't understand how the plays worked.  So eventually I gave up and became the manager....I will admit due to a little shame and how timid I was that was not much of a success either.

My freshman year I wanted to get out there and try again. I decided to play softball. I don't think anyone's shins have seen more bruises than this girls. I can still remember the 105 degree August practices on the brink of passing out from the sprints couch Stevens had us doing....I think I'll pass on that one thank you.

The story goes on....trying tennis with Jennifer in college (luckily both of us sucked at sports and found comfort in that fact), volleyball, golf...oh the list goes on.

I have always felt I simply am not athletic and am extremely uncoordinated. Until I moved to Washington that is.

When I moved to Washington last year I began to do more things outside and more athletic things than I normally would. Turns out I just wasn't in the right region all my life.

I absolutely love hiking. I think I could hike everyday. Going hiking is such an eye opening experience.  You challenge yourself by insisting you go that extra mile simply because you must see the next beautiful view point the mountain has to offer. After living with mountains at my fingertips,  I can't imagine a world without them.

Then we land at skiing. Ever since I was a child I wanted to try skiing but simply never had the money. After trying in February I fell in love. I am actually not bad at skiing. I just went with it, I absolutely loved the adrealine and instead of wanting to slow down I find it so easy to just ease into the speed and enjoy it.  I can proudly say I did not fall once.

More than that in the Midwest I was always bored. In the Midwest it is either always too cold or too hot to be outside.  In Seattle going outside is almost always an option.  Take a stroll along one of our many beaches boardering the puget sound,  go for a run along green lake, go hiking in our many magnificent mountains or even our parks within the city limits. Feel like being in the water?  Go rent a kayak or paddle board and get out there!  Want to be social? Go check out a farmers or public market, there is always at least one open every day.  In Seattle you have no excuse to be bored,  except through your own laziness.

The moral of this story is there is something for everyone,  keep trying different things until you find that thing that fits you just perfect.

Also after moving the the Northwest I realize I was meant to be born into a rich family, thus ensuring I always was participating in these kind of activites from childhood. The stork simply dropped me off at the wrong house.  Ah maybe next time around!