The Anniversary Getaway Part II: Sleepless in Seattle

We love a good road trip and this one was no different.  Even better, we didn't have to worry about 'kid' music or frequent potty stops since we were sans kids.   But even in the middle of all the bliss....my mind wandered with expectations.  Our agenda for Seattle was wide open, and I am a planner.  I had messages out on FB for good eateries, and we were scouring the web for creative ideas.  

Yet somewhere in the middle of that 2.5 hour car ride I started to brood.

So much so that the minute we stepped foot in Seattle.....

....our trip went downhill.

I've put off this post for over a week because it's difficult to publish our issues without throwing either one of us 'under the bus.'   As in all relationships we both have our pet peeves.  One of mine is wanting everything planned out, while his is wanting to 'go with the flow.'

You can bet that is a source for many 'discussions' in our world.

But why would this even come up during our weekend away?

Well, I'll be the first to admit that I have high expectations.

And when those internal goals aren't met, I tend to get a bit testy.

Worse yet.....I might just get mad and stew about it, and not even vocalize those thoughts.

(right about now you've got a LOT of empathy for my hubby huh?)

Part of my frustration was our hotel.  Compared to our first night's stay in the heart of the city....this place was off the beaten path, near the congested University.  It was a dank little room with few perks.  A far cry from the Marriot.  Now I'm starting to sound spoiled....but I'm just keeping it real here folks!

So we checked into this hotel, unloaded and I was left to figure out our dinner plans.  All of that is fine....but bratty ol me is feeling less and less 'showered' with affection.

And after 11 years of marriage, during an anniversary getaway, 

the last thing a girl wants to feel is neglected.  

Enter the silent treatment.

Or something close to it.  Which was unfortunate because we ended up dining on some delicious sushi fare at the poshy Wasabi in Seattle.

After the meal I wanted to go out and explore.  He wanted to stay in.

In the end we went back to the hotel with an obvious chip on my shoulder.

At this point, I must add, he was more than willing to go on a drive or do whatever I wanted....but I was too busy fuming. 

It was SUCH an unfortunate mood swing I was having! (to say the least)

I'm obviously omitting some of our major issues here.  Both for the sake of our privacy and for the fact that some of them are just plain laughable!  You know?  Those things that, in hindsight, should never really have mattered!  But I'm pointing out the 'easy' complaints to give you an outline.

So we stayed up all night....alternately talking and not talking.

Wasting away our precious time together. 

But here is where I get philosophical. 

If we wouldn't have had all that time talking....we wouldn't have brought up a lot of issues.

Sometimes it takes the heat of anger to say what you've been too polite to say.

So we let it all hang out.  And we walked the whole..."our relationship is doomed" road.

And I wanted to share that because maybe we come across a little too 'peachy' at times.

We fight, and our fights can get ugly, but in the end we really do get stronger for it.

And to keep it real, I'll tell you we wasted most of the NEXT morning still duking it out.

So much so that I fully regret our time in that hotel room.

We finally checked out at noon and yet we still had a 4pm flight to catch.

We spent our final hours in Seattle down at Pike's Market which was crowded with Memorial Weekend tourists.

We met this filet-guy:

and watched them throw the fish: 

But our happiest thought was when we looked up Molly Moon's for ice cream.

I would seriously fly back to Seattle just.for.a.scoop of their homemade Salted Caramel! 

It took us over half an hour doing circles around city blocks...in all their one-way madness, but it was worth EVERY lick! 

To summarize:

 our whole mood in Seattle was somber.  The crowd at the Market was overwhelming.  Our lunch was overpriced.  Our time was limited.  And we both felt like fools.

Poor Seattle deserves a do-over. 

But I guess the best part was recognizing that Jarrod and I are still in this together.

Even if we didn't sit next to each other on our flight home.

Even if every second of our weekend wasn't spent oggling each other with stars in our eyes.

It's good to know we haven't got it all figured out.

Even after 11 years we can fail together.  

The two things I am sure of.....

Jarrod loves God more than anything.

He loves me.

And with those things in mind I don't have to dwell on the negative.  

Here's to making more memories together!

My dear husband of 11 years.....you compliment me in all my human ways, 

and in so doing.....you blow all of my expectations out of the water.

Thank you for putting up with me.

Tomorrow we wake up for our next adventure. 

A Day in the Life...

....of a Tea Lady.

Every Friday our co-op enjoys tea together.

It's a feat to present a beautiful table and treats for 50-60 people.

As small as they may be.

High tea may normally be set with the finest bone china.

But I'd challenge you to find a more beautiful moment than three helpful toddlers loading up a cart of odds and end china.  

These pieces have been lovingly collected for our group and

 are crazily stored in one little cabinet on site. 

Amazingly enough, it's usually the adults who end up breaking the random cup each week. 

Not that anything could stop this production!  One week I had volunteered to launder the tablecloths and napkins.  Heading out the door the next week I realized they were still dirty and in their original bag.  

Somehow we managed with available plastic table cloths, 

paper napkins and a lot of grace! 

The point of this tea time is instruction, not perfection!

Now onto our menu, which is the fluid side of this production.

Our food choices follow the guide of a savory, sweet, and fresh course.

Half the fun is watching what the three assigned families bring to share.  Homemade scones, breakfast muffins, crudite, hummus, you name it, we've served it!

And when one forgets, (as all of us are prone to do atleast once!)

...it's a gift to see how we pull together and provide for the meal.

From a quick run down to Safeway, or a trip to the car for a full bag of pretzels.
There is always plenty of food for the kiddos to enjoy!

The Tea Lady arrives before any other teacher to ensure the tables and chairs are set up.

Then the tablecloths are smoothed out and the places set with a cup/saucer, a small plate, cloth napkin and a teaspoon. Colored photos are placed along each table for discussion during tea time.  Each term we focus on one artist and we rotate through chosen pieces each week. The kids are taught to discuss the colors and content of each piece, as well as the mood/intentions of the artist.  

Sometimes they even discuss how they might have changed a piece if they were its creator.

Sugar cubes are replenished, milk is poured into creamers, and colorful placecards are distributed.

Once the tables are set and the food is plated, a classical composition is piped into the room to complete the atmosphere.  Then, before we serve the tea, and pray, we also have the children review etiquette.

If you would have asked me a year ago how my boys would do sitting down for tea, 

I would have been speechless.

Now I know that they not only enjoy this time, 

but they appreciate the effort that it takes to set the tea on their behalf.

Our Tea Lady is quite fantastic at what she does.... 

For after the quick teatime, there are tables to be cleared and a counter full of dishes to be hand washed.

It all amounts to a busy morning with dozens of caring mommas involved.

While the students return to their classes, a small troupe works to undo all that was set up only two hours before.  But we all know that doing dishes ANYWHERE other than home, especially with friends is infinitely MORE enjoyable!  

Soon the little cupboard will be full again and ready for the next week's hospitality.  

And THAT my friend, is a day/or morning in the life of a 'Tea Lady.'

*This post dedicated to the one who makes it all happen.  Stop blushing! You are loved <3

In a month's time....

What a lazy blogger I have been.  First I let my old blog just sit there because I can't figure out why my subscription for more pictures won't upgrade.....and then I go an neglect this blog week after week!

Well here, for your viewing pleasure, and for my validation, I present to you a photographic review of the past few weeks.

Starting at home:

I have many more projects open than my husband appreciates.  Tomorrow I hope to finish this one....valances for our front room.  Stay tuned for more details.  

We celebrated the 'real' birthday of our youngest......and have been working hard on the party planning for her 5th birthday. Here she is, painting her Puppy Party invites, don't you love that fresh from the tub glow?

I made 100 or so of these scones the other day.  They were chock full of dried apples, and stuffed with Blackberry jam, then brushed with a cinnamon butter glaze.

Nothing like dressing up a little Bisquick to feed the masses.

I helped host a Progressive Luncheon that had our new home filled with lovely ladies <3

Outside of our home:

Natalia has found a little kindred spirit....and man, if we lived closer these two would be attached at the hip!

I played Twister and failed miserably.

My boys have been such adventurers lately...and so noisy.  I'm going to blame it on Spring Fever and be glad that Baseball season is here!

Oh, that's another busy thought...we're managing Merrick's baseball team, and have been busy running the kids to 3 practices a week, weather permitting.

I've been surrounded by newborn cuteness.  So far it hasn't been catching.

I ate a cupcake that Smurfed out my tongue.  And for some reason I felt posting that was necessary.....

As for my background...yes I painted that mess of a canvas, and the flag on my desk is cracking me up!  Seriously, Nikki are you razzing our country?  Never! God bless America!

On a more serious note:

We spent last month praying for my Nina.  She was in the hospital for 3 weeks and bounced back from some major trauma, and this picture encompasses, much of the serenity in our last visit. 

Amazing.  Thank you Jesus that her time here is not yet finished.  And that she met our sweet boy Josiah.

We also attended a surprisingly fantastic concert by Matthew West.  But the emotional bonding was even more fascinating.  Praise God that He inspires artists with such passion.  Matthew West moved a lot of people that night.....and it was even better shared with the closest of friends:

Last but not least, we climbed a mountain to touch the snow.

Which deserves it's own post.
But suffice it to say that I shed tears that day.  

Yes, the victory was sweet.....

And the memories priceless.

I'll try not to let this month's memories bottleneck into one post.  

But consider yourself caught up for now.

Oregon coast roadtrip- Part Two

Like I said....it's never a dull moment when we're roadtripping.....

but man this trip lent itself to some gorgeous eye candy.

Witness winter dusk on the beach.... 

All that cloud cover provided ample opportunity for the aspiring photographer in me.  I had a field day with the lighting!  Sigh, so much to learn....and even MORE to one day photograph! But I digress....

The kids......Oh the kids were full of it to say the least.

After our early morning lighthouse tour, we had a mission to accomplish.

Jarrod needed me to drive to a town 30 minutes away and find their UPS store.  Though it sounded easy enough....it took us 3 hours to find the place, coordinate with Jarrod on where he wanted it shipped, and stop for various bathroom/food breaks.   Randomly enough....the UPS store was in the same parking lot of a HUGE Goodwill store.  My curiosity paid off and we were rewarded with New With Tags jeans for each of the kids, and a Brand New Oster Blender, all  for $20.   Not a bad detour if you ask me! 

Then it was time to pick up Jarrod from work.

Before we headed to dinner....we thought we would stop by a park to let them 'get out their wiggles.'

I had passed a fantastic city park during the day.....and Jarrod assured me he had seen one near the beach.

His idea of a 'park' turned out to be a couple benches on the beach.

Hilarious miscommunication there babe.

But we utilized that bench for all it was worth:

Though the weather had been gorgeous around....65 degrees all day long....the sun was now setting and it was brisk out there!

The kids were dying to get in the water, so we held them off with a little rock tossing ;)

Then, having dogged inmates AND hypothermia for one day, 

 it was finally time for dinner.

And what MUST you eat when you're staying beachside?

Seafood of course!

After lobster and some delish wine, it was time for the promised hotel swim at the indoor pool.

The kids exhausted themselves while we sat poolside playing Angry Birds.   

IT was the perfect ending to a busy day!

The next morning we were up in time to catch the complimentary breakfast and then back on the road.

Eating, driving, driving, eating....are you seeing a pattern here?

Our goal was to head down the coast to a place called the Trees of Mystery.  

On our way we randomly saw signs that pointed to another lighthouse.  

What a gem of a stop it turned out to be!

The lighthouse was located on a peninsula.

During high tide the lighthouse location is more of an island....making all the rocky beach in between RIPE for tide pools!

You can see the waves creeping in on the left.  At high tide this ramp UP to the lighthouse would be partially covered.  

The tide pools were such a gift, as we had studied these little habitats earlier in the year.

These pools were chock full of crabs, both hermit and full sized crabs, starfish, and tiny fish.

It's so amazing for the kids to recount to their daddy what they had learned about each of these creatures.

Not to mention the hands on factor.  Though, I love that our four year old was the bravest one.

Completely unafraid to hold the live creature.

Well, she might have been a LITTLE grossed out...but in the end she was bolder than EITHER of her brothers....and especially her mother!

We had a funny Circle of life moment as we walked away from this starfish.

We watched a seagull swoop down and grab something for a snack.

And I practically had to hold back the boys from chasing down the bird.

In the end, we spotted our little starfish friend and relocated it to deeper waters.  He survived becoming lunch for one more day.  Sorry Mr. Seagull, not on our watch!

Back to the Lighthouse.....smiles seemed hard to come by....

Oh wait....here are a couple: 

It was strange walking around the grounds because this lighthouse is actually still occupied.

Though the inside is closed for tours until May, we could peek in and see all their belongings.

It seemed the family was just out running errands.  It felt a bit obtrusive.  Needless to say, we didn't stay for long.  Though it was a beautiful stop!

We still had plenty of road to cover.

My amazing husband had the 9 hour drive to complete with us PLUS another 4 hours to finish before his head hit the pillow that night.

Unfortunately, we decided to cut across Oregon on the windiest road I've EVER been on which added atleast 3 more hours onto our drive. 

Jarrod laughs that we are the WORST road trip companions as we force him to stop for potty breaks and we ALL tend to get motion sickness. 

Well I say it's HIS fault for dragging us along!

But in the end, as long as we keep popping lemondrops and Dramamine.....

the memories are worth the effort. 

I just think it's amazing that he wants to be with us SO much that he'd trade a peaceful, non-stop business trip, for a much interrupted escapade with us.

I can't say enough about what a terrific daddy he is.

Until next time Oregon Coast.

I'm sure we'll pass this way again.  Just not across the 35 next time!  Ick, I thought my stomach was doing back handsprings! 

the End