Washington II - and out and about

I had a performance in Duluth last weekend, and my Mom came up with me and Emma. The men were going to join us Saturday, but it was pouring rain and cold, so we thought the performance would be rained out, and told them they could bail if they wanted:) Alas we did get to have the show (it was outside overlooking Lake Superior), and we got to have a girls weekend! Below you can see our lovely room overlooking the lake (really right on the back side of the boardwalk along the lake!), the Jacuzzi that Emma and I took full advantage of, and finally, Grandma and Emma enjoying our late night popcorn and soda snack! As I said, it was pouring rain on Saturday, but we certainly didn't drive three hours to stay in our hotel room all day!

Below - sweet Emma helping me stretch - what can't see is that my 6 month belly is fully touching the ground:)

This past Friday we had dark rain and storms ALL day. Emma thought it would be a perfect opportunity to go out on the deck in our rain boots and full gear!

Washington!!!!

Elliott, Emma and I flew out to Washington EARLY Wednesday morning, and we'll be here until the 5th. We have not all been back since we moved three years ago - but coming back to Holly and Jason's (Elliott's brother's) always feels cozy and like coming back home! Emma has enjoyed every moment with her newest cousin Skylar and her two year old cousin Brooke. Below you see her adoring 3 month old Skylar.

Emma and Brooke the first night we were here, snuggling watching Beauty and the Beast on the couch! I joke that poor Brooke is soon going to be asking her mom when Emma was going to go home (because Emma is in such adoration with her that she won't let her go and literally would love to pick her up EVERY moment!)

Above: Skylar, Emma, Great Grams and Skylar

Emma and Kolby on the couch... Emma cried when we took Cooper to the kennel, and then later that evening she burst out crying again in the store because she missed him!!! She may have been a little bit tired too:)

Yesterday we took a Duck Boat tour of Seattle. You can see we were all bundled up! I forget how gray and cool it can be here - sweatshirts and long pants for all. As a matter of fact Holly had a skirt made for Emma that matches skirts that Brooke and Skylar have as well! So the girls all wore adorable matching skirts yesterday! Anyway, the Duck Boat drives like a big open air truck all around Seattle, telling us the history, etc. And then it also goes in to the water. We had a great time, totally worth it!

Emma, Ella and Aliyah - the little girl furthest on the right, Emma spent her first year with! These are the girls of Jessica, the amazingly wonderful woman who watched Emma while I worked, the first year Emma was born. Aliyah is 2 1/2 months older than Emma. It was so wonderful to see the girls and Jessica, as we haven't seen them since we moved. It is also amazing to see how kids/people are SO much who they are from the time they are born!!!!!

Emma and Uncle Jason out on the back patio shootin' the breeze while Emma plays with Kolby. He is wonderful and will let Emma do just about anything with him! Just like Cooper:)

We have had a lovely time so far and are so glad we were able to come out. Today we are heading to Great Wolf Lodge, a water park hotel about two hours from here, and well stay for the night.

Happy 4th Weekend and Love to all!