Well, you read about the whole trip west – and I’m hoping you will read about the trip back east – but I wanted to tell you what we did for our two weeks in Washington!

But first – here are a few pictures I took on the way TO Bellingham, through the mountains and down the other side into a land of green wonder! Really, the pictures cannot do this justice – just the moss COVERING the trees alone was spectacular!

Vacation – I did a lot of sitting around (it is not in my nature to just sit around!!!! It is hard to be bored for those of us always on the move), eating, visiting, eating, interspersed with a few fun outings!!

To start out with, when we arrived – the same day and just about the same time as the boys arrived, we brought with us the snow! They rarely have a white Christmas in the coastal northwest – but this year, we shared the love!

We saw some gorgeous sunrises!!!

We exercised our Second Amendment rights.

Along with those granted in the First Amendment (what could be more peaceful than $600 worth of fireworks to ring in the New Year?)

We enjoyed tubing at Mount Baker as well as Axe throwing!!! Super fun for all!!!!

We met new friends/furry family members – Lucy the Bernesedoodle puppy, and Griffey the German Shepard puppy.

We kept some old traditions alive (the kids lining up to peek in the door seeing what Santa left….)

Remember I said I ate a lot? This is Rio – I feel like she looks!

The past two weeks flew by – between the food, playing cards, visiting, cooking, grocery shopping and sitting around and playing on my phone, it was a fabulous vacation with family. We are so blessed to be able to spend precious time with our loved ones knowing that, in our eyes, the quality of time we get to spend together outweighs the quantity of time. Live life to the fullest! Words to live by (and love by) in this New Year! May it bring you health, happiness, joy, and adventure!