Road Trip

Since finding out that the Wilsterman's would be living only FOUR HOURS (and eight minutes) from our house, I have been giddy with excitement over the whole ordeal.  Oh my gosh, there is so much that will now be able to happen.  Think holidays, long weekends, birthday parties- all you can handle, Bro!  I can't wait.  Each time I think of something new, or something that we will be able to do, I get this giddy feeling in my gut.  I can barely contain my excitement. 

Wanting to test out the new drive that we would be making as often as we can (or as often as Randy will allow me to take it) we packed our Yukon for a day-trip to Mount Vernon.  The halfway point of the trip turned out to be quite amazing.  Randy has always loved to area of Cle Elum.  We decided to stop by and check out some cabin spots, thinking how perfect it would be to meet in the middle for some smores, swimming, and salutations.  It turned out to be even more beautiful than we ever could have imagined. 

 While driving around the lake near the sites we were looking at, Randy happened upon this beautiful sight.

 Someone had built a little platform for a gorgeous view of the lake.  And, yes, Tyson did come on this trip without shoes.  What a goof!  He said he didn't realize that we would be getting out of the car.  At all.  All day.  Caden made him into a human-backpack for the day.

 To the right of Keilie, you'll see the platform.  She is such a cute photobomber!  Work it, girl!

 The lake.  Glass as long as the eye could see.  It was so tranquil and beautiful.

 Isn't that wood awesome?!  I sure love those humans!!

 Thank you Shelby for being the only one that was actually smiling and looking at the camera.  Caden was grimacing, Randy was looking at his phone, Brennon was looking at Tyson- who was making a goofy face- while Keilie closed her eyes for a little siesta.  Awesome!

The thing that I liked most about the drive was that we didn't actually go through Seattle.  We took a different road North, one that made it seem like a whole different drive than we normally take.  I'm not a fan of Seattle, anymore.  It's nice to have it be different to visit Ashlee than it is to visit Sue at Seattle Children's.  That's a whole lot less anxiety for The Mother.

 Mount Baker Middle School.  

It shares the same grounds as the Elementary School.  Russ will be close to their girls when he's at work.  At the mention of 'their girls,' I am now at liberty to say that they found out that their fifth child, due at the end of October, is another little girl.  YAY for Girlies!!!

 We drove around the town, looked through some homes by a builder they like, checked out the neighborhood they are considering, found how close it is to shopping, and went down to their river.  We have the Yakima, Columbia, and Snake rivers that intersect in our town, they have the Skagit river that dissects theirs.  Look at how green and gorgeous it was yesterday!!

All-in-all, this "family in Washington" thing is going to be the best.  I am going to love it!!  The plan, for now, is for them to pack up their home, get it on the market, and leave Dallas by the 27th (just 16 days after he got the job) to drive to our house.  Then they'll drop off their girls, head up to Mount Vernon with their Uhaul, unload it into a storage unit, look for a home, and come back to our house.  Russ will start his new job, Ashlee and her girls will live with us while waiting to move into their home, and then we'll all caravan down to Utah near the end of the summer, to play. 

BEST SUMMER EVER!!!