Mommy, Look

Jet: Hey, Mom. Look at me.

Mom: Yeah, it's a big smile.

Jet: Do I look happy with a big smile? 

Watercolor Waterfall

Mom: Wow. What is that?

Nichole: Waterfall in Washington.

Mom: Oh, Snoqualmie Falls. Did you take one of my pictures? Oh wait. You were there. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. 

Mommy, Look

Jet: Look what dinosaur I made.

Mom: What dinosaur is that?

Jet: A T. rex.

 

Jr. Got Artsy

While we were in the Pacific Northwest, Jr. got artsy with photography. 

 

 

Catch of the Day

 

Ruthless

While in Oregon, my parents had me go through a bunch of crates and get rid of things. I was ruthless. So many of these things I hadn't seen in 20+ years. I got sentiment out of them a long time ago. 

I did keep a few personal history things to take back to Utah like my ruby red slippers from when I was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz in high school and my cape and bonnet from when I was in A Christmas Carol, also in high school, as well as a plaque for Outstanding Vocal Soloist award in high school choir.

Jet kept a couple things. He was really interested in a shark grabber I had.

 

I took pictures of a whole lot of things so I could be ruthless. 

 

I got rid of "Princess" the stuffed animal dog I had for many years after I got her from my oldest sister who had her for many years. I found out on this trip that Princess was actually my mom's originally. I had no idea. She said she used to be pink.  

I have so many personal history stories to tell about so many of these things and my kids did hear a few stories while I was going through things.

I was proud of myself for being so ruthless, though. Now if I can only convince myself to be ruthless with my own stuff at home.

Mommy, Look

Look at my sculpture. 

Pacific Northwest Trip 2026- part 13

The last day before we left the Pacific Northwest, I went for a walk to say goodbye to my parents' yard, including their own monkey puzzle tree and a lizard.

Jet said goodbye to his reflection in my mom's mirror. He had fun talking to himself.

 

I did some multitasking by playing a card game and having a tea party with Jet at the same time.

While we were playing, there was also some singing going on, including songs from The Muppet Christmas Carol. I said we must be celebrating LEON Day observed since we didn't celebrate it on June 25.

We did celebrate Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day that day, July 1, not by eating ice cream but by thinking of different flavors we could have. Since we had fried rice for dinner, I thought of fried rice flavored ice cream. 

 

The next morning, the kids and I headed back to Utah after saying goodbye to my parents and my brother.

Jet got pictures of my mom as we were driving away. 

 

I didn't take a "road trip" picture but I did do some juggling at one place where we always stop.

 

We had a great trip to the Pacific Northwest. I love my in-laws. I love my family. I feel very blessed.

 

What Do You Think Happened?

 

Pacific Northwest Trip 2026- Part 12

Tuesday morning we headed to the coast.

We stopped to see the sea lions at Cape Arago then headed to Shore Acres. 

Nichole got pictures of the sea lions. 

We had a lovely picnic in the mist and wind.

We spent some time in the botanical garden. 

Look at the teeny tiny leaves.

I got to take pictures of and with the monkey puzzle tree I grew up visiting when we would go to Shore Acres as children. 

My parents headed home so they could make dinner. The rest of us headed down to Simpson Beach. Because of the weather, we thought we might not even dip our toes in the cold Pacific Ocean, even though it's tradition. By the time we got down to the beach, though, the weather was beautiful and we spent more than a little time with our feet in the water. 

 

Beach! 

 

Make me a mermaid! 

Sand Angel! 

And of course we got juggling pictures and videos.

 

We had an absolute blast. I love the ocean. I love the Oregon Coast.