Pacific Northwest Trip 2026- part 1

Road Trip!

The kids and I went on a trip to the Pacific Northwest. Jeremy had two fairs in California with a week in between so he wasn't able to come with us like our wonderful PNW vacation we took two years ago. That was awesome.

I'm not complaining about this trip, though (except for missing Jeremy). I LOVE family and getting to visit them.

We started out on Wednesday June 17, heading to Western Washington. We got a later start than I wanted to so I didn't think I'd do any juggling videos or pictures. You know I like to juggle in different places.

However, we stopped at a rest area and I rested for a bit (it's a long drive) then got my videos and pics.

When we got to Washington, my in-laws had prepared food with veggies in it for Eat Your Vegetables Day. They like helping us celebrate. We also ate carrots on the drive.

Since it was also Apple Strudel Day...

My in-laws are great.

The night we got there, I stayed up til laaaate chatting with my mother-in-law. I love it. We had lots of other chats as well during our trip.
Have I mentioned my in-laws are great? 

 

Jet brought his bat wings on our trip. He wanted to scare Grandpa because at home he'd been playing a game with Jeremy. "Is it a giant bat or just Jet?"

I love family time.  

"It's Always Fun When Grandpa Comes"

When Grandpa comes to visit and brings a bunch of hot sauce, it's time for a hot sauce taste test. We cut up some chicken nuggets to dip in the sauces (and had chocolate milk as needed) and we had a great time. Even though Grandpa likes them "watery eyes, burn your taste buds" spicy, none of these had quite that level of heat. We were all able to enjoy the experience with burning tongues that didn't last too long.

 

We gave Jet a container with regular ketchup to dip his chicken nuggets in because he wanted to be involved. A couple of family members decided not to participate and that's just fine.

 

Bread Bowls and Ogre Stew

As previously mentioned, Jeremy's parents came for a visit. It was lovely to have them here. We got to see them when we went to the baby blessing in Idaho the week before. They got some good time with their grandkids there then came to spend good time with their grandkids here (and their son and daughter-in-law).

One meal we had while they were here was Ogre Stew (you know we love it- most of us) in bread bowls. Yum. 

The recipe for the bread bowls I use is Italian Bread Bowls from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. I wanted to make sure I made enough bread bowls so I doubled the recipe but I neglected to separate it into two different bowls for the first rising time. Ha Ha Ha.

I went about my business with a timer set and when I finally looked over, it was so high then a little bit later it was dripping down the side of the bowl. Ha Ha Ha. Everybody got a kick out of that since everybody was there hanging out on Hanging Out Day, April 19.

The bread bowls turned out and the stew in the bowls was sooooo good, of course. I love the recipes in The Fablehaven Cookbook. 

By the way, April 19 was also Garlic Day and Ogre Stew has garlic powder in it. 

Velociraptor Awareness Day 2026

I made sure this year that Jet's velociraptor was involved in a lot of what went on April 18, Velociraptor Awareness Day. I haven't always been as diligent as some years.

 

In no particular order, the velociraptor helped with:

 

Food prep (although I don't know why I don't have a picture of it with our dinner)

 

Dishes

 

Encouraging us to eat our cheeseball that we didn't eat the day before (we were busy that night)

 

Taking care of a sick little boy

 

Video games

 

Recording voice for a school project

 

Recycling 

 

Thank you, velociraptor. We are aware of how helpful you are and are grateful you helped us get ready for a visit from Grandma and Grandpa.

Grandma and Grandpa Came to Visit

Jeremy's parents came to visit again. I love my in-laws.

They were able to go to Nichole's Honors Orchestra performance. That was something Nichole did in junior high and she got to do it again this year in high school.

They went with us to the zoo. 

I wanted the obligatory family picture with the gorilla statue. None of the pictures got everyone looking at the camera and/or smiling at the same time. Sigh. This is my family.

The funny thing is Joshua stayed the same the whole time and I would have been perfectly happy with that if everything else was smoother.

Flap your ears like an elephant.

The red pandas were out and about this time.

Grandparents ate with us, including bread bowls with soup. Yumm. 

Jr. Jr. helped by punching down the dough... his way. He didn't take his fist out right away and it left a fist print.

Grandma and Grandpa went to church with us.

They did the grandparents thing and brought gifts. 

It was just nice having them come for a visit. They were glad they came.

Parents Visit

My parents came to visit and went to church with us. I would like to say, I love my parents. I loved growing up with them. They were (and still are) a great example of a lot of things. I have so many good memories and feelings about my childhood with them as my parents.

I made sure to get a quick picture right before I left (because I didn't get any pictures of Jeremy's parents when they came to visit in April. Sigh).

I love family.

Relaxing Family Time

My parents visited and went to church with us. They picked a good week to come. Since Nichole just got back from Girl's Camp the day before, she along with some of the other girls were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting and they sang a song as well.

Then Sunday School was really good and my parents were able to be there with Jet and me.

Then of course it's relaxing to spend time with my parents. August 15 was National Relaxation Day. 

Jr. Jr.: You know what's relaxing? Breath of the Wild.

The kids wanted to play but they only got to watch Jeremy play after my parents left that afternoon. Bwah ha ha ha.

 

I wanted to get a three generations of women picture since I never get those pictures.

 

Jr. Jr. wanted to get in on the action. Can you spot him?