Sisters in Seattle

This week I was so lucky!! I flew to Seattle with these four gals!! Darin's little sisters, Dalynn, Devarie, and Darla. And our Jones sister-in-law, Melissa. So. Stinkin'. Fun!!! It was a get-away to celebrate Darla's big B-day. She and I flew in a day early. I have no pictures to document that day. (So sad!) We shopped the huge mall , and scored at Gap and Victoria's Secret 75% off sales. Then we took the ferry to Bainbridge after dark. That was my first time riding that ferry at night. Wow!! The view of Seattle all lit up and the nearly full moon shining on the water was incredible!! I'll try to get some pics off my phone, but they won't do it justice!

The next morning it was back on the ferry and to the airport to pick up the rest of the gang. Then we hit the Seattle hot spot, Pike's Market. Super fun. Bought a few fun things, had some chowder, and stopped by the "Gum Wall". Yes, that is all gum and there were walls of the stuff.

Third ferry ride of the trip, as we all headed back out to Bainbridge. You can see from the coats that this wasn't a warm-weather get-away. But we all had a perfect time anyways. There did seem to be one of us in significantly more photos than everyone else. No need to tell any Jones family members who that one gal was. But hey, when you buy rain boots...Barbie rain boots....for your birthday trip to Seattle.....you gotta be in lots of pics!!

We stayed at the "Whyte Bed and Breakfast"....I mean, my sisters house. Shari and Larry were so great to host us as their guests. They are so fun to be with, and all the girls loved getting to know them....cause they're so darn GREAT!!! They fed us feasts. Here Shari is making stuffed croissant coconut french toast with caramel sauce. Yep...bed and breakfast I tell ya!! Andrew was a good sport about having five extra women in his home for four days, giving up his bathroom for our use,...and even joined in the braiding!

We went on some super walks out and about in the great outdoors of Bainbridge.

We couldn't get enough of this pink sky at sunset

The next day it was outdoor sightseeing and adventures, regardless of the weather. We hiked the tropical, brilliantly green Fairy Dell Trail, while it snowed on us.

It was so fun for me to have my soul sister Shari(my real sister, FYI), and my Jones sisters (including a childhood best friend), and my awesome Jones sis-in-law, Mel (Jones in-laws seriously ROCK...don't we Mel?), with me all at once.

Yep, it looks fun, cause it WAS fun!! And cold, and wet in this particular picture.

Everything was super emerald green like the moss on this tree.....and those white dots are snow.

The Grand Forest. Done snowing. Done raining. That's the northwest for ya.

Same day, an hour later...blue skies. Like I said....that's the northwest. Point White dock and collecting seashells and sand dollars.

Out to dinner in Poulsbo.

Shari, Darla and I showing off our new matching Keens.

Shari and Darla could seriously be dressing twins. The whole first day I was with Darla, before we even saw Shari, I was telling Darla she looked just like her. (Rain boots, hat, colorful scarf, black wool coat....) Darla borrowed a shirt from Shari one day. And then they both pull out their wool sweaters, both from Peru. Really?

One night we all hung out and watched "Money Ball". And for over 24 hours straight I had stuck in my head, "I'm just a little caught in the middle. Life is a maze and love is a riddle." Great show. "It's a metaphor." Sunday afternoon we took a drive out to Port Gamble and Port Townsend. Super cute little shops where we bought hats, chocolates and scarves and funny magnets. I got two new retro magnets for my fridge that read "I have a kitchen because it came with the house!" and "I was going to make a delicious dinner, then I remembered I don't cook!" FYI, Darin did at least crack a smile when he read them. I am so lucky that he knows that you do NOT have to cook to be a great wife!!

We all loved this beach with the lighthouse, rocks and sand, and had fun seeing the old army bunkers used in the world war. (No pics of the bunkers...how'd I do that?)

Places like this pretty much make me feel like I've died and gone to heaven. Not sure if it's the early childhood memories of living in an area like this, or that I never even saw a warm California type beach til I was a teenager, or that my mom rests at the bottom of a nearby northwest sea, or the evergreens....or what.....but man oh man I LOVE this stuff!! Pretty much made me burst into Neil Diamond songs, which led to an enlightening discussion about how I never really knew how the Jones girls liked Neil Diamond. How did I miss that? Well, they hate the movie, Johnathan Livingston Seagull....but it's only because they don't GET it!!!

Of course I had to request that Andrew play the pipes for us. Had to do it outside because they are so loud. Back in the warm house he let a few gals try their lungs at the bagpipes. Dalynn, Devarie, and Shari were hilarious trying to make those things play. Clearly it is much more difficult that Andrew makes it look.

Monday morning Dalynn and Melissa had to take off early. The rest of us enjoyed a few more hours sleeping in, and seeing a bit more of the island. We stopped by one of Shari's friends homes, so she could return something. (I mean, so she could introduce Darla and Devarie to the mother of three single adult LDS men.) And the woman happens to live in a location that I may dream about for a very long time. From the porch swing down the hilly green lawn to the forest and view of the water beyond. Yep, I'm tellin' ya....this is where my soul rests. I don't know who these boys are, but Darla and Devarie...go ahead and hook up with them so I can visit you at your in-laws place!!!

Perfect trip. Perfect company.

Happy Birthday Darla Mae!!!