Life with the Ball's: Seabrook and the Goodrich’s Came to Town

Randy’s sister and her family came to visit us in WA for the first time since we’ve lived here so naturally Randy pulled out all the stops. He even took off work so this was a very big deal and we had a lot of fun.

Our quaint street

We rented the cutest little cottages at Seabrook, an oppressively quaint beach town on the Olympic Peninsula. it felt like we were on the set of a movie because everything was too perfect to be real.

We pulled up to our cottage and when I saw it was named Stars Hollow, I almost died. (Stars Hollow is the town where the Gilmore girls live and its the only TV show I've binge-watched every episode.) Also, the WiFi password was Loralai31 or something. I died again.

OK, back to Seabrook. We had a great time at the beach even though it was cold and windy. The second day we were there the fog was so bad you couldn't see anything, not even the water, unless you were practically in it. Luckily we have a few wet suits so the kids could get in the water to boogie board.

Henry was so cold! He hid under hoodies while I tried to keep an eye on the boogie boarders. It was hard to see them through the fog

Even a wet suit couldn’t keep Parker from freezing after a few minutes in the water

The teenagers lasted quite a while. Luckily the cottage had a hot tub

On our second day we left the fog and drove a little ways up the coast to explore the Olympic Rainforest which doesn't actually feel like a rain forest but it's very green. Landon was so unimpressed he said, "I feel like we're hiking in our backyard. Can't we just go home?" We are spoiled.

Our own little Swiss family Robinson swimming hole

These pictures don’t do it justice. It was beautiful!

But the little hike we went on was made a million times better when we found a waterfall. Naturally Ethan wasted no time getting in and was soon jumping off the falls while we waited for the Goodrich's to find us. It was so beautiful. And the water was soooo cold!

Tall Cyprus trees that are about 400 years old, not nearly as impressive as the Redwoods though

We spent our last day at the beach until Henry couldn't take the wind and the cold anymore so he walked around town with me until everyone else got sick of the wind and the sand too.

Eric hauled all the driftwood he could find both near and far to build a big shelter. It’s probably still there.

Parker is the skinniest kid I know

After we returned from Seabrook, we celebrated Landon and Parker's birthdays (more on that later), ate at Triple XXX, and went boating on Lake Sammamish. Our friend was kind enough to take us all out and miraculously Randy was able to join in as well since his last patient ended up not needing a root canal. That NEVER happens. The kids all tried out knee boarding and felt like champions. (disclaimer: knee boarding is fool proof. anyone can do it). The adults surfed and we ended the trip with the kids getting pulled on the tube until they all wiped out. It was great fun and once again I was left wondering why the heck we still don't own a boat. We love boating! But Randy works a ton and neither one of us wants to take action to actually shop for a boat. Good thing our friends invite us out!

Eli and the famous Triple Xxx root beer float

Luke and the giant plate of fried everything. We heated it up in the air fryer and ate it again for dinner.

The best part about boating is swimming in the middle of the lake and jumping off the boat while the sun is shining and the music is blasting.

We had a great time with the Goodrich's and I'm willing to bet it won't take them nine more years before they decide to visit us again. Everyone falls in love with the PNW after they visit us. Here’s a few more random pictures from the week…

Birthday buddies on their actual birthday. They refused to celebrate it in Seabrook but they let me take their picture at least.

Did I mention Henry was crazy sick the first few days? He was burning up with a fever and slept in bed with me three nights in a row. Snuggling him is the best!