The Frank's came to town! I'm still excited about it and they left almost three weeks ago. Aaron and Crista (our friends from Okinawa who are now stationed in Texas) are actually better than family because we aren't related so we get together because we want to, not out of obligation :) Our kids are all the same ages and get along great so we loved having them for a week after Christmas. It forced us to go out and do fun touristy things but we also had a good time just laying low and relaxing. It was pretty awesome.
We took a stroll to Snoqualmie Falls because the sun came out. Turns out everyone else had the same idea so the place was packed! Luckily Randy and I are locals who know about the lower parking lot or this would've been a failed adventure. Also, I'm totally laughing that I don't have any pictures of the actual falls.....duh! Oh well. I guess I've seen them plenty of times and if you've been following my blog then you've seen them too.
Crista is one of my favorite people. She is so kind and so smart and super organized and quiet and basically everything I'm not. I guess opposites attract!
The kids spent a lot of time on the rope swing and no one got hurt. And yes, those rocks are green. Everything is green in WA
We played a lot of games and of course one of them was Telestrations. It always gets lots of laughs. Also, it must be mentioned that Crista and I beat Randy and Aaron at Code Names several times.
We spent the day in Seattle and saw all the Christmas things that I had just done with Landon and Parker a few weeks before.
There was no one at the photo booth outside the gingerbread house display so we decided to help the employees out by giving them something to do.
We found a cool toy store, Barney's I think, where we played with lots of expensive toys and they didn't get mad at our kids for having fun.
Henry was oblivious to all the cars down below as he played with magnet tiles
Darby is the youngest Frank child and so easy to love. Parker and Landon both loved having boys their size and age
We went to the fancy schmancy Fairmont Hotel to see the giant gingerbread house, snapped a quick picture, then left before they could kick us out. I should point out that Marcus said, "I love having the Frank's here! They make me feel so tall! It's like being with Dad's family in Utah." It's not every day a 5'9 teenager gets to feel tall so we let him enjoy it.
We ate lunch at this little Okinawa Terriyaki Restaurant near Pike Place. I loved the food because it's been a long time since I've eaten in Japan but the Frank's weren't as impressed. After six years in Okinawa they have developed better appreciation for the good stuff. But it was still good and the place was packed so we actually ate lunch outside Ivar's so everyone could eat some Seattle seafood as well.
The boys had just finished feeding their French fries to the birds
The Frank's haven't seen snow in ten years and Darby had never seen it so of course we had to drive up the pass to play in it, while the rain poured down on us. Also, it was like the miracle of the loaves and fishes as I tried to find snow gear for two families. Ethan's toes may never be the same after cramming his feet into the only boots available and the girls didn't complain about their mismatched snow gear that didn't fit quite right. It was a win!
This is the only picture I got of the New Year's Eve party/newspaper ball. It was definitely a relaxing New Year's not hosting a huge party this year. Oh, and the teenagers went to the Stake dance so Ethan and Aubrey had their first dance together. And the best part: I have pictures of them dancing because my friend was a chaperone. But I won't post it on the internet because I'm a nice mom and Ethan would kill me.
After watching The Sound of Music (the Frank kids had never seen it) we needed to get some wiggles out so Aaron taught my boys some wrestling moves. The boys LOVED it!
Marcus took on everyone at the same time.
Seattle will never be the same! Thanks for the good times, Frank's!
