1424 Work

 I needed to go do some work on 1424 to get it ready for showings. I wasn't planning on taking the kids, but in the end decided to. I'm so glad I did- they were great helpers! Audra weed whacked, Claire weeded, Camille picked up trash, and they all helped paint the front of the house. It looks a thousand times better.

But, in the end, we didn't need to do showings. I had over 30 showings scheduled (which is insane, usually I have about 12-15), but one couple came while we were working and they decided to sign. It was perfect! Hopefully they will be perfect tenants, too. We shall see.

Getting Ready To Leave

Sadly, it is time to go home. It has been a glorious trop spending time with friends and family. We are all ecstatic to see Ben, but sad to leave again. At least we have Myrtle Beach next summer to look forward to!

We took grandma and grandpa out for lunch to thank them for all they did for us:

We had one last visit with Ilea and the kids. Rebekah and Camille really did becomes besties, so we wanted to see them one last time.

And then it was time to go. Piggy and Grogu were ready!

Our flight was terrible. Not the actual flight, which was smooth and perfect. We landed 40 minutes early, at 11:20 PM, but then sat on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for a gate to open. Then, the gate was in the farthest nether regions of the airport, and even though it was almost 1 AM, there was a ton of traffic so Ben had a hard time picking us up. It was frustrating, and we were so exhausted!

But, we made it.

Kittens!

 The DeCremer's got two baby kittens so of course we had to go over and play with them. The kids started a "modeling" game where the modeled with the kittens. It was pretty funny.

E.T.

 My mom snapped this picture of really grandpa and Camille watching E.T. on his bed. Growing up, all of us kids would climb on their bed to watch TV.

Claire and Audra were downstairs watching Harry Potter, so my dad decided E.T. would be a great movie to watch. I went out to dinner with my mom and sisters to Applebee's and we came home to this. I get in on the snuggle action with Camille.

And, at dinner:

25 Years

 It has been at least 25 years since I have seen these two lovely women- Lisa Cozart and Sheryl Bocianowski- but at one point in elementary school we were best friends and played every day.

We weren't close in high school, but through FB reconnected and decided to get together for dinner.

It was wonderful! It was really, really cool to realize that if we met today, we would be friends. They are great, kind women. I am so blessed to have always had such wonderful friends in my life.

Peddle Cars

A month ago Melissa sent me a text and said, "This peddle car thing looks fun- do you and the girls want to go with us?" Heck yes!

We pedaled 6.5 miles down and 6.5 miles back up. Well, the motorized car at the back helped us on they way back up!

The scenery was beautiful!

Here's Camille taking a break and letting others do the work for her. Such a lazy bum ;)

 

Stadium HS

 In what may or may not be a proud parenting moment, I had the girls watch 10 Things I Hate About You, because, well, Seattle. They didn't love it- I'm sure they mostly didn't get it, though I was once again endeared by its greatness.

Why did I force have the girls watch it? So we could then go see Stadium High School! This high school is only about 10 minutes from my parents house, but I don't think I have ever been there. If I have, I certainly didn't appreciate its beauty- and it is incredible.

It was originally built as a luxury hotel for the Pacific Railroad Company, but in the depression of 1893 they went bankrupt. A fire destroyed the inside, and then finally in 1906 Tacoma School District bought it and turned it into a school. In 1913 the famous and iconic stadium was built.

It truly is a masterpiece! What a hidden gem in this beautiful city! Even if Camille only cared to pick the blackberries, it was still awesome to see it.

Can you picture Heath Ledger singing on those stairs? Because he did!

The actual stadium is locked and gated. Some people climbed the fence to go work out, but we didn't dare.