Washington Vacation

We actually went on a vacation outside of Utah this summer.  Mark and I decided a trip to Washington to visit my brother was long overdue.  We’ve been planning this trip since the beginning of the year and I’m so glad we did it.  Darron’s kids are all the same ages as ours and we really want our kids to know their cousins.  I grew up always visiting the Woolley side cousins and having family vacations with them.  Darron and I knew our Childs side cousins, but not very well.  So, we planned to invade the Woolley residence for an entire week in August. 

It took us 12 hours, went through four states (Utah, Idaho, Montana, Idaho…again, and Washington) and 7 movies to get there.  What a difference installing a DVD player makes.  We had no meltdowns and tantrums.  Even Piper did great.  We arrived on a Sunday night at dinner time and VaLynn had dinner all ready for us (another great reason to go on vacation!)  My mom was still there from her visit with them so we were able to overlap our visit for a few days and have everyone together, minus Papa.  Maybe next year. 

Right after dinner we set up the PS2 in the basement and Mark and Darron rocked on.  By the third day my nephew Isaac was a total rock star on Guitar Hero.  And by the end of the week everyone had the song “Turning Japanese” stuck in their heads from Isaac playing the song over and over again.

This is my Anna Bird.  She insists being called Anna Bird and not just Anna.  It’s so funny if you call her just Anna she’ll say “I’m Anna Bird!”  She totally knows how to pose for the camera too.  You say smile, she automatically looks for the camera.  Oh, and see her really long hair?  She’s only 5 months older than Piper.  What’s in her shampoo Darron?

For Family Home Evening Darron took us all over to a friends to ride Buzz.  Buzz is a horse.  Calista got the first ride and loved it. 

Darron ended up being the designated adult riding companion since I haven’t ridden a horse in years and Mark said no way.  Here’s Piper with Uncle Darron.  My niece Alex is holding on behind him. 

And, yes I rode the horse.  I got a quick 2 minute tutorial on how to direct the beast and then I was off.  After the third loop I was doing pretty well. 

It’s probably a little known fact, but in 1974 Spokane was host to the World’s Fair.  And the place has been turned into a very cool place to go.  We started out at the carousel which is probably my kids most favorite thing to ride.  If I remember right, the carousel is almost 100 years old. 

Piper absolutely loved the carousel.  After the carousel we purchased some delicious donuts that I’m still dreaming of.  They were hot, freshly sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and bite-sized.  Mmm.  

After filling up on donuts we thought we’d try to bring them back up and ride the carnival rides.  Tea and Isaac went on the Tilt-a Whirl over and over and over.  I’m surprised they could walk straight by the time we went home.  After a few hours of being there VaLynn and my mom took Anna and Piper back home so they could get some naps in and the rest of us stayed for a few more hours to ride the rides to our hearts content. 

 

Tea, Alex, Calista and Isaac making a funny “I’m going to throw-up face”

Here’s me on the Sizzler.  Alex and Calista were too short to go on this ride without an adult and since Darron wimped out after just a few rides and Mark does NOT do carnival rides it was up to me to make all the kids happy.  I think I went on this ride 8 times.  Blah!

The craziest thing is that my little niece Alex went on the Spider 5 times, 4 of them on her own.  Tea tried it but ended up getting off before the ride was over.  Too scary for her.  I wish I took a picture of Alex up in that ride.  It was scarier than the Sizzler. 

 

On our last day there Darron offered to rid us of our warts.  I had one on my arm and Mark had one on his knee.  It was fun to see one of  Darron’s offices and where he does surgeries and it was kind of cool to see him being Dr. Woolley DPM.  And yes, he’s goofy too.

The Doctor at work.

 

I forgot to have Mark take pictures of Darron scraping my wart out.  Think of a really small melon baller.  It was not a pretty sound.  Thankfully my brother numbed me up before hand.  It would have been an easy way to get back at me for being a pesky little sister.

 

We are already talking about going back.  That is if the Woolley clan can handle us for a week again.  The cousins got along well and the girls still talk about all the things they did together.  I know Mark wants to go back to have someone to golf with and I know he wouldn’t mind shooting Darron’s guns again.  So, thanks, Darron and VaLynn for putting up with five more mouths to feed and entertain.  We had a great time!