Lake Cresent and Fort Worden State Park

Samantha and I were able to take a trip with the in-laws a month ago.   We went to Port Townsand  to see the other side of the sound.  While there we visited Fort Worden, we played on the beach for awhile, collected seashells and rocks to bring home for the collection we have started.  I loved Fort Worden the views were breathtaking.  

Samantha loves playing in the sand and the way it feels when she squishes it in her hand.  She loves to throw it into the air and get really dirty.  On the way home, we stopped by Lake Cresent and I fell in love with the lake.  The water was so clear and colorful the pictures do not do it justice you have to see it for yourself. 

The lodge at the lake was so beautiful we could have stayed there forever and I would have been so happy.  I cannot wait to go back with Sam and spend more time in this little piece of heaven.

Seafair in Seattle Chinatown Parade

Last weekend we decided it would be fun to go see the parade in Chinatown with Samantha.  Samantha had never been to a parade before so we were excited to see her reactions to the parade.  It started with the police department of Seattle, putting on a show for all the spectators on their motorcycles.  It was fun to watch them create different formations.

I loved all the costumes and colors they were so vibrant and interesting.

My favorite part of the whole parade was the dragons I have always wanted to see them.

Samantha loved waving at the princesses watching them go by was her favorite part.

It was a wonderful evening spending time together with my family.  I have to be honest my husband Sam took the majority of these photographs.  Samantha was terrified of the dragons and needed her mom.  It was fun to pass the camera on for a little while and I am so proud of him.  He did an amazing job and I taught him all that he knows.

*I am so sorry for re-blogging this I somehow deleted this so I reposted it for all those that loved this blog.

Look Who Joined Us For Dinner

Last night as we sat down for dinner my Father in Law came in and asked if Samantha had any stuffed animals outside.  I went to look outside and was surprised by a family of raccoons that had decided to join us for dinner.  We eventually counted a family of five and enjoyed watching them play together. 

They posed for a cute family portrait and even smiled for the camera.

They loved the trees and that is how they got into our backyard.

Samantha loved watching them play in the backyard.

After a good ten minutes of playing momma raccoon took her pack under the fence and across the street.  It was such a special treat to have them come over for dinner and who knows maybe they will join us again sometime.

Sprinkler Fun

Tonight I was outside with Samantha trying to cool off and spend some time with my daughter.  I had the bright idea to put the sprinkler on and let her run through it.  She was not impressed at all and had a lot more fun standing at the spicket collecting the runaway drops.  As I was trying to coax her into running in the sprinkler, I started snapping away hoping I would catch her in the act.  I never captured her in the sprinkler but I obtained some amazing photographs.  Enjoy!

I had a blast playing with the water pressure and pushing the envelope to create amazing photographs without getting wet.

Our Family Expansion

A few months ago we bought a fish for Samantha to learn responsibility and how to take care of something.  She loves her fish and helps me feed him every day.  We have lost a couple of fish along the way but this one seems to be here for good.  She has named him Sam so we now have three Sams running around our house or swimming.  He is a cutie.

We have really enjoyed having Sam around and Samantha takes really good care of him.

Pikes Market

A few weeks ago we had family from Texas come visit us, it was so good to see some of our Texas family again.  We started their sightseeing trip here in Washington by going to Pikes Market.  Seattle was bright and sunny making our time there memorable.

Pikes Market is one of our favorite places to go in Seattle and we had fun sharing the experience with our family.

The kids were amazed by the fish and we did see a few get thrown.  The fish there are some of the biggest I have ever seen.

One of my favorite things about Seattle is the little curious art or details that are everywhere.  These little light men are in a little walkway behind the gum wall tucked away from all the business.

While we were at Pikes Market, we walked over to the Waterway and rode the carousel with the kids.  We saw some spectacular views of Puget Sound and Seattle as we soared above the water.

The carousel and Pikes Market are a must if you visit Seattle.

Stephen and Shannon’s Backyard Wedding

Stephen and Shannon had a small intimate backyard celebration with a few friends and family there to watch them take this next step in their life together.  They had a beautiful ceremony under an arch covered with beautiful flowers.

They were such a great family to photograph.  Shannon had the idea to use the frame as a prop and the photographs turned out amazing.  They are such a cute family.

Stephen and Shannon were such a lovely couple.  The wedding was so full of love and happiness.

The flowers at their wedding were so beautiful.  The colors were orange, blue and white and carried throughout the wedding and dinner.

Shannon was such a beautiful bride.  Her dress was Vera Wang and so beautiful.

I was so glad to be apart of such a beautiful wedding.  Congratulations Shannon and Stephen.

Samantha Bayleigh

This evening as the sun was getting ready to set Samantha and I were playing outside.  As I sat there watching her, I noticed that she discovered the apple tree in the backyard was just her size.  I ran and grabbed my camera and prayed she would still be there when I got back.  What happened after that was pure magic.  She climbed the little tree all by herself and I was able to document every  special moment for her.  Each photograph is such a special moment that was captured;  she jumped, swinged,  and climbed all over the poor tree.   She is such an amazing little person and I love how she reminds me every day how interesting and exciting the world is.

 

She did all the work and I just captured that amazing smile and fearlessness she has with everything she does.  I cannot describe how happy she makes feel everyday because she fills all my days with sunshine.

Mt. Rainier

One of our favorite places we visited while on vacation was Mt. Rainier.  When we here last may, there was not very much snow left.  So it was really exciting to go back this year in March to see the winter wonderland.  It was a whole different world.  Once we arrived at the top of the mountain, Samantha and I sled down the trail for the first time ever.  It was so exciting and something I have always wanted to do but never could in Texas.  I fell in love with the ice cycles everywhere.  They were amazing natural art pieces.

These were on the Rangers cabin.  They were so interesting the wind and sun made them so intricate.  I have never seen anything like this.

This was my favorite waterfall.  I have to stop and take a photograph every time we go up the mountain.

 

 

These were beautiful up high in the hills.

Nature is so amazing!

Samantha could not get enough of the snow and her clothes were soaked through when we left.  She had so much fun, she did not want to leave. She wore herself out and slept the whole way home.

Kerry Park

We stumbled upon this park the other day while looking for the Grey’s Anatomy intern house.  Yes!  We are Grey’s Anatomy dorks.  We fell in love with the view of Seattle from this park.  It is still sinking in that we live here now!  I love to take pictures at this park; the views are breathtaking. It also is an amazing place to take Samantha to play.  This is diffidently a view to see if you are ever in Seattle.