OUR TRIP TO WASHINGTON

The kids and I arrived home yesterday evening from a busy, FUN week visiting our friends and family in Washington.

Our journey started last Friday afternoon after Cameron got home from school when we drove to Naperville to spend the night with Peggy. We arrived at her house at about 6:00 pm Friday night and here we are at 5:00 am Saturday morning ready for her to drive us to the airport........

The kids were great travellers........we all definitely had a better trip on the way to Washington then on the way home, though. I think we were all excited to see everyone on the way there and on the way home we were all just exhausted. Here are the kids at the airport waiting for our flight out of Chicago..........

And here's Rena on the airplane enjoying her new Princess coloring book that I brought along for her. I got each of the kids something new for the plane in hopes that it would help keep them busy and help the time pass a little quicker.

Our first visitors on Saturday night were Lisa and Jake Ayers. Craig, Sara and Emma joined us later, but we got to spend a nice full evening with Jake and Lisa.

On Monday morning the kids and I headed over the mountains to Moses Lake to visit Grandma and Grandpa Keyes. We stopped in Issaquah first to visit the kids old preschool teachers and then we made the 3 hour drive over Snoqualmie Pass.

The kids had a great time reading books and coloring with Grandma.

And also had a lot of fun playing MANY games of Fish with Grandpa.

On Tuesday afternoon we left Moses Lake and headed back West over the mountains. We stopped in Snoqualmie Ridge to visit with our friends The Mudds.

Cameron and Max had a fun time building with Legos and playing Star Wars Legos on the Playstation.

The girls had fun playing dress-up, coloring and just running around bugging the boys.

Here's Rena, Maleah, Isabella, Max and Cameron.....

While the kids were playing, I had a great time visiting with my good friend Pamela.....

Thursday was another busy, FUN day of visiting friends. We started out in our old neighborhood in Issaquah visiting with our friends The Wrights and The Taylors.

Sherri fixed lunch for us and Maleah, Allison, Rena and Cameron filled up on pizza!

Josh, Jayden and Cameron found some "boy things" to do!

And then they all watched a little bit of tv so that we moms could talk a little bit longer without being interrupted! :)

Allison and Rena gave BIG hugs before we had to leave!

I loved the time that I got to spend with Katie and Sherri and sure do miss them as neighbors!

After our visit in our old neighborhood we headed back up to Snoqualmie Ridge to visit some more friends.

Cameron with friends Marcus and Adam Battistel who drove down from Langley, BC to visit.

Cameron with friend Christian.

The boys decided to venture outside and climb some walls!

This is most of the gang -- Maleah, Rena, Campbelle, Christian, Cameron, Adam, Marcus and Sydney.

And this here is Sara, who didn't want to be in the group picture...........

And this here is Beckett.......who is too little to be in the group picture!

And these are my great friends, that I could not live with out.........

Laurel (who now lives back in Canada), ME, Stephanie and Jill.....

Here is the gang again -- watching tv until the pizza arrives.................

Campbelle, Maleah, Adam, Christian, Cameron, Marcus and Rena.

When we weren't out visiting friends and when Megan and Alex weren't at school we were hanging out in Puyallup at Stacy and Mike's house. The kids all had a great time together...........

Megan and Maleah reading a Princess book.

Megan and Rena hanging out.

Megan and Maleah.

Megan and Rena, again!

Maleah and Stacy out feeding the dog -- Maleah wanted to do it, but only if Stacy would hold her at ALL times!

A little fun with Aunt Stacy!

Alex, Cameron, Megan and Rena.

The boys had NO trouble keeping themselves busy during the week. They watched a little tv.....

.....played a little XBOX.....

.....played a few games.....

.....and did a little building with Lincoln Logs and Legos!

I also got to visit with my Aunt Kay. It was great to see her!

And then, sadly, the week came to an end. Our flight back to Chicago was early Saturday afternoon.

I had a great week with my best friend and sister, Stacy.

Stacy and Maleah.

Rena and Megan (again)!

Rena, Stacy and Maleah.

The kids before leaving for the airport - Rena, Megan, Maleah, Cameron and Alex.

It was a GREAT week, but I just HATE good-byes!!!!

Peggy met us at the Chicago airport Saturday night and took us back to her house for the night. On Sunday morning Kari and her family and Tami all came over to Peggy's house and we had a little early birthday celebration for both Rena and I before we loaded up the van and headed back to Peoria.

Cameron, Carter and Noah.....

It was a great trip and I am already watching the flight prices and planning our next visit to Washington!!!