Our Continued Adventures in The North

The Sawtelle Family Adventure Continues

This past week, my brother-in-law came to town to “see” the sights. So like a dutiful sister I wowed him with my new hometown and then took him and his girlfriend up to see historic Snohomish (S-Na-Ho-Mish).

The city I live in is a little too busy for his tastes, and honestly I just wanted to see Snohomish. I love looking at the real estate up there and the historic downtown is filled with antique shops, coffee, and food 🙂

The first night we headed to downtown Kirkland’s waterfront to experience a fantastic sunset. Unlike any I have experienced since moving away from Ontario Lake at age 11.

I had to include this shot. My daughter looks so happy ♥

The girls played keep away with Sauney on a platform over looking Lake Washington. They look so happy ♥ and you know, this post is mostly just a shameless excuse to show off my girls!

They do not know I’m shooting them. Isn’t it great?

Beautiful sunset over Lake Washington.

The next morning we headed up to Snohomish. I’m sure I have some pretty pictures of the countryside on the way on my iPhone, but I’m feeling a little lazy 😛 I am drawn to this town for it’s brick shops downtown, it’s historical Victorian and craftsman homes, and it’s general east coast vibe.

Church on Main Street in Snohomish.

I loved life in sunny California but sometimes I just need to feel history around me. A sense of days gone by. The look of a concrete slab sitting vacant and cracked, the site of crumbling brick on the corner of a building, houses with individual rooms and things like a foyer and mud room.

My husband doesn’t fully understand this side of me, but that’s ok, how could you, not growing up running around elaborate churches on the corner and schools haunted by the ghosts of wealthy men?

Beautiful Victorian Bed and Breakfast.

Enough of my rambling.

We picked up some gourmet coffee and took some fun photos in the ring of an ancient Cedar Tree.

A perfect pose.

Wait, no, open your eyes while you smile 🙂

Perfect.

We had burgers at Pilchucks drive in and then walked around downtown, perusing the shops. We found a stairway leading to The Snohomish River Trail.

Shot of the river trail.

Jon looking out over Snohomish River.

Well, that’s about all. We wore the girls right out! I can’t wait to revisit in the warmth of summer.

Time to go home.

Hi Mom.

 Happy Travels!

♥

Samantha

Life in My New Town

Getting to Know My Community

 I had a really funny post idea for today, at least I thought so, but as it turns out, I was having a severe shortage of energy this week :(…. Oh the joys of womanhood….. The post required an entirely spotless house, and that just wasn’t going to happen.

Instead I thought I might introduce you to my families new hometown and some of the things we have done to get involved in the community, and some of the things I hope to be doing! There is so much to enjoy in this beautiful state that I now call home.

Kirkland, WA

Downtown Kirkland’s waterfront.

When I first got to town I wanted to head straight back to the sunshine of California and the comfort of my family and friends but the more I venture out, the more pleased I am with our decision to relocate 🙂 Don’t get me wrong, I miss my friends and family immensely! I am just excited with what this city has to offer to the future of my family, especially the future of my children.

The girls and I have enjoyed a very interactive story-time at the Kirkland Library in downtown the last two weeks.

My daughters love to point this sculpture out when we pass it. It is usually sporting some form of festive decoration.

One of the many sculptures located downtown.

Once a week the girls and I attend a class at the community center in the North end of town where we live.

Community Center Playground. The girls were so excited about the train!

We had a chance to attend service this past Sunday at a Church called Eastlake. I think we will be staying. They have a program called groups run by the people who attend. It is just another way for everyone to get connected and socialize outside of service. The church is a little larger than I would normally prefer but they are so inviting I couldn’t help but feel at home.

That pretty much concludes my ventures out thus far 🙂

When weather permits I am going to take the little ladies to the Juanita Bay Park and Trail!

Can’t wait for the cold to pass to enjoy this…and it’s all but minutes down the road!

Can’t wait to walk this!

All sorts of birds call this park their home.

Doesn’t this look fun?…

Now this place is not part of Kirkland but I am very excited to visit. Stevens Pass would be a wonderful snow day with the little ladies. Maybe some sledding?

This might be a little too much for the little ladies?…

This might be more manageable 🙂 Maybe it’s time to learn to ski?

This is a little Bavarian style village outside of the pass…I can’t wait to turn this into a family tradition! I picture the girls feeling like they are actually visiting the North Pole! A few days in a cabin enjoying winter and then head back home to no snow, sounds great!

Leavenworth, WA

It’s like a winter wonderland ♥

You can expect to enjoy all sorts of German festivals when visiting Leavenworth.

The Camlann Medieval Village is a small permanent village that boasts a year round restaurant specializing in medieval cuisine and hosts a renaissance faire on the weekends through the summer. They also put on other medieval festivals like the Mayfair..and if you know me, you know, I’m into that sort of thing.

Permanent Medieval Village outside of Carnation, WA

Part of the village 🙂

And I truly hope to merchant at this Bonney Lake Renaissance Faire with the girls in tow. Maybe even this summer?

The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire

I feel like bringing the girls to this would be like bringing their imaginations to life ♥

I can just picture my eldest daughter swooning over these dresses!

Alright! Enough of my issues with never growing up and back to the real world 🙂 One last destination to add to the list.

The Kirkland Wednesday Market

Hopefully I will be running a booth here as well 🙂

Yeah, I think I could handle this view while running a booth ♥

I love the Farmer’s Market no matter what state I live in ♥

Well, that is what I am excited about at the moment 🙂

 Does anyone else have something they are excited about? Any cool summer destinations? New towns to explore? Big moves coming up?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Have an amazing day!

♥

Samantha

An Adventure North

A Trip To Washington

My family and I recently made a spur of the moment trip up to Washington state.

We had lived there for about a year. We decided to come back down to California to live near family since we had another little one coming into the world.

Recently however my hubby has been thinking he misses it terribly and that we might just need to move back.

So…………….

We took an Adventure North to see how we felt about the whole idea!

Well…What do you think?

I forgot how beautiful it was there. The trees! The lakes! The cool weather! Not to mention that my Husband seemed more alive than he has in some time 🙂

Well I don’t know, we will see.

For now I thought I would share some of our adventure with you!

The little ladies enjoying a park over looking Lake Washington in Bellevue. One of the first things we did was drive around Bellevue wishing we could even start to dream about living there..haha.

So I had a little fun playing around with some of my new iPhone photo apps ♥

Next stop was the Bellevue Square Mall. The little ladies ran themselves into the ground playing in the kid zone.

We finally finished off the day in Downtown Kirkland. I can’t believe we never made it down here the year we actually lived in the area!

Downtown had an old world charm to it with just enough modern-day life mixed in…We enjoyed yet another park on Lake Washington.

We wandered around for a bit just seeing what shops and restaurants were available.

We had dinner at a Greek/Mediterranean Restaurant called George’s Place. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding! The wait staff listened patiently to all of my daughters rantings about her colored picture, It’s always a win when they pay attention to your children. 

After dinner we turned the corner for the most delicious gelato at a little shop called Sirena Gelato. OMG! It was so yummy! If I would have thought better of it, I would have taken a photo.

The best I could come up with at this point

I took this shot simply because it was beautiful.

And more photos of downtown…

A charming little path.

 I had an amazing weekend! Even if nothing comes of this little Adventure North I was so happy to spend a weekend away with my family..It feels like it’s been forever since we have done that.

♥♥♥

Samantha