In the Traditions of a Staycation......

Last Saturday, we met up with my great friend Shawndi & her kids! We have been friends since our junior year in high school, she was a bridesmaid in my wedding.....just a life-long, amazing friend! Oh the stories we could tell...... :)

So we went to the Fish Hatchery in Issaquah......we've been trying to do things with the kids that Tyler & I enjoyed as kids, especially those that DON'T cost any money!We saw a few salmon swimming up stream...........
So the ladder was empty.....but the holding tanks were full....but really dark....
The kids still had fun......they get along SO well together.....our kids are literally staggered, 1 year after the next....Zach, then Rylan, Brae, then Emberly, Connor, then Sharlie, then Ella.Odd discovery........mushrooms growing ALL over this tree............maybe it's just me & Shawndi, but we've only ever seen them on the ground.....
Sharlie & Ella..........our babies :)
Connor, Mr.Fearless!
Emberly has a HUGE crush on Zach.......
Piggy back rides for all!
Zach & Rylan........
When the kids had run off a bunch of energy, we headed to XXX Rootbeer.......a restaraunt that has been in Issaquah as long as I can remember.........
This is SOOOOO true........the food was REALLY expensive & oh-so-greasy....but the service was amazing.........the family that runs it was so fantastic with our crazy bunch! The rootbeer floats were yummy too! I have NO idea what is on Sharlie's nose...........
It was musical chairs.........they all wanted to sit by eachother.............
The kids were great!
....Emberly was insistant on sitting right next to Zach.....of course! He was a good sport!
Love these boys!
The owner brought out a huge handful of bouncy balls & threw them all in the air for our kids.....they had a blast chasing after all of them! There was a car show in the parking lot & Connor, Ella, & Sharlie all stepped in some mud while we were looking at them......the owners of the restaraunt were awesome, got us water & paper towls to clean up the kids........
The kids were having so much fun, so we headed back to Shawndi's parents house so they could play more......this park is right next door to their house.....can't get any more convenient than that! The kids Connor & up played basketball.....all of them vs. Tyler......
Brae took breaks, cuz "my coach says we shouldn't over do it"......he cracks me up!
Ella & Sharlie drew with chalk, made grass stew, & played catch with Shawndi & I .....
It was a great day...........we love seeing them every year when the visit............they will forever be known to our kids as their "Alabama cousins!"