west-side adventure

 Our trip to Seattle passed by so quickly. As I was packing our stuff up to head back east, I couldn't help but take note of the fact I felt like I had just put my suitcase down in the room we stayed in. A room that belongs to my beautiful niece. Her space, which is marked with a crowned "M" on the door, is filled with artifacts that represent her right now at this very time. An abstract lilac painting is taped at the head of her bed. And those glow in the dark solar system stickers are systematically spaced out and stuck tightly to the ceiling above her. They are the last thing her growing mind sees before she shuts her eyes to dream, and are a good reminder that only a roof separates her from a real blanket of stars in the night sky. A book shelf full of children's literature ( her favorite being fantasy) has a little home in her room, along with some American Girl Dolls and a box of the scary miniature paraphernalia that comes along with those dollies. I also noticed a couple play horses, a box of crafts and dress up clothes, a handmade jewelry box, and a dream catcher that dressed up her bedroom window beautifully.

Our trip was so good. One of those good for the soul type ones. The change was good. 

We learned. We listened. We kept our eyes opened wide. We read. We took pictures. We took it in. We even discovered, during some downtime, our love for a game called "Flow". And I also discovered that it is possible to feel motion sickness on a plane (our last plane ride home was quite the bumpy one!)

But, most importantly, we got to hang out with family. Cousins played together. Grown ups cooked and talked and drank wine together.  We got the opportunity to sit through long, drawn out stories by a ten year old with an imagination as big as the universe. We got to see first hand how much energy an almost three year old boy has and the crazy ways he likes to release it. Sometimes it involves hitting...sometimes spitting...sometimes screaming. But, we also got to see him release it in more pleasant ways...like through giggles and through play activities and cuddles with his mama.

Art and nature seem to intertwined and coexist in the fibers that make up Seattle.

The people are creative and so are the little people they are raising.

Big buildings and city culture have always been intriguing to me. Maybe its because I live far from this type of lifestyle. But, I've always wondered what it would be like to live in the middle of all that. There are so many activities to do...so many different people to meet... music to hear...art to see. I mean the list could go on. I think I may always fantasize about living a city life, I'm just not totally sold on it being the right place for us.

But, anyway, we had fun exploring the streets of Downtown!

ornaments! 

The beauty with this city is open space is near. So are large lakes and huge mountain ranges- accompanied by volcanos and old- growth forests. The Seattle folk get the best of both worlds.

...evening walk in Greenlake....

... a morning walk down the street...

...Lake Washington...

........................................
Our time spent in the northwest was very much appreciated by my family.

Our adventure was fun.
...

But, it also, honestly, feels good to be home. 

I'm looking forward to what's next. Whatever that may be.
I know some decorating and re-organizing are in my future plans.