Weekend-O-Fun: Part 2

Today Matt and I went to Steven's Pass, a ski resort in Skykomish Washington.  We got up early this morning and an hour and 20 minutes later we were putting on our snowboarding gear in the parking lot.  Although, we rode the day in mostly rain, we had an awesome time!  Neither of us had ever ridden on snow while it was raining...it was a unique experience.  Despite all of the rain we stayed remarkably dry and warm.

At the top of the mountain the rain would turn to snow, which was very cool...but didn't last long.  Here are a few shots up at the top...it looks like the skiers are just riding into nothing...

No wipeouts, no injuries and lots of great times!  We both can't wait to go back soon!

Weekend-O-Fun: Part 1

Started the weekend off right with a trip to the dog park in Edmonds.  Hank and Grace were in their element.

For those of you that know Hank and Grace well, you would know that Hank will play fetch until he starts to limp.  He will never stop.  Hankie is an excellent fetcher, catcher and now swimmer!  However, he has never been very good at bringing the ball/toy/stick directly back to you.  He always seems to drop it right out of your reach before he looks back up at you with those ever-hopeful eyes...please, please, please throw it again!!  

So, over the past few weeks we have noticed a change in this sometimes frustrating behavior of Hanks' and on Friday, I think I figured out why.  Whenever we go to the ocean Hank will be sure to bring you the toy on the sand, so that you don't have to go in the water.  Therefore he is starting to bring the ball right to your feet!  You can see it in the video I have included.  It's awesome.

As for Gracie, those of you who know the Princess well, know that she is in love with/obsessed with ducks or mallards...well, while on the ocean, Grace has fallen hard for another wing-ed creature...seagulls.  They float nicely on the water...just like ducks.  You should see her watch them with her hunters eyes.  You can see her watching them in the video below as well.  She'll get one...one day...

SHUG NIGHT SHYAMALAN & SIR HANKELSTEIN THE FIRST

IN


PLAYING IN THE WAVES

(Before you push play...be sure your sound is turned on)

Where Thou Art, That is Home ~Emily Dickinson

I spent the past few days working feverishly on the house to make it feel more "homey."  I believe I have achieved this feat.  Although there is SO much more to do, I think this place is coming together quite nicely.  What do all of you think???

Our bedroom with Matt's new sheepskin....oooo ahhhhh (that's the sound you are supposed to make when you feel the softness of the fur)

A few kitchen views...

 

Hank and Grace are settling in quite nicely!

Also...here's a few of our favorite pics so far since we've been here.  They didn't quite make it to the blog, but I wanted to share them anyway!

Matt with the perfect snowball...thanks to our new snowball maker!!

Me hiding behind a tree in our backyard...my brother, Matt thinks this one is creepy.

Snow print

Our backyard on our first morning!

No, this is NOT our new puppy...this is Charles Bronson, Hank and Gracie's new cousin.  Jay Bird (my youngest brother) got him the day before we left Saint Louis.  He is a CUTIE!!  (and a VERY good boy)

Stay tuned for another post very soon!  Hank and Grace and I did some exploring earlier today and as soon as I get the pics organized I'll be putting them up for everyone to see!  

I love and miss you all!

The Hank and Gracie Fort is Secure!

We've had a very productive last few days.  We have made some great progress on the house, including:

Getting the doggie door installed...

So far Gracie has it figured out...Hank is still a little unsure...
No doubt Gracie will teach him.

                   &
Putting up the chain-linked fence...

So far the house is set-up for the doggies, so now it's time to get it set up for us!  Matt had a great first day of work today and I have started the never-ending job of emptying boxes and getting the place organized...and perhaps I'll throw a little exploring in there also...I'll let you know where I end up!! : )

Best News Ever -- We have a bed!!!

Short post today...because we are exhausted.  Our 2 U-Haul boxes got here today and after so many issues with the entire U-Haul experience...they are not a company we will use again...

Matt, Chris, Scott and I unloaded the two FULLY packed boxes in 50 minutes!!  Talk about an assembly line!

Pic of our semi-put-together family room!  Very exciting!

Plan for the rest of the night:  A little bit of R & R....and a big sigh of relief that we finally have all of our stuff!   Ahhhhhhhh  : )

Snowy in Seattle

Great day today!

Matt had a job fair to attend for Whole Foods so Chris, Scott and I hit the city of Seattle to see what we could see...

We had the city to ourselves!  The locals are not used to snow at all, so the city and market were quite vacant.  We wandered around 1st Street and Pike's Market and stumbled upon some really great shops!

A very empty Pike's Market

Bored and cold fish mongers

The city is covered with art.  It seems like everywhere you turn a new treasure is found.  Here was our favorite of the day...

This is the Gum Wall found below Pike's Market.  None of us knew it existed until today!  Of course, after we found it, we each had to contribute:

 

Hanging out at home now.  A fire is roaring in the fireplace and Chris is making homemade meatloaf!

I wish I could report the arrival of all of our stuff...unfortunately, our U-Boxes have been delayed.  We were supposed to get them today, but they had to change the delivery date to tomorrow because of the ice and snow.  So, we'll just have to make due with what we have for now and hopefully we'll be sleeping in a bed again in the near future...

SNOW SNOW SNOW

Greetings!

We currently have about 3 inches of snow and we're expecting lots more!  Here are some cool pics taken this afternoon in our backyard:

Other GREAT news....I got the job!  I am now an employee at the University of Washington Medical Center in their Digestive Disease Center.  I start on January 30th and I just couldn't be more excited!  After waiting a month and two days after my phone interview I was WAY ready to have them offer me the job officially.

Tonight we had dinner in Edmonds at a place called Arnies.  It's located right on the Pugent Sound.  We couldn't see much, but we could see a few ferries out on the water, which was very cool.

What an experience to be looking at the waves hitting the shore, smelling the salty fishiness of the ocean, all the while hearing the snow crunching below your feet....

I love it here.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Interesting day today...

Started out great with more fresh snow!  Matt's doctor's appointment went very well and while we were there we learned that Seattle has an IKEA!!  Great (and dangerous) news for me!  : )

We then picked up Chris and Scott at the airport and headed right for Pike's Market!  We had outstanding Clam Chowder at Pike's World Famous Chowder Bar.  Anyone who comes to visit will automatically get a visit to this joint!  Yum!

Scott, Matt and Chris

Inside-out umbrella sculpture

After a wonderful morning, Chris and I brought Gracie in for a visit to our new local Vet because she has been incredibly itchy.  She even had trouble sleeping last night because of the itching.  Matt and I were under the assumption that she had picked up some chiggers on one of the potty stops on the 2800 mile car ride here...however....turns out that the dogs in the Pacific Northwest are highly prone to fleas....so we had a massive outbreak of fleas.  Awesome.  (sarcasm, of course)

The outbreak is now under control and Gracie's itchies are finally resolving.  We are also now on a monthly flea regimen (just like all the other canines in the NW).  Turns out that in order to completely kill the flea population, there needs to be at least a two week period of freezing temps...which we always have in STL, but don't typically have in Washington.  So, after a short outside/garage quarantine (in which we played some serious ball!) things are back to normal.

Ball in the garage

So, the other interesting tid-bit to share is that tonight Seattle is expecting the most snowfall they have seen since 1985!  The snow we have had the first few days here is the first they have had in a year and a half!  (As reported by a Lynnwood native)  Looks like we brought the Saint Louis weather with us...

Looking forward to a fun day tomorrow with Chris and Scott AND I have my interview tomorrow...keep your fingers crossed....

Outing to Edmonds

Just about to head to bed after our first full day in our new home in Lynnwood, WA...



We woke up to a snow covered ground and were ready to explore!!


We had a great day which included an outing to the town of Edmonds, which is about 5 miles from our house on the Pugent Sound.  We started at the Edmonds Dog Park, then had lunch at a delicious Mexican restaurant called Las Brisas....aka Las Deliciosas....we then we found a few treasures at a really cool antique mall.  We concluded our day with a grocery store run to a very cool place (and Whole Foods competitor) Central Market.  

Our first day in Lynnwood couldn't have been better!  Feels like we're on vacation...but so cool to think that we are here to stay!  Hank and Grace are doing great, they thoroughly enjoyed their first waves off of the Pugent Sound.  

Now we are all settling in for the night, lying on the floor in our camping gear.  I am using the cooler as a desk and we are all staying plenty warm by the fire. 

Chris and Scott are coming in tomorrow to take in all the sites the Northwest has to offer...as well as help us move all of our stuff!!...and for that we are eternally grateful!

The air was cold, but the water was nice!

Hank was in driftwood heaven!

Grace was so excited she kept doing spin jumps.  Here is an attempt to capture one.

Had to take this one in a hurry!

Hank could have stayed on that beach all day.

Happy paws