Someday vacations will actually be relaxing again right?

We got back last night from a 6 day adventure to the other side of the state. Charlie has become the best little road-tripper. You put on his monkey headphones, throw in back to back DVDs and he could sit in his car seat all day (and lucky for him he got to all day Tuesday and Sunday!). Annie, on the other hand, is not so good. She cried 80% of the way there and about 50% of the way home, which is why we probably won't leave Spokane again until she's 3. And by 3 I mean 18 (the age I just made up that it's socially acceptable to vacation without your children).

Random picture of Annie enjoying her first trip to Campus U-Totem in Ellensburg. First of many I'm sure since her Dad has a crush on this place.

On Tuesday we went and caught up with some high school/college friends of ours who both just had babies. I was too busy keeping Annie from destroying their 3 year old's artwork taped to their walls to take my camera out, but trust me when I say the babies were cute. Oh wait. You can just go here or here.

On Wednesday we hit up Woodland Park Zoo. Matt's friend Jon joined us so it was fun to catch up with him. Miss Annie had her first real experience with the doggie backpack/child leash. I'm not proud of it. I know it's a terrible thing to do to a child but this kid runs. Fast. And we don't.

We had 1 more night paid for in our steal of a deal Priceline hotel but we decided to pack up and hit the last ferry to Orcas on Wednesday night. Trying to keep Annie from destroying our hotel room was more exhausting than it was worth so we decided to cut our losses and take off.

So this is the kids enjoying the beach at my parent's cabin below. To sum it up Charlie played with seaweed and looked for little crabs (like a normal child). Annie ate rocks (like the crazy Meatball she's become).

Grandma and Annie.

On Saturday my dad had to drive the firetruck in the little Olga Daze parade and he invited Charlie to come along for the ride.

I actually jumped in too for the parade ride (since it was all of 8 minutes roundtrip) and grabbed a friend's baby on my way in. I figured Baby Sora needed the first parade line filled out in her baby book still. Somehow I'm the happiest one in this picture. I need to remember to tone it down a notch when the camera comes out next time.

Grandma and Grandpa on the last night with their grand kids.

And finally a family portrait on the ferry ride back.

Oh hold on. One more. My friend Danielle and me on the ferry ride back.

So we had awesome weather, got to see lots of friends, got to spend time with my parents, and caught 19 crab. On paper it was an fantastic trip. Sadly the reality was it was a lot of time listening to a crying baby in the car, a lot of time chasing a never tired baby around a zoo/hotel/ferry/friend's house/parent's house/outlet mall, and a lot of driving. It was worth it though (I think, I'm actually still tired) - thanks mom and dad for letting us take over the cabin again for for being such great hosts!