Is it Friday already? Where has the week gone?

I've enjoyed staying busy with subbing, but the house is suffering. I need to get some cleaning done before our guests arrive tomorrow! My niece and her boyfriend are coming for a week! We'll get to do some more touristy things that we've been wanting to do, as well as just hang out and enjoy the Southern accents and great personalities we miss so much. These 2500 miles (from Texas) might as well be half a world away. We're still adjusting to the extreme differences in personalities and culture (read: manners) up here, and it will be nice to get a small taste of home.

I was out in the driveway after mowing the yard on Wednesday and some new neighbors walked by with their two dogs. They stopped to introduce themselves and chat...They're from Arizona and are also having a hard time adjusting. The lady asked me if we new anyone friendly in the neighborhood, so I pointed out houses of people I know. Then she asked me what was the deal with people staring blankly at you when you wave at them. This has been a huge adjustment for us as we like to wave at our neighbors as we drive down the street or walk by with Maddie girl. People just stare at us like they've never seen such a thing, don't know how to respond, and definitely don't like it. I just told the lady that I don't know why they react that way, but we just keep on waving and smiling and let them think what they will. Like I said - it's a different world. Sometimes I wonder if we probably shouldn't let ourselves adjust. Our personalities aren't going to change, and I really don't want to get to a place where I think the way they treat each other up here is better than what we're used to. I tend to think we were raised right.

Oh, and I absolutely think the culture differences are largely weather-related. It's very hard to be happy and outgoing when there's no sun for weeks on end. Yesterday we almost hit sixty degrees. The sun was shining. We had birds on our fence, chirping even. I had the windows open in my car as I ran errands around town. I got home and played with Maddie in the yard. I got teary eyed when I saw the ever-impressive Mt. Rainier. It's so beautiful here, but we haven't been able to enjoy it in a long time. The last time we could comfortably sit outside was when Alicia and Chris were visiting - almost a month ago. So, after years and years in this dreary weather (not year-round, but for about 9 out of 12 months) it's really no wonder people are slow to smile. Thankfully we won't be here that long. I think about 4 years here would be enough at one stretch, but I could come back after a long break in a place where the sun shines a little more often!

Here are some more pictures from our trip to Leavenworth, WA. We had an absolute blast, along with getting some much needed R & R. The place we stayed was amazing. It was our first bed and breakfast experience and it was more than we hoped for - the details added up to a one-of-a-kind vacation. We felt catered to and spoiled, but yet the place wasn't stuffy or snooty at all. These people know how to run an inn.

The B&B - Run of the River Inn


Little details in our room...food for the birds (to leave in the feeder on our balcony), a personal note welcoming us, and a key on a pretty pewter key chain. There were also pears on our pillows. Yum.


More details...Burt's Bees products in the bathroom. Nice!


This is the common room where we had breakfast each morning. They had coffee, tea, cocoa and cider available all day, as well as fresh-baked cookies each afternoon. The staff was very helpful and we ended up hitting some really good restaurants on their suggestions. At first I thought it might be weird or uncomfortable to all eat together, but it was great. Breakfast was at nine and everyone was still waking up and not too chatty, but just talkative enough to keep the awkward silences at bay. The inn only has six rooms, and they were not all full, so the table always had extra seats. Plus, the breakfasts were so amazing I would have eaten on the floor - fresh fruit, different smoothies each day, shittake mushroom quiche with Swiss Gruyere cheese, caramel apple flan...just to mention a few items on the menu!


One day we took a bike ride into town. The inn has mountain bikes for each room. The loop we took ended up being about eight miles, but the long part was the ride into town. We took a break to shop, snack and wine taste (which is why Will's teeth look purple!) before riding the less than two miles back.


A shot of the town. Really cute shops...Neat places like The Cheesemonger's Shop and Icicle Ridge Winery Wine Shop. It's a small downtown area, about enough to fill one or two days of browsing. However, the food was good enough to fill a week! We got our fill of schnitzel, sausage and red cabbage!


We spent a day skiing at Steven's Pass. It was a blizzard when we got there, and snowed all day long. It let up in the afternoon on the front side of the mountain, but the back side was so windy and cold! I almost wimped out at lunchtime, but I pushed through and we ended up having the best afternoon. It was more than we expected skiing in Washington to be.



Lots of snow!



Brrr.


This last pic is from Will's squadron's welcome home party. We somehow left without taking any pictures, so we took this on the street before getting in the car to drive home. It was a nice way to wrap up Will's two weeks off. Good food and good company. Oh, and doesn't he clean up nice?!? My handsome husband (makes up for the goofy, purple teeth, bike helmet picture!). =)

Okay, well, that was LONG! I have a million more pictures because it was just that much fun. It wasn't too hard of a transition back to real life, though, because my husband's home - much better than what my "real life" has been like the past four months. Life is so good.

So, Charla gets something cute like "Clara Clarke," and I get this...

Your Irish Name Is...

Saoirse MacSween

What's your Irish Name?

Whatever... =)

Gig 'em Ags...


...whew!

Just a few teaser pics from our first day of bliss...Starting with the gift basket in our room, followed by some pictures of our balcony and its view in the middle, and ending with the two of us enjoying some freshly brewed coffee on the swing (I'll have to elaborate on the amazing coffee makers they have in the rooms here later). And yes, folks, that's sunshine. The weather is a whole different ball game up here in the mountains, and thankfully we've timed it just right. And to top it all off, they have a gorgeous Airdale here named Plaka who is ready to accompany you on a walk if you so desire (and I do desire)...it's like a huge version of Maddie girl.






And now I'm lounging on the bed, feeling the breeze from the balcony door, enjoying the view. Will is lounging in a chair by the fireplace reading the paper.

Can I just say that we are loving life right now?

Today we're packing for a few days away...



...a few days that will include a stay at a B&B (a first for us) and some snowshoeing. We're going to try to work in a little skiing as well. I'm so looking forward to a few days away in what looks to be the most romantic place we've ever stayed. More to come when we get back from our week in the Cascades.

Quick Update...

Will made it home safe and sound. It was a fun, anxiety-filled afternoon and evening as we waited for them to finally arrive. There were news crews and a huge group from a local middle school to welcome them home. Oh, and lots and lots of cheering family and friends ready to have loved ones back.

Home!

In front of the plane they came in on, the Patriot Express, a charter that carries troops around the world (and most importantly, carries them home!).

This little guy had all of them sign his poster that read, "I enjoyed my freedom today. Thank you." He and his dad came just because they heard troops were getting home. They didn't know anyone there and they weren't affiliated with the school group.

Just to prove the mustache came off! :) Oh, and to show off the Ireland sweatshirt Will picked up for me when they stopped in Shannon, Ireland on their way home.

There will be more pictures to come of our time in Seattle with Alicia and Chris. I'm just sneaking in a blog post while Will is up at base taking care of the few things he needs to do before getting two weeks off!

Tomorrow...he'll be home tomorrow.

Please pray for safe travel. 30 plus hours in transit can't be too fun. Hopefully I'll post some pictures soon of the sweet, sweet homecoming...but then a blog hiatus is in order. I've gotta spend some time with my husband.