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Clearing the Cache

Spring Break in Seattle

For the kids’ spring break, we planned a day trip up to Seattle and revisit several 10th birthday locations. For Kadie’s 10th birthday, we explored the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass. And for Bruce’s 10th birthday, we enjoyed Olympia’s Hands On Children Museum.

Bruce loved sharing the dry ice fountain with his sisters. We met up with Jenni’s uncle Todd, who lives in Olympia. The kids were disappointed that the sock skating station was no longer there, but we did discover a bench xylophone.

Then we trekked north to see the Chihuly Garden and Glass before riding the elevator up the Space Needle.

Since it had been nearly five years since Kadie and I were last here, I had flashbacks to the trip as we walked through familiar sculptures and sights. I’m grateful for the special trips I get to take my kids when they turned ten.

The Space Needle got some upgrades in the form of glass barriers at the top to reduce wind and provide clearer views. And, they added a glass floor that rotated.

We visited Jenni’s college classmate Paul and his wife Jennifer for dinner before driving home.

I enjoyed created new memories with the entire family while reminiscing the trips I took with Kadie and Bruce prior.

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Bricks Cascade 2022

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Weekend at Whispering Woods

We got to spend a fun weekend with Cory and Arianne up near Mt. Hood. One of my coworkers had a time-share they couldn’t use, so we snapped it up to play in the snow.

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Clearing the Cache

COVID Positives and Negatives

Two weeks ago, Kadie came home feeling unwell after school and she developed a fever that evening. We tested her for COVID and the test showed negative. We had a low-key weekend as she recovered, and when Monday came around, her second test revealed a positive result.

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Clearing the Cache

Happy Chinese New Year!

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Clearing the Cache

Twenty Twenty One in Photos

As we lit fireworks after midnight, I found myself mixed with emotions. I regard myself as aggressively balanced, so it surprised me to feel both deep sadness and hopeful expectation as twenty twenty-two began. It only became clear after looking back at twenty twenty-one in photos that I realized what I’ll be missing and be thankful for.

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Great Wolf Lodge and Hands On Museum

For each of the kids’ 10th birthdays, I take them on a special trip. Kadie visited Seattle, Violet explored Victoria B.C., and now, Bruce and I played near Olympia, WA.

COVID did limit some of our options, but thankfully we were able to enjoy two new destinations just Bruce and me.

Great Wolf Lodge entertained us for an afternoon with its water parks and magic quests. I think it is a great destination vacation for families as they have activities to suit a range of interests and ages.

The Hands-On Museum reminded me of our closed Portland Children Museum, where kids and adults can explore fun activities in science, engineering, and exploration. We spent a lot of time at the dry ice fountain, ball launcher, sock skating, and the tube maze.

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Fog at Cooper Mountain

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Bike and Run from Mom and Dad’s

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Gerbil Goodness

Our Priceless Pearl Gerbil

We are sadden to have lost one of our gerbils. She unfortunately passed while we were on vacation and we discovered her in her temporary enclosure after we returned home. We had left both our gerbils with a friend while we were away for ten days.

She was always a skittish one but a great companion to our Rosie. She enjoyed food, running around, and always up to explore new areas. We are very blessed to have shared a year with her and will always remember her fondly. Thank you Pearl for the love and joy you’ve given us.