A Visit from Aunt Blanche

After scheduling her trip to come out at the same time as Robbie and Austin, Aunt Blanche decided to drive up to Washington with her husband instead of flying up after they cancelled their trip.  After she changed the arrival date several times and then had to delay their departure by a day (due to needing to be tested for Covid-19 after waking up with a sore throat), Aunt Blanche and Uncle Joe finally arrived on Tuesday evening, July 7th.  We were then treated to 4.5 fun filled days with Aunt Blanche at the helm!  Although two main activities were cancelled that she wanted to do with the kids (taking Logan on a pirate ship ride around Lake Union in Seattle and taking the girls to an actual tea house in Sumner for lunch), she managed to make every day full of fun and entertaining activities!  Since they drove here from California, she was able to bring box after box of crafts, supplies, and goodies for the kids to wear, play with, and use.  We had such a good time with her.  She really is one of the funnest aunts around and we are all so grateful to have her back in our lives after so many years, especially since we have not had a visit from Lola in four years.  We are so grateful for the love and attention that she gives our children and are so happy that she and Uncle Joe were still able to make the trip up to see us when so many things are cancelled.

Since Aunt Blanche wasn't able to take Logan on the pirate ship in Seattle, she decided to organize and host a pirate-themed, treasure hunt around our backyard on her first full day here, July 8th.  All three older children received their own treasure map with clues or pictures as to where to find their treasures.  Here is Aunt Blanche explaining the hunt to the kids with her pirate bandana wrapped around her head.  Please note that Uncle Joe was also wearing a pirate hat in the background.

Aunt Blanche explaining Ella's treasure map to her.

The children found a bag of goodies at every location marked on their treasure map.  All of these items were then used to make the most adorable and miniature fairy, mermaid, or pirate-themed garden.  Here is Ella finding one of her bags on the play structure.

Lia studying her map to find the next bag of treasure.

Logan finding one in the branch of a tree.

Uncle Joe helping Ella find her last surprise.

A group shot of the kids with the "pirates" after their hunt was over.

Aunt Blanche passed out a large, round dish for everyone to make their miniature gardens in.  She also provided beautiful sands and rocks, moss, and fake succulents for them to use along with all of the items they found on their hunt.  They all made the most darling gardens to play with in the days to come.

Although Emmett was taking his afternoon nap during the treasure hunt, this is a darling picture of Emmett and Ella that Aunt Blanche managed to take after he woke up..

Here is another great shot that she got of Emmett that afternoon!

We then hosted twelve people for an outdoor dinner party that same Wednesday evening.  Just by luck, Blanche's and Joe's oldest child, Alex, planned a last minute trip to Seattle with his girlfriend for the same time that his parents happened to be here.  We were able to see him again for the first time in four years (for Ron) and ten years (for me).  In addition, we invited Uncle Oscar and Aunt Pat to join us.  Luckily, the weather behaved and we enjoyed a pleasant evening in the backyard.

After dinner, the kids enjoyed playing soccer on the sports court with Uncle Joe, Alex, and his girlfriend, Alana.

Logan kicking the ball.

Ella going after the soccer ball.

Although I didn't get any pictures of it, Emmett really got into chasing and kicking the ball several times.  Not too shabby for an almost 18-month old!

A group shot of the family before everyone went home.

Ron with his Uncle Oscar and Aunt Blanche.

Since the darling tea house in Sumner was still not offering in-house dining, Aunt Blanche decided to host her own tea party at our house in our dining room on Thursday, July 9th.  We ordered a box of scones with cream, jam, and lemon curd that the girls and I went and picked up from the tea house.  We then came back home and got all dressed up and even wore hats from both of my grandmothers that I inherited years ago!  We had such a fun time eating lunch with Aunt Blanche in such a fancy and unique way.

The girls with Aunt Blanche.

Ella and Lia looking so fancy!  We kept on commenting how Fancy Nancy would be so proud of us all.

The darling table all set with food on Aunt Blanche's bee-themed china set that she brought all the way from California.

After we finished lunch, Aunt Blanche took us into her 'nail salon' in the kitchen to do everyone's nails.

After ordering pizza for the kids, Aunt Blanche and Uncle Joe sent Ron and me on our way to celebrate our 15th anniversary that was that same day.  Ron and I drove up to Tukwila to eat at the amazing Din Tai Fung Restaurant where we enjoyed an evening dining on delicious Taiwanese dumplings and reminiscing about the last 15 years of our lives!

The kids had a great time back at home with Aunt Blanche and Uncle Joe who treated them to pizza and pirate-themed, banana splits before heading into the backyard to play.

Since I have never made banana splits for our kids (shocking, I know), the kids were all very curious as to how they would taste.  Luckily, they all approved and happily gobbled up their desserts.  Here is Ella giving the dessert a thumbs up!

On Friday, July 10th, we all piled in our cars and headed up to Lake Samm to spend the afternoon after Emmett's morning nap.  Luckily, it turned out to be the warmest day of Aunt Blanche's visit.  We had a great time swimming in the water.  Baby Emmett really enjoys just sitting in my lap while we float in the inner tube together.  Here we are with papa at our side.

Although Aunt Blanche didn't go in the water, she enjoyed watching everyone from the shore.  Here she is posing with Ella.

After I took both Ella and Lia on long paddle board rides, Lia and Logan ventured out together.

Lia and Ron diving off the dock together.

Emmett loved playing with the rocks again on the beach.

Emmett and I together on the beach.

After getting chilled in the water, Ella found a warm place to lay in the sun on the back of the boat.  I just think she is the cutest, little girl around.

A picture Aunt Blanche took of me paddling out past the docks.

A group photo before heading home.

Another group photo minus Aunt Blanche.

After we got home, Aunt Blanche and Uncle Joe treated us to a surprise dinner of Hawaiian food since our trip to Hawaii had been cancelled in July for the second time this year.  They got the children to help them decorate the table and provided a menu of Hawaiian food that they picked up at two different places on their drive home from the lake.  It was such a thoughtful and fun idea and I loved being treated to a night off from cooking!

After dinner, the girls treated us to a hula performance that they had practiced the evening before when Ron and I were out for our anniversary.  It was so cute to watch them all dancing with their grass skirts and leis on.

The girls dancing away.

They provided pineapple and coconut flavored popsicles for dessert after the hula performance was over.  Here are the kids enjoying their frozen treats out on the deck before heading to bed.

On Saturday, July 11th, we headed up to Seattle to spend the afternoon at Alki Beach.  We stopped first at Spuds to pick up our fish 'n chips lunch to eat down at the beach.  Here is everyone eating our picnic lunch.

We then walked down to the beach where we spent an hour or two playing in the sand.  Emmett was very curious about everything and loved throwing rocks.

Emmett and daddy.

Ella and Logan had fun digging a big hole in a huge mound of sand that someone else had made.

Logan digging away.

Lia and Emmy.

Mama with her baby.

The kids with the "best aunt ever" (notice the awesome t-shirt that Aunt Blanche bought for herself). :-)

A group photo minus Uncle Joe.  We then headed back home for dinner and a slow evening while Aunt Blanche and Uncle Joe washed their clothes and packed up most of their belongings.

At 10 o'clock on the dot, we said goodbye to Aunt Blanche and Uncle Joe on Sunday morning, July 12th.  We had such a great time with them and we were so glad that they were able to make the trip up to see us.  Here is the group picture I took in the front yard of the kids with Aunt Blanche and Uncle Joe before hugging them and sending them on their way!