We just got back to Japan from our wonderful trip back home to Washington state! It was a bit of a ski to sea adventure! We started out in Seattle visiting all of our fabulous friends! The boys had a great time at the Science Center and Zircus Fantazmo with Elijah and Sebastian!

We loved being back in Mukilteo with the beautiful scenery! We have missed our beach with the views and ferry boats going by!

the Easter Bunny successfully found us at our dear friend Aileens house!
and we spent a lovely Easter dinner with our friends Anne, Lucie, Henry, Lee and Adam!
We stopped in for trouble and lots of fun at the Shooks home! had a fantastic yummy Mexican dinner, with treats for the boys and pink drinks and wine for the adults! so much fun and just like old times! this is what i truly miss the most! the simple, fun, fantastic times with good friends!
We ventured over the mountains to visit Julia, Sydney, Lucas and AJ in Chelan. The beauty of home is so amazing! I was in heaven!
Daddy arrived the last week we were home and we all spent time on the slopes at Alpental with our great ski buddies! both Ghett and Jaxon skied on their own and rode the lift for the first time solo! We were so lucky to get a gorgeous blue spring day on the hill! We are so spoiled!



We then spent a couple of nights in Fall city at the Tree House Pointe treehouses! so amazing! the forest was dense and green, so refreshing to be surrounded by tall trees, ferns and moss. The river nearby was so clear and gorgeous, with a big area of little alters of stones on its' banks. Another piece of heaven on earth, and so different than Eastern WA or the snow capped mountains! who knew we had so much in our own backyard! We are so fortunate and blessed!
Our last stop was Cama Beach Resort up on Camano Island. Three nights here was so relaxing and wonderful for our family! the boys played on the beach, in the mud (of course) and made a big driftwood camp. Mommy took some hikes down the beach and on the many trails. We BBQ'd and roasted marshmallows, and watched the sun set over the Puget Sound. This was the perfect ending to our amazing trip home! We will be back this summer!

Seto ceramic trip

I had a great time with girlfriends visiting the Seto ceramic museum and art center. we were able to make our own bowls, and art. it was lots of fun to get our hands dirty and be creative! thank you to Yumiko for organizing it! i can't wait to go again, and again and make a whole set of bowls to remember my time in japan!

Nemu no Sato

for Golden Week we went to a wonderful resort called Nemu no Sato. It was huge! beaches, a marina, putt putt golf, gardens, go carts, basketball, archery, pools and slides, and a wonderful Onsen. We had the most wonderful time! the boys were in heaven, as were Kirk and I.

When we first arrived it was raining so we went to a really great aquarium in Toba. Jaxon proved to be a real animal guy! first he was kissed by a duck as we entered, then a big fat walrus gave him a big wet, sloppy kiss! and then he cuddled up with a big bird of prey. there were beautiful things to see everywhere! i especially liked the darling little finless porpoise that would turn his head back and forth looking at us, he would come to the window over and over!

the boys really loved the Onsen. Jaxon liked the hot and Ghett liked the cool pool. When i was on the roof top i was blessed to see a beautiful sunset to the west and an amazingly bright double rainbow to the east! am amazing feeling to be standing naked in a hot pool with a gorgeous view of the waterways and surrounding forest, my kids playing nicely in a pool, and the spectacular show of lights! i will never forget that for as long as i live! one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen!

we really enjoyed the hammocks that were all over the resort, they really know how to relax here!

we can't wait to go back when the weather is good, and the water slides and pools are open!