New Front Steps

Our front steps needed a face lift. Shortly after we moved in we sealed up a bunch of the cracks, then one winter in the thaw - freeze - thaw stage of weather it really cracked and popped up. We let it go for a year, got some bids last fall then left it for the winter and knew we'd need to tackle it this spring. Actually last fall I reached out to 3 or 4 companies and only ONE got back to me with a bid!!! I had better luck this spring and got three solid bids before choosing who we'd use. Got them scheduled in April and they got us on their calendar as soon as was available which happened to be end of June. It was suppose to get demo'd on Thursday and poured on Friday. But the rain kept them away so they weren't able to demo the stairs until Friday, June 28th. 

Before shots:

The arrived JUST as I got Thomas down for a nap. Luckily Thomas can sleep through anything and slept the entire time they were banging, sledge hammering, and jack hammering. The kids were very entertained. Free entertainment.... but not really free cuz we were paying a pretty penny for this. 

Thomas eventually woke up. It took them a good 4-5 hours to get it all broken up. Thomas enjoyed watching them. 

Then this is what we were left with for the weekend. 

The plan was to pour on Monday but again the rain kept them away. They did however show up later on Monday and framed up the steps. 

Tuesday was the day. They arrived about 3:30ish and the cement truck arrived at 4:00. 

Quite the show for the kids. They loved watching the cement pour out of the hose. They called it poop.

They finished it that evening. I left for my swim class and Kyle took the kids to drop off Isaac for Piano. This was where it was when I got home from swim about 7:15.

It lightened up as it dried. The railing will get put in, in a couple of weeks. And it's our responsibility to get the pavers in. A little over half of them went back in no problem... but the spot to the right is a little narrower so we're having to chisel some of the brick to get it to fit. Can't be easy.

We just have about four bricks left and will get to them eventually. 

Leaving Seattle

Monday was travel day. We had an evening flight so we weren't in a rush to get out of the house. We did however have to check out at 10am of the cleaners. Our plan was to pack up, leave our bags and go to the playground down the road to kill some time. Only problem was it was raining...

The rain started later, so Kyle was able to get in a long morning run, while I pushed play on an indoor workout. Feels so good to get a workout in on travel day. He went about 8 miles, running up to Union Bay and down through the arboretum. It started to rain on him when he was almost home. 

We got packed up, the apartment straighten up, sheets taken off and thrown in the wash and decided since the playground was going to be all wet we'd just start slowing making our way to the airport. It was about 10:30 and we had 7 hours before our flight. We got on the bus for downtown. 

Prob the best photo from the whole trip, lol. 

On last bus trip, kids being goofy. We got off at one stop, realizing we didn't need to get off, so hopped on another. 

Still smiling!

We made it to the downtown link light rail station but stopped for coffee and to kill some time before getting on the ride to the airport. We had one diaper left so also wanted to pick up a package of diapers for the day. Isaac, Thomas, and I walked a couple blocks to Target while Kyle and the girls stayed back with the luggage. 

On tradition is getting a sticker to the places we travel for our luggage... so while we were at starbucks we put our two new stickers on. 

The train station was right below where we were hanging out so we went to get on the train to the airport. It was only about a 30 minute ride. 

The stopped to switch drivers and we got one last nice view of downtown Seattle. Can even see the space needle to the left real small:

We arrived at the airport shortly after 1pm. We'd eaten almost all the food we had packed for the day. Since we were almost 5 hours early for our flight the check in desk was closed. We were hoping maybe there were flights ahead of ours and we could check in, get through security and hang out in the airport. But we weren't even able to check in and drop off our checked bag. So we spent a couple hours on the outside of security wandering around. There really wasn't any good places to eat on that side so we ate through what we had and enjoyed this traveling art display from the MoPop. It was all of Pearl Jam's album art. We picked out our favorites, looked at where they all were location wise and got very familiar with each piece. 

There was quite the line forming at the Sun Country ticket counter. When we arrived there was no one, but we didn't want to spend our time stuck in line. We did get in line just before 3:00 and luckily three workers showed up at 3 and started checking us in. 

We got our boarding pass and headed to security which was another long, long line. Estimate 30-60 minutes wait. As we approached they saw Thomas in the stroller and pushed us through priority TSA, took us a total of 15 minutes to get all through security!

We got to the other side and found a restaurant to finally enjoy a real meal. Wasn't anything great, but it was food. Then we walked to our gate for the 5:00 boarding. We had to get on a bus to be taken to our plane out in the plane parking area. 

Made it to our seats, this flight was full so we only had the 5 seats unlike on the way there when a lady moved to give us two full rows. Thomas was tired, no nap, but not sure it was going to happen. 

I was happy that this was going to be the LAST flight I would have to do with an infant in arms. Not easy holding onto a toddler boy! The girls did so much better at this age when they flew. Girls are just easier with sitting and chilling. 

Finally take off, roughly 6pm pacific time. It was a long day of not much. 

And one of our highlights of the entire trip was getting a beautiful view of Mount Rainier on our way out!!! Kyle and I want to climb it some day!

Thomas was occupied with his little iPhone 4 for a little bit.

But he was fading fast.

This time I strapped him into my carrier and he cried for a little bit but he always gives in to the carrier faster than if I'm not wearing him. He was out for a short half hour nap. I had to pee so bad so I got up to attempt to go with him still on me, but the bathroom trip woke him. 

The girls loved getting a drink on the plane.

We landed about 11pm central time, picked up our back from baggage claim and made it to the van. Everyone was so happy to be in familiar territory. The girls may have fallen asleep for a quick minute on the way home. But we got home, bags in the house and everyone went to bed. Luckily everyone was still on Pacific time and slept in the next morning. Well except for Kyle because he had to be back into work. Actually he took his calls from home and went in between calls at about 10:30. He stayed home so I could run to get Harpo without waking all the kids but I didn't end up getting Harpo until 12:30. So I did utilize that time to run to the grocery store at about 8:30 and grab a few things quick. 

Another family vacation in the books.