Washington Trip

Well, after getting back from my trip to Europe I was not done with my travels. Less than a week after getting back I was on another plane, but in the opposite direction. My sister Deanne recruited me a few months earlier to fly out to the Tri-Cities in Washington to watch her kids while she and her husband partied it up in Hawaii. It was a super fun, and sometimes challenging, week.


Mom was already there and Deanne and James had flown out before I arrived that day. It was amazing to see Mom in action. She took such good care of all the kids and looked out for me too. It was a lot of fun to hang out with Mom and play with the kids.


We took the kids out to the park right nearby the house. Kylie showed us, and TOLD us, how grown up she was. ;)


Well, within 3 hours of getting to Kennewick to watch my niece and nephews I had already allowed Calvin to bang up both of his knees. His knees were covered in blood, but when I asked how he did it he told me 'I am not going to tell you!' And for the next week he wouldn't tell me what happened. Only once his parents showed up did he relate the story of falling down after running after some squirrel or something.


I quickly realized that Parker was a mischievous kid. Deanne got some sweet clothes for all her kids. Parker was an amazing eater of foods too. I think that he looks so much like me at that same age as well.


Parker loved to chow down on a whole stack of crackers when he ate them. Half of each bite seemed to become nothing but crumbs!


Kylie is a great 'big sister'. Reminds me of some of mine. Helpful, but also being like another mom. ;) she was hilarious!


These kids all LOVED to have their picture taken, so every moment could become a photo shoot, but each of them were always doing such great stuff I wanted to take all the pictures.


About halfway through the week Mom had the inspired idea to get a London broil steak. She thought that it would be enough for a couple meals, but Deanne's kids devoured it! They kept saying 'This is the BEST 'chicken' ever!" That made me laugh so much!


Grayson was an incredible baby. He was so relaxed. He LOVED climbing up the stairs and anytime that I turned my back for a second he was over to them and heading up! He warmed up to me after just a day, once Deanne got back he would hardly look at me though. He has the warmest baby smile with his jowls ever.


I am so impressed by how good the kids got along in general. They also were really nice to us, especially under the circumstances of their parents being away from such a long time.


These kids were so fun to goof off with! Chip of the old block!


I wish that I could be entertained by a bunch of random stuff in a box like that!


We went to some more parks. I needed to get out of the house. I was stuck inside watching one or two of the kids while Mom took them to school, swimming, friends, and what not. After 3ish days of hardly leaving the house I finally got out of the house a bit and stopped going house crazy.


Man, that Parker was a wild kid!


Well, Deanne and James finally got back. It was a relief to one and all, especially the kids. They were super happy to have their parents back. It was a lot of fun to see Deanne. I hadn't seen her for a long time. It was the first time I have visited her at home since she lived in Kansas.


This picture makes me remember being a kid (see below). I LOVE YOU MOM!


Twenty years later and mom is still taking such good care of her family.


Deanne showed us her skills at Hawaiian sports...right before she hit Parker in the eye with it! It was hilarious. It was a fun trip and I really appreciate the chance that I had to see my sister and her family and the dental checkup James did for me right before I left.