Day 4: Portland, Oregon

We spent the day in Portland. We began by going to the Science Museum because they had a Jurassic World Bricks Expedition. It was on Kallen's bucket list and did not disappoint. Although the Legos were awesome, the highlight was the fossil exhibit, where the kids got to touch a real triceratops' vertebra, not a 3D-printed one. Following the museum, we explored the town, walked through the shops, and ended the day at the largest bookstore in the area: Powell's Bookstore. For Elyse and me, this was a heavenly place. It was massive, with discounted books, making us love the place even more.

Day 3: Mount Rainer

Today we drove from Seattle to Mount Rainer.  We spent most of the day exploring the beautiful scenery and the National Park. The hike was a little slippery due to the melting snow. Kallen and Dad went up further than the rest to explore the highest level of the mountain. Following Mount Rainer, we headed south to Portland.

Day 2: Seattle

This might have been one of my favorite days.  We woke up, explored the city a little, which meant we visited a cute coffee shop so Elyse and Dad could get their fun coffee of the day, and discovered a fun park.  We then attended Seattle's Underground City. This was full of awesome Seattle history and made us appreciate the town a lot more. We then visited the boardwalk. Lastly, we drove to our new hotel and discovered a great outlet mall nearby.

Maddie Turns 11 Years Old

Today Maddie turned eleven years old, and we were so thankful to celebrate her. She is growing up so quickly before us, and we know God gave her to us to treasure each one of these years. Right now, Maddie is our strong-willed, artistic, organized, avid reader, and animal-loving child. 

Today we got to celebrate Maddie (we actually celebrated her two days ago before we left, but either way, she was celebrated). We had a nice family dinner of her choice, played four-square volleyball, opened gifts, and ate cake.

Day 1: Seattle

When we arrived in Seattle, Washington, it was a little late; however, that didn't stop us from exploring the city.  We started by eating at Dick's Diner (a restaurant that was highly recommended to us by some friends; honestly, we weren't too impressed).  Following that, we went and explored the Space Needle. By this time, it was late, and we were ready to call it a night.

Family Vacation 2025 - Washington, Oregon, and California

This year, we took an eight-day road trip out west to visit two states we had never been to before.  We successfully started in Washington and ended in northern California, specifically San Fransico.  The trip was simple and awesome.  We did a variety of activities and were blessed with safety, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

Maddie Graduates Elementary School

Today Maddie graduated from the fourth grade/elementary school. She has been patiently waiting for today since attending Ian’s last year. Ceremony went as normal with worship, messages, video, and handing out certificates. We were very excited for her and know she will rock middle school. Way to go, Maddie and congratulations on graduating from elementary school.