Last Friday Jonathan had to go to Bellingham for work, so naturally, we decided to make a little family trip of it. We love an excuse to get back up to our beautiful old college town!

We spent the night with our good friends, Jen & Oliver, and their son, Bjorn. Jen and I have been friends since Jr. High, and the four of us used to hang out a lot when we lived in Bellingham. Avery and Bjorn are eleven months apart, and love seeing each other! They got to have their first real sleepover on Friday. We thought the odds were about 50/50 that they would actually go to sleep when we turned out the lights and left the room… they did! It was awesome! In the morning we all went to The Little Cheerful, our favorite local breakfast joint downtown. The food did not disappoint.

In the afternoon we visited with our friends, Ray and Betty. Ray is in his 80’s but he has the energy of a twenty-year-old, a wicked sense of humor, and is an incredible story teller. He worked in advertising in New York in the 1950’s-60’s (think Mad Men) and created all sorts of iconic ads like the 76 ball and the Red Baron pizza box. He flew float planes recreationally through the years, and has endless stories about his aerial shenanigans. Betty used to be a model, and is so lovely and sweet. Together they make an adorable couple, and we always enjoy our visits with them. Ray impressed Avery with his model plane collection, and the two of them looked through pictures on Ray’s laptop. It was cute to see the two of them chat it up.

A walk in Fairhaven

Avery and Bjorn devouring cupcakes


Reading a story before bed



We remembered to get a picture of all of us with the tripod!


Lindsey & Jen

Oliver & Jono

Ray brewing coffee with his Chemex

On the laptop


With Betty

At the end of the January we went to Texas to visit family. The first weekend our niece, Nicole, celebrated her birthday. It’s hard to believe she’s seven already. I can still remember visiting her in the hospital after she was born.

We managed to fit a lot into our trip. Mommy, Grammy, and Aunt Manivanh went to some yoga and zumba classes at the local gym, and Daddy and Papa built a shelf in the garage. We went to Nicole’s dance classes each weekend and watched her practice ballet and tap. We also visited Nicole at school one day and had lunch in the cafeteria with her. Avery was excited and nervous to see the inside of a “big kid school.”

We’re lucky we timed the trip the way we did. We had great weather while we were there, mostly upper 60’s, and clear skies. We left the day before the ice storms arrived. At Avery’s request, Papa fired up the hot tub a couple of times so we could all go in.

One thing that made this trip to Texas extra-special was that Uncle Scott was back from Afghanistan for good. We timed our past couple trips with his so we could see him while he was visiting in the States. Along with the happiness of being together was the knowledge that in a few days he would return to a war-torn country, away from his family. Well not this time, thank goodness! We were able to enjoy the time we had together without worrying about any of that other stuff. It’s so good to have him back. I really don’t know how military families do it.

The four cousins: Nicole, Kieron, Avery & Andrew


Avery and Daddy horsing around

Nicole got her toenails painted before her big birthday party

So naturally, Avery wanted his painted too

Nicole & Avery watching a movie together

Aunt Manivanh made a yummy Thai dinner one night

Grammy, Mommy & Aunt Manivanh

With my cousin, Laura, at Nicole’s birthday party

All the partygoers



Andrew and Avery playing cars together

Nicole opening her birthday loot

Kieron’s first time in a swing

I think he looks so much like Jonathan did as a baby in this picture




After seeing Kieron in a baby swing, Avery wanted in one too



Nicole and Avery loved playing “Grammy’s School” each afternoon

Avery practiced writing his letters



Another day in the swing

Nicole and Avery on the walk to the park