Ever since we moved here, we have told our family and friends they have to come visit, bc it's so beautiful out here and hello, free place to stay! Plus I always love having people to bake/cook for. Win win! This April, a number of people took us up on that, in succession. I wanna think it was just us, but I am sure the tulips blooming and Spring break helped make the incentive better haha. 

First up, my parents and Sam came through for a few days. It was so fun! We had some things planned, and some down time in between to just hang out. We went to Mount Vernon one day to Roozengarde and spent some time enjoying early morning fog and GORGEOUS fields of flowers. It was so nice to share the magic of spring here with them, and have people appreciate it! We stopped at a roadside stand for delicious ice cream on the way home, and then spent the rest of the day baking, bike riding, playing games and just hanging out. Another day we perused Seattle, did the usual tourist Pike's place stuff, got Caribbean sandwiches with my Dad, and got to show my Mom a Scandinavian area of the city, and take Sam to the Funko Pop store like she's been wanting. We got yummy food and saw some good Seattle views, and stopped at a rocky beach. Eventually we headed over to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens to meet up with my Moms cousin and it was so peaceful and beautiful. The little suspension bridge was as favorite, especially with Grandpa and the kids shaking it back and forth haha. We went back to their family's house to see my Mom's Uncle and had dinner there. We even got to have a little date on the way home, with Tal and got matcha. It was lovely! We ended our time playing in the backyard and they spent time playing w the kids. It was so much fun!






















The day they left we had like 2 hours in between, before Luke, Andrew and Ethan rolled in. My Dad actually overlapped with them for a day since he was heading straight out to a business trip on the other side of WA. I love love LOVED having them here, and the kids couldn't get enough of the playing with people with way more energy then us haha. They did some touristy things while they were here, and every night me and the boys stayed up playing games, watching shows and eating trash haha. I am old now, and paid for it the next day but it was fun to feel like a college kid again for a second haha. Lester even got to play some video games with them, and they all tried 'Da Bomb' hot sauce at the same time-THE TEARS that followed were priceless. The time was great.




After this we had a few days in between which involved a bunch of things the kids had on the calendar, like bday parties for friends, another choice concert for Isla, and then Brian and Lydia came into town. We met up in Mukilteo which we hadn't explored yet, and had some yummy food, 'surfed' the docks, and got to see a few whales breaching. So amazing!








Our next set of visitors came the next day, and it was the Morco family. I love friendships where even if you haven't been together in person for years, it's like no time has passed. Our kids became besties pretty quick, which was great bc it meant we got to catch up without having to entertain them as much. It was cute watching Bear run out of school every day beaming and ready to play with Rilo till bed time. We did Seattle, cooked together, talked and played cards late into the night,  did giant bubbles and even got a few walks in. Emil even taught me some filipino dishes I've been wanting to learn, Steph and I got a delicious lunch/errand date and they even took some family pictures for us which I love bc they are not coordinated, just US here and now. I'm so glad they encouraged us to do that haha! We love them so much, and were genuinely sad to see them go, even if it was to Hawaii!













Our last visitor that came through was Auntie Kathy! Tal and I met her for lunch on her way to the tulips, and we loved getting spent time with her-especially who got treats from 'Auntie Candy', hot cocoa and sprinkles, and to color hearts etc w her. We loved getting to see her!


Now, we have a month of calm, regular life before our busy front end of the summer starts. All good things! We loved being spoiled with visitors, and are always ready for more!

Spring has been peeking its way through the winter darkness. Honestly I don't know why I am always surprised by the serious WORLD of difference it makes for all of our moods haha! Happens every time.

For one thing, the kids had more cool projects. I've loved their school this year, and the friend groups they've made. I got to chaperone a tour of the middle school Addy will be at next year which just about KILLED me; the preteen hormones and vulnerabilities in that building were straight up palpable, why are they growing up so fast! I am sure they'll be fine, if anything I'll secretly have a harder time with it than she will haha. There was also a super cool reptile man who brought all sorts of fun, crazy animals. 





Isla and a friend participated in a science fair project and investigated crystal formation, and we loved seeing her get a ribbon for her project! She is always wanting to learn, and assigns herself her own projects sometimes too, like researching dreams etc. She also had two separate music performances with her choir, one with a solo and one for 'honor choir' which she had to audition for, and spent so much time practicing. She did great and it was fun to see her in her element.




Bear Boy has made leaps and bounds in learning this month, especially with his reading, which has been wonderful to see. He is Mr. Popular at school simply bc he likes everyone and is nice to all. He even won a little award for being a 'kind friend' in his class and it was nice to see him spotlighted in that way. He recently got into the anime Avatar show, and asked for a hair cut like Sokka. He cares about his style and picks out the funniest little outfits somedays. I am so glad that he is part of our family, we needed this boy and all the his joy and dancing. 





Tal has been attending a preschool science class, and music/storytime at the library twice a week which she has loved, and gotten good practice on classroom skills and friend making. She loved getting to visit the kids school too when the reptile guy came as well. She loves Grover and brings him with her for her routine errands lots of days. She is passionate and loves to tell people they are her 'best friend'. 





We had spring break, which was just the right amount of chill at home. Daily bike rides and sidewalk chalk days with friends, a trip or two to Seattle for funsies and a movie day where we saw the new Kung Fu Panda. We read and baked a lot, and even got to have a fun little Avatar marathon as a family. It was nice!








So that was our last few weeks. Lots of good memories, and I know I am, and will be grateful for these days in the sun when things get tough again! It's been a nice respite. 
 
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The Pineda Family

The Pineda Family

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