A week in Whidbey Island

Last week I went up to Whidbey Island (which is just 1 1/2 hours north of Seattle) to babysit my nephew and niece for a week. My sister-in-law is in the Reserves and had to get some work hours in and my brother is deployed (was deployed actually, as he got home yesterday)! 

I originally wanted to stay in Seattle for a night to do all the touristy stuff I love but Seafair was going on and rooms were $250 a night and there is no way I was going to pay that. I looked into AirBnb and the options were really weird, like I'd have to sleep in a studio apartment with people...no thanks! So I got into Seattle and took a shuttle up to Whidbey. 

The shuttle ride itself is actually pretty fun. They drive you by downtown and then you take a ferry across the water. The ferries of Washington commute 23 million people a year, Dave and I just watched a documentary on this last night. Once on the island you commute north and it really does look like Prince Edward Island from Anne of Green Gables. It's super pretty. 

Sunday afternoon my nephew and I went to a lavender farm which is about 1 mile from their house. It was really pretty and fun. 

Elliot actually took this next picture. He kept asking to take pictures with my camera so with a lot of help from his Aunt Beka, I'd let him hold my super expensive camera and lens and take some pictures. It's kind of fun to do that with him and I think he took a really great picture.

I think Elliot's favorite part was when we chased each others shadows.

 Trying to get a good picture with a 4 year old is a big job. =) Here is what I got.

My nephew loves a restaurant called The Knead and Feed. Seriously, the best 'cimanon' rolls (as Elliot pronounces them) are at this place. I told him he could get whatever he wanted. What was I thinking??? He ordered hot chocolate, a cinnamon roll (which are huge) and a piece of toast. And I'm here to tell you he ate all of that by himself.

One day we were sitting outside swinging and looking at the ocean and the green trees and I asked him what his favorite thing about living on Whidbey Island was and he said, "going to The Knead and Feed." ha! I then asked him what his favorite thing about his Mom was and he replied, "that she takes me to The Knead and Feed." ha ha ha! I was cracking up!

This little girl right here melts my heart! She is one happy baby about 95% of the time and is so much fun. 

This is what happens when you don't get a baby quick enough from their nap.

Here is another picture taken by Elliot.

At night time when the kids were asleep and their Mom was home I would take my brother's dog and go for a walk down to the beach. It's so pretty there and I just love that PNW ocean!

The only thing not pictured is the one that my sister-in-law, Ana, and I didn't take together. We even said how we always forget to take a group picture and that we would do it but we totally forgot. =( That's okay, next time!

Have you ever been to the PNW? 

Also, for those in the Wichita, area come April of 2017 Alaska Airlines will be offering a direct flight daily to Seattle! I'm super pumped about that.