Top 10 Things I'll Miss About Seattle

Long time no post! It's a little crazy around here and with the TV packed all my computer time has been eaten by some screen time hungry little ones. Thank goodness for Netflix instant play!

It's so hard to say good bye. Here's my Seattle Top 10 Favorites:

10) The "green" in evergreen. It's really gorgeous here. It's green--really green all year long. Winter comes and the grass stays green, the trees are green. They call it the Emerald City for good reason. The Spring is amazing with popcorn blossoms of pink, white and yellow at every turn. The rhododendrons are spectacular with big snowball blossoms and don't forget the Tulip Festival. Summer is fabulous, it never gets too hot for too long and the days are long enough to fit in all your favorite summer activities. Nature wise, Seattle is a great place--as long as you don't mind the clouds and rain, because there's a lot of that too.

9) Floating Bridges and Ferry Boats. There's just something cool about driving across the water in your car and you are actually on the water. It's almost like being in a boat on the water. There's also ferry boats to take you across the Puget Sound in all different directions at all different times a day. The view from the boat is gorgeous in very direction and there's just something healing about that fresh ocean air.

8) The Aveda Institute. Where else can you spend a day at a spa for fabulous service for under $200? The products, the services, the pampering--I'm going to miss it all.

7) Safe and Courteous Drivers. Here in the Emerald City, safety and courtesy come first. They always let you in. They merge pretty well. They are aware of their surroundings--deer, cars, bikers, pedestrians--they, first and foremost, want everyone and everything to be safe and happy. As a mom I would love my boys to learn to drive here. Speedy crazy people are few and far between. If you are into speed and efficiency, this is not your state for driving.

6) My Job at the YMCA. I'm not sure I deserve it, but I love it. I work 1 hour a week and 3 hours a week in the summer. I teaching adults how to swim or how to swim better. I've done everything from first time beginners to training for triathlons. In return I get a free membership, free unlimited childcare and a paycheck. I am even eligible for part time medical benefits. It doesn't get better.

5) Quilt Group. There's a group of ladies from church that get together once a month and "quilt." Sometimes we just "show and tell" our own projects, sometimes we swap blocks and do projects together. Sometimes we teach each other cool stuff. I have learned a ton from them and have looked forward to our every meeting. We are working on a pinwheel quilt right now that I plan to finish with them via mail.

4) My house. I didn't love it when we moved in, but after 4 years of work and improvements it's everything I want in a house. At night I can lay in bed and look out my skylight at the starry sky, my slab granite remodeled kitchen, the hot tub out back, my dining room with windows on 4 sides--roof and 3 walls, the basement toy room, and I can even walk to church from it on Sunday. How great is that? It's finally all perfect and ready to sell, all that work and someone else gets to enjoy it.

3) Lake Swims and Master's Swim Team. I used to think swimming in a lake was gross. But I have grown to love it. There's no nasty chemicals and no salt to burn your throat. If you swim in a nice clean lake (which most of them here are) it's, well it's my favorite place to swim. Haze and I have been swimming together for a little over a year, at the YMCA and in the lakes. It's not often you find a friend your almost same speed, who wants to swim the same times and lengths as you do who lives right around the corner. She and I joined the Master's team in Bellevue last fall and have carpooled 3 days a week ever since. The master's workouts are awesome and the company is a perfect way to start my day. I will miss Haze, the swimming and all my swimming friends.

2) Jeanette and Fam. Jeanette and I have been friends since I was 17, (I think) nearly half my life. We taught swim lessons at the pool in the summer all through HS and college. She is my longest close friend. We haven't lived near each other since I went away to school at 18. We have kept in good touch over the years and tied to visit as much as we could, sometimes traveling far distances. The last 4 years living near each other have been great. She is my family away from my family. There are few people who know me better than she does and still love me. While here, I got to be here for her marriage and the arrival of her first baby. It has been wonderful.

1) Our Amazing Group of Friends. Mike and I have never lived anywhere married or single and had so many great friends--ever. Our ward at church is fabulous, second to none. Great activities (pancake breakfast on the 4th, Halloween carnival, Live Nativity, etc.), amazing support (meals for 2 weeks when Aaron and Owen arrived, babysitting swapping, showers, you name it.), super organized, capable, helpful, friendly, happy people. We also have a great circle of friends with whom we enjoy road trips, "camping," BBQs, play dates, game nights, group date nights, etc. Seriously--multiple couples that Mike and I both enjoy spending time with. We will miss you all so much!