The Clark's Come to visit!

My brother and sister-in-law and their family came to visit from Florida this last week! We had a full house with our adorable, energetic and adventurous nieces. Sierra (10), Ava (7), Alyssa (5), Joelle (3) and Claire (5months). We had a blast playing tourist with them all over Seattle. We went to the Woodland park zoo, Pacific Science Center, Up to the Space Needle, took a argosy cruise tour of the bay and visited the Seattle Aquarium. We spent a night "camping" in the backyard, making fires and roasting and experimenting different s'more concoctions including roasting hot tamales (a Ryen family addiction I think), we went on a hike to Twin Falls in North Bend, WA in which everyone, one way or another went for a dip in the river, some of us fell in while navigating the rocks and others (Christi, Josh, and John) all dove into the freezing cold water. It was quit the adventure weekend. The girls loved collecting slugs all around the yard including naming them, holding them, and making them a designated rock formation to try and keep them in one spot. The girls loved playing with Saddie and Peanut, even though they both were less than sociable. Peanut sent very mixed signals growling and waggin his tale while being pet and Saddie pretended to be dying by crying everytime any of the younger girls tried to pet her. They obviously are not use to be around so many playful kids but none the less good practice for them as they hopefully wont always be our only babies. Kids say the cutest things and we loved having our family in town this week. They are so much fun and we miss them already. It was very strange waking up this morning not hearing Alyssa singing or talking to the dogs through our door....but to silence. We love all our nieces and nephews and wish we could all live closer to one another.