Steve and Ginger -Salmon and Waterfalls...

First, today is our one month nomadiversary.

The kids and I got up early and got our "table school" done this morning. My thought is on field trip days (or weeks) we are getting lots of history and science, so when time is limited we'll focus on math and language arts.  

Michael and I searched online and called a LOT of private parks and state parks as we need to be out of here 2 Oct. I actually called each private park listed in many of the cities north of Seattle. Each place told me they were full. Amazing. Finally, we gave up and called Fort Lewis. We'll be staying at their Travel camp (Fam Camp).

I have known Ginger for years and years. Today, we met for the first time. I had fun explaining that to Stacia.  Ginger is a dear online friend. Steve, her husband joined us - and that made this much more enjoyable for Michael. We all had a great time. We met in Issaquah at the Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive In.  Steve and Ginger waited inside. We waited outside. ::snort:: This is a great spot to eat! We had a table right by the fireplace - loved the decor. The food was tasty and PLENTIFUL - the rootbeer amazing!  While we were eating a man came in and asked if we owned the 15 pass van with the AK license plate and the stick figures. Um - yes. I thought he was going to rant at us...but he was excited to find out we had 9 children. His wife is expected their 7th and they've been debating which type vehicle to buy. He texted her a photo and they both loved it all - our plate, our figures, the van - and so he came in to see if we wanted to sell the van. ::snort::

With fully satisfied tummies, we left to find the Issaquah Fish Hatchery.   It was GREAT fun to watch the salmon spawn, jump the ladders and such.  This was free. I don't think I'd seen so many salmon swimming upstream since we moved from Alaska.

 

Don't these smiles just REFRESH your soul? They did mine.

 

Ginger was FANTASTIC with Princess Chatterbox!

Yuuki wanted to get close and personal with the salmon

Big Fish in Issaquah

 Our final stop was Snoqualmie Falls. The falls were breathtaking and Steve and Ginger say the falls are low this year.  We enjoyed the view from the upper lot. The kids, Ginger and I hiked down to the lower level. Steve and Michael drove down and met us. We saw more Salmon spawning down here. Another free site to enjoy in the area.

We were so happy to see some of the more "natural" sites Washington has to offer. We left Steve and Ginger feeling refreshed; as if we'd made new family friends.

Steve, Ginger, Stacia, Me, Nolan, Alex

Some wild water slides?

We met up with Josiah at his apartment. I love this apartment; it's bright and sunny. We like his choice in furniture too. ::wink:: He took our living room and kitchen furniture when we down-sized.