Seattle...well, technically Bothell

Yes, yes, I know...the moment you've all been waiting for. What in the world have we been up to for the past month??

The first few days we spent our time settling in and getting our bearings. Bothell is beautiful! The McDonald's house is happily situated right smack dab in the middle of a forest. Okay, so it's not technically a forest, but you can't help but think it when you look out the windows. There are trees and shrubs EVERYWHERE!! All of the houses on the street were built 'into' the environment instead of what typically happens. You know, that thing where people knock down all exsisting forms of natural life in order to make room for a bunch of cookie cutter houses that all look exactly the same. And then they plant those little dinky trees out near the sidewalk (the ones that look like two foot toothpicks) as if that will make up for the demolition of all previous growth. I swear to you I'm not a tree hugger...I just like having to actually look up to see the tops of the trees sometimes. Anyway, the area is gorgeous. We're nestled just off the road, and surrounded by huge rhododendron bushes of all colors. It's wonderful.

Chris started his job at CWB a few days later and has absolutely fallen in love with it. Nothing but wakeboarding could make that guy work 9-5, mon-fri for free. I've been looking into jobs as well as volunteer work. Nothing to report thus far, but I don't mind. I'm enjoying the time to do all those little projects I never have time for normally. I've also been able to catch up on leisure reading, which is something unheard of during the school year. And...believe it or not...I'm learning to cook! Celia has taken pity on me and is teaching me things here and there. I'm also taking the time to practice my piano. All in all, I think Chris and I are both quite content with where we are and what we're doing.

We've made it a goal to do as much as we can this summer as far as taking advantage of the surrounding area. We've been into Seattle a few times as well as Bellevue for shows, farmer's markets, and just general exploring. This weekend we hope to go camping on the penninsula, and since that will put us near Forks anyway...I mean...shoot. We might as well visit. Pathetic, I know. The second weekend in July we are heading over to Spokane and Chewelah! We are going over for the annual fair, Chataqua, and I am so excited. I haven't been back there since my mom and I moved to Utah when I was 12. It will be good to go back and drag Chris all over the town I grew up in. Granted, it should only take about 5 minutes to see the the whole town, but then we'll play at the fair. The biggest trip of the summer will be our Oregon coast trip. We plan on taking 3 or 4 days to go down through Portland to Depoe Bay and then camp our way back up the 101. It should be a blast...if it all works out.

Unfortunately, I have no pictures to post at the moment, but I hope to have some soon. Then you can all ooh and aah over the area with me.