This weekend we had an extra "family day", as we like to call them, which means that we didn't have to go to work or daycare. It was the perfect time to go visit some old friends 3 hours away. They live in a gorgeous and massive family friendly house. Two other couples went with us (friends from high school) and we were excited to take the kids on the ferry to get there. Of course they have a fascination with all of the boats we see around Seattle, so they were thrilled we would actually get on one!
We left Saturday morning, taking a 30 min ferry from Edmonds to Kingston. We were early so we took a walk to the Edmonds bakery and had DELICIOUS chocolate donuts to kill time.
Two potty trips later and we were literally sprinting down the street not to miss the boat. Leave it to us to be first in line for a boat and almost manage to miss it. When we got there, all the other cars had left and driven around our parked car, so embarrassing. I think the security guy took pity on us running with 3 toddlers. When Tate fell on the sidewalk, we knew there was a reason people just wait in their cars for the ferry.
We went up to the main deck and the kids were awesome. They just blabbed on and on about everything they could see.
There was a slight snafu when Tate licked a door ( seriously, kid?!), but otherwise well behaved.
Anyways, we got to our friends' place and had a great time. There are a few farm animals around and my little ones just adored the older kids. I actually got to drink hot coffee and have adult conversation! Yay!
Sunday we had a lazy day and kind of loosely planned when we would leave to catch the ferry home. Being city folk, we didn't really even consider the term "ferry wait time" as a factor. Needless to say, this did not turn out well. We left at 4:30 and got to the terminal at 5:30 (just missing the cut off for the 6pm boat) Now we were parked like sardines, at dinner time, freezing and dark outside, with a 90 minute wait. The kids hadn't napped either. Basically the makings of the Perfect Storm. We assessed the situation and determined pretty quickly we would need dinner. Sean went walking to hunt for an open shop. I got out my classroom ipad (Thank God I brought it) to distract Tate. Gracie had fallen asleep and Benny woke up. I then dug out my iphone to entertain him. 15 min go by. Not bad.
Sean shows up with
organic corn dogs, burgers and curly fries. We start eating, but see that he only only got food for 2 kids. He though G was asleep. "But what if she wakes up?" We decided he would save half of his burger just incase.
Like magic, she woke just as we were finishing and told us her tummy hurt bc she was so hungry. Everyone is thankful we have food to quiet her down.
We have an hour left.
We see Tate and Grace have both peed in their car seats. We get out suitcases, change into dirty pj's from the night before. We put blankets on our wet chairs. Ew.
We fight over who gets what electronic device.
We play musical chairs. Benny is not having any of it anymore and only wants to fake drive.
We have 30 minutes left.
We talk about dogs and people walking by and why that big boat came and left without us again.
We read every book in the car. We switch seats and read again.
Mommy finds fruit snacks in the bottom of her purse and uses them to bribe everyone back into their seats and to get buckled for the drive onto the boat.
Benny cries for 15 minutes about nothing.
Thank the Lord, we get to board the ferry.
Everyone complains we don't get to get out this time, but it is pitch black and freezing so we aren't budging.
We put pj's on Benny and all 5 of us sit in two seats in the front. We crawl on top of each other, read books, and ration gummies,
saving 3 for the final bribe to return to seat belts.
Two out of three cry as we drive home. Everyone is cranky and bossing each other around (myself included).
We pull into the driveway 1 hour after our normal bedtime. We couldn't get into bed fast enough, but we did it. Sean and I still had to unpack and clean up in the cold, but at least the kids were in bed.
Trips like these make us never want to leave the house again sometimes, but then we get the best reviews. "Mama, I having the greatest time", "Daddy, I like having all this fun!" " Can we do that boat again, pleeeeeeeease?!" "Member when we went on that big boat?! That was Amazing!"
Family memories in the making, folks. The good, the bad, and the pee stained.
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