A visit w/ Lin, a treasured friend

Lin and I met travelling through Europe 12 years ago! We became fast friends and have only grown closer and closer over time. She flew in for a weekend w/ the boys and I. We spent most of the 48 hrs eating, catching up and playing w/ the little ones. It was heavenly!

Linda getting her Felix fix

We closed the weekend w/ a long dinner on the balcony at Shutters. It was just a lovely, lovely night!

Adventure weekend in Mammoth

Despite the lack of sleep we all get due to the altitude, Mammoth is a slice of heaven. We just returned from a very relaxing 5 day holiday w/ just the four us (well 5 including Hank). Felix survived his first long car trip!

Hanky swam everyday

Felix took his usual naps on the go

Levi rode in his 1st little motor boat on Lake Mary

It wasn't long until he took over the captain's seat and insisted on driving

We did a lot of circles

At times he took his job quite seriously (despite eating an ice cream cone in one hand)

We took Baby Felix & Hanky out for a cruise too

He kept shouting, 'All Aboard'

We braved the Gondola and rode it all the way up to the top of the mountain, which appears much scarrier when there is no snow!

Mama was feeling lazy, so we let Felix ride in style vs the bjorn

Levi LOVED the ride up and down (in fact couldn't wait to get off the top of the mountain)

Top of the Mountain, which we've skied a bazillion times so it was a riot to have the whole crew w/ us!

We didn't last long at the top as Levi was itching to get back in the Gondola

Baby Felix hanging out

We discovered a very high and long zip line set up for children up to 13 years old. Levi fancied it immediately and before I knew it he was beginning to go on it. We thought he'd backed down, but nope...he went for it!

Afterwards Levi found himself a little friend and they were smitten with each other!

Go speed racer!

Levi mastering the hill on our nightly Hank walk

Grandma B turns 94 (Go GGMA)

My Grandma B turned 94, and Felix and I decided on a whim to fly up for the family celebration (Levi and JWG already had plans to be visit Michael in Texas). We spent all weekend relishing in the time w/ family and one of my most treasured places on earth...Grandma's house.

Felix, MK, Hazel, Sadie, and I hit Pike Place Market before the rest of crew arrived.

The entire weekend was a window into my childhood, complete w/ relaxing on the dock & teaching the new generation how to fish.

The Shuey shack shirts from our wedding live on!

Baby Felix was his exceptional, calm self and even rolled over twice (back to front)

Teaching the little girls to run and jump!

Sadie catching her 1st fish

Once we got some night crawlers the game changed and we were plucking the fish out 1-by-1

The weekend was complete w/ an Eagle perched on GMA's dock

Mumsey brought over trays of jewelery, and the little girls were beside themselves w/ joy

The Birthday Queen on her big day. 94 and beautiful as ever!

Mama made us all crab sandwiches, and we dined w/ the birthday Queen

Felix being snuggled by the Holmes Girls

Relaxing on the deck, watching the boats go by

Mumsey and Felix

The weekend felt complete after the Cuzzies and I jumped in and did a solid round of Queen/ King of the mattress. When we were kids, we would play this for hours only we had a floating dock at the time. I couldn't believe how quickly the memories came rushing back of when we were little kids doing the exact same thing!

Over the years we've discovered that building alliances is key and, particularly, having Jamie on your team!

The view from GMA's deck

We sat around the fire every night enjoying S'mores, courtesy of the Holmes girls. It was a special weekend for us cousins who hadn't been back together at our Grandma's house for a very long time. Being able to celebrate such a monumental birthday w/ our amazing Grandma was a treat. She is definitely the glue to our family and most certainly has passed down the importance of being appreciative and close to each member of the Barton/Lyons/Holmes trio.