Seattle Family Reunion

We recently had all of our family from California come up to visit. It was the first time all of our families had gathered together. 14 adults 10 kids roaming and exploring the streets of Seattle playing tourists for 4 days!

Back in our childhood days they all had lived here and relocated to Sacramento due to my Uncle's job. My mom and my aunt are extremely close so, growing up us cousin's were as well. And as the clock ticked we all grew up, got married, and had babies. However, whenever we do get together we reconnect as we did when we were young.

I love how kids can easily bond and play with someone they just met. It was fun watching them all interact with each other and excited to see one another each day.

I hear time and time again that it's so hard for adults especially women to make new friends. I find that statement to be completely false. I make new friends all the time.

"Hi! I'm Nona. You want to be my friend? I have nothing to offer in our new friendship but a diet coke, a 6 lb bag of gummy bears and the first season of Vampire Diaries. But you can't fall in love with Damon cause I love him. And you can't be all for Team Jacob cause I have dibs on that to."

"Sweet. See you at 6."

If life was that easy as an adult...

Kids however, have no judgment nor do they discriminate. They see another kid and are able to have fun. It comes so naturally for them.

Sunday night everyone came to my house for dinner. It was the first time we were all able to sit together and enjoy a nice dinner. My sister and brother-in-law's birthdays are about two weeks apart in January so I thought it would be fun to celebrate the occasion with family in town. I had special ordered a cake for them that looked and tasted amazing.

My family couldn't of have picked a better weekend to visit. There was a nice crisp chill in the air, it had snowed a little lessening the traffic of pedestrians and tourists in the city, and it had not rained.

Orchestrating 24 people through the streets of Seattle is a comical sight. It was chaotic and crazy at times but that's what made it fun. All the kids did amazingly well letting us drag them all over town.

We went to Pike Place Market and ate 100% unnatural, unhealthy, super delicious donuts

Ate the most amazing mac and cheese at Beecher's

Took a ride on the Light Rail

Went to China Town

The Gum Wall: The most disgusting, fascinating, amazing collection of peoples chewed up gum since 1993. A scene for the 2009 Jennifer Aniston film Love Happens was filmed at the wall. And it was named the 2nd germiest places in the world.

"Kids, DO NOT TOUCH THE WALL!"

And of course we took the Monorail over to the Space Needle.

Our last night together after a fun filled day we hung out at the hotel, ordered pizza, and took the kids to Gameworks. They all had so much fun and when it was time to say our goodbyes you could tell that they had grown so close in 4 days.

We are so lucky to have an amazing family. Growing up my Aunt and Uncle were there for us beyond measure and we will be forever grateful for them. It was nice to see my mom spend time with her sister and get a little bit of a break. Thank you guys for the awesome and fun memories and looking forward to our next adventure together!