One of my new year's resolution is to explore more areas of Washington state this year. We got off to a good start by visiting friends up on Whidbey Island this past weekend. Amy and Daniel (and baby Ben) moved to Whidbey last summer and we finally got around to taking the short trip up to the island. After driving off the ferry, I couldn't help by exclaim over and over, "wow, it's so beautiful here!" (I'm sure Noa appreciated the broken record I became on the drive to their house). The sun was setting and the clouds were all purples and pinks over the water and the mountains. It looked like a scene from a watercolor painting. I. loved. it.
Upon our arrival, we knew that Ruby would need to stretch her legs, get a bite to eat, and play with her friend, Ben. The kiddos are about 4 months apart and immediately got along (well, as much as babies can get along). It's fun to see them interact by head-butting, throwing toys, and making obnoxiously high-pitched shrieking noises.
One of the first things on the agenda the next morning was eating at
Knead and Feed, a local breakfast join in Coupeville.
This tiny little restaurant is the quintessential small-town eatery. There were probably six tables total, a small bakery case at the entrance, and the kitchen right behind that. It was tiny, but warm and bustling. We only got a table because we made a reservation. The food was hearty - huge pancakes and egg scrambles that filled the plate, individual pastries that could be shared between four people, and lots of coffee to go around. It was a perfect way to be introduced to life on Whidbey.
Here's our fun little group:
Me, Ruby, and Noa....we're smiling because we are stuffed!
Daniel, Amy, and baby Ben!
Ruby was a doll during the meal and ate like a champ. She's a big fan of the blueberry pancakes!
Whidbey Island is also VERY dog friendly. There was no shortage of dog sightings and I loved spotting them and meeting some of the island's canines. This one, Yeti, was my favorite. I'm thinking we may need an old English sheepdog in our future.
Dogs waiting in the car:
Afterwards we headed to
Deception Pass. This is when I realized that my fear of heights has
not diminished with age. Walking across the bridge was terrifying. The bridge is about 180 feet up from the water. Yikes.
I found a map online that shows where Deception Pass (and Whidbey Island) are located in Washington (Seattle is south, also marked on the map with a star). As you can see, the pass is a really narrow straight between Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island. From reading a few guidebooks, it sounds like the early explorers to this area initially missed this passage and thus "deceived" into thinking that the island was a peninsula.
I might be smiling, but I was NERVOUS walking over that thing. It's a good thing the sights were beautiful or I totally would have wimped out. Noa was good about giving me an encouraging squeeze.
I didn't look down. I had to look OUT. The views were awesome and we were so fortunate to get a clear day since it's typically cloudy and rainy this time of year.
It also happened to be freezing that day and we didn't really pack super warm clothing. Lucky for us, I had a extra hat in the car for Ruby, some sunglasses and a blanket. We gave her Noa's gloves soon after this picture was taken and she seemed to stay pretty toasty during the excursion. Ruby was also the spitting image of her father.
For a bridge that was built in the 1930s, it still looks solid and fascinating today.
The two munchkins didn't seem as impressed as the rest of us, but at least they stayed warm.
They were also easy to pose with since we could just keep them tucked into the strollers. This picture makes me think that Ruby is saying, "look! I've got giant hands!"
As you can see, Ben was a little less enthusiastic about the photos than his mom or dad. I think he was hoping that more toys were involved in this adventure.
The rest of our time together was spent hanging out with the kids, enjoying football games, visiting some shops around town, and working on a 5,000 piece puzzle (yes, you read that right...our friends are insane....I mean, dedicated, puzzlers!).
The best part about hanging out together was watching the kiddos interact. One of their favorite things to do was to play by the baby gate. They kept giggling, laughing, and making the best faces for an impromptu photo shoot.
"See, Ben, it's easy. You just lift this up and..."
"Isn't this great?! The parents are stuck on the other side! We even get the dogs with us!"
"Hey, mom, why don't you put that camera down and let us out, huh?"
Can't wait for more adventures on Whidbey! And next time, I'll remember to bring my camera. These photos are all courtesy of Amy (thanks, again Amy!).
