Merry Christmas from Chelan
BIGHORN & BLUEBELL, CHELAN, WA :: Merry Christmas from Chelan! ✖ Relaxing on the Bighorn Bluebell Porch Family Holiday Gatherings with Christmas Cheer Holiday Cheer with Santa...
Author
John
We’re John & Kristie. Here we share our adventures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, along with the places, projects, and experiences we’ve enjoyed together since 2001. Between 2010 and 2026, this website became quiet while we focused on the greatest adventure of all: raising our kids. We never stopped exploring or taking photographs, but during those years we shared most of our stories and everyday moments on social media instead. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we brought the website back to life. We’re now gathering those missing years in one place, adding the posts and photographs we previously shared elsewhere and rebuilding this site as a lasting record of our family’s adventures. Thanks for visiting and exploring our story with us. We hope you enjoy looking through the photographs and memories – and we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
1272 Articles
Holiday Lights at Tulalip
TULALIP RESORT CASINO, TULALIP, WA :: Tonight we caught a welcome break in the deluge of rain and headed to the Holiday Lights at Tulalip. It was a full-on spectacle...
Happy Thanksgiving
SOUTH HILL, WA :: Happy Thanksgiving from Grandma & Grandpa’s house! So thankful for a full table, great food, and cousins laughing and playing together. Hope your day...
Happy Halloween
NORTH CREEK, WA :: Happy Halloween! This year our teenage twins skipped jack-o’-lanterns and trick-or-treating, but still had a blast dressing up for the school costume...
Hosmers Grove Birding
HOSMERS GROVE, HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, KULA, HI :: We wrapped up our Maui trip high on Haleakala, hunting for the increasingly elusive ʻIʻiwi in Hosmer Grove (elevation...
Surf & Stars
KAANAPALI ALII, LAHAINA, HI :: Today we caught a rainbow at breakfast, some waves at lunch, sunset at dinner, and the Milky Way for dessert! ✖ Walking the Suspension Bridge...
Black Rock, Maui
BLACK ROCK, MAUI, KAANAPALI, HI :: An amazing morning snorkeling with turtles at Black Rock, just a short walk away from our vacation rental. The water was warm and clear...
Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku Falls
PIPIWAI TRAIL & WAIMOKU FALLS, HALEAKALA NP, KULA, HI :: From the giant banyan to the cathedral of bamboo and the towering Waimoku Falls – the Pipiwai Trail was pure...
Road to Hana
ROAD TO HANA, HAIKU, HI :: We once again survived the Road to Hana, the Hawaiian Rollercoaster! 65 miles, 620 curves and 59 single-lane bridges – twice! Waterfalls, tropical...
Hawaii Five-Oh
KAANAPALI ALII, LAHAINA, HI :: Hawaii Five-Oh! Arrived in Maui last night to celebrate Kristie’s big birthday! Here’s to her and kicking off the next 50 years in...
The Twins Turn 15
NORTH CREEK, WA :: Our twins are officially FIFTEEN today! They celebrated with their friends, sharing many laughs, exchanging thoughtful gifts, and playing fun games throughout...
Swifts Night Out
WAGNER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, MONROE, WA :: Last night we joined a big crowd of fellow “Swifties” at the old Wagner Elementary in Monroe for Swifts Night Out!...
First Day of High School
INNOVATION LAB HIGH SCHOOL, BOTHELL, WA :: The twins are still our babies, but according to the school district, they’re officially high schoolers starting today! ✖...
Chelan & Leavenworth
BIGHORN & BLUEBELL, CHELAN, WA :: We enjoyed the last weekend of summer vacation in Chelan and Leavenworth – relaxing, walking, birding, swimming, gaming, and soaking up...
Universal Studios
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD, UNIVERSAL CITY, CA :: Wrapped up our last two days in SoCal celebrating cousin Shielle’s birthday at Universal Studios. Highlights included...
Six Flags Magic Mountain
SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN, VALENCIA, CA :: Two wild days at Six Flags Magic Mountain! The coasters? Absolutely insane. The heat? Also insane. But it was all worth the sweat!...
Bakersfield National Cemetery
BAKERSFIELD NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARVIN, CA :: Today we laughed and reminisced with Grandma Carol, sharing lunch and stories along with a couple games of Clue. Then we visited...
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, LOS ANGELES, CA :: Charlie’s love for birds runs deep… all the way back to the dinosaurs! So we had to kick off...
Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire
WASHINGTON MIDSUMMER RENAISSANCE FAIRE, SNOHOMISH, WA :: Had an epic time at the opening day of the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Fair! Charlie’s Kenku outfit was a huge...
Blueberry Hills
BLUEBERRY HILLS, MANSON, WA :: Big family breakfast at Blueberry Hills – and it did not disappoint! Known for their hearty, homemade food in a cozy homestead, this Lake...
Summer in Chelan
BIGHORN & BLUEBELL, CHELAN, WA :: Kicked off summer with a few days in Chelan. Sunshine, games, relaxing, catching up, and s’mores with sunsets. Grateful for the time...
Boating Lake Chelan
CHELAN LOOKOUT, CHELAN, WA :: Summertime fun with the fam on Lake Chelan! The weather and water were perfect for a day of boating and tubing! ✖ play_circle_filled Water Tuber...
My Chemical Romance at T-Mobile Park
T-MOBILE PARK, SEATTLE, WA :: Last night’s My Chemical Romance concert in Seattle was a blast! We were mostly there as the parent chaperones, but it was so fun watching...
Pilchuck Audubon Photo Contest
EDMONDS, WA :: Charlie submitted these photos to the Pilchuck Audubon Society photography contest! If you have a moment, please vote for your three favorites – it would be...
Puget Sound Bird Fest
PILCHUCK AUDUBON SOCIETY, SNOHOMISH, WA :: If you’re a birder (or immediately related to one), the Puget Sound Bird Fest was the place to be this weekend! We dissected owl...
