Sweating in Seattle

This week, we had visitors. Mike's whole family (9 1/2 of them!) ventured up to the rainy city to spend a week with us. They know Seattle as a gray, rain soaked place with tall trees, and flannel clad environmentalists. They came prepared, their suitcases packed with sweatshirts, socks, and parkas. Only, it didn't rain. 95 degrees. 80 percent humidity. No. Freaking. Air. Conditioning.

They were shocked. We were shocked. It was all very shocking.

in spite of the stifling temperatures, we hit the town hard. Pike's Market, boating on Lake Sammammish, strolling around the Kirkland waterfront......the grown ups even left the kiddos with a sitter and went out to dinner. Lots of the conversation at dinner revolved around how much we were sweating, how we couldn't believe that restaurants don't have AC, and how this must be what menopause feels like.

Before they left, they did get to see what they came for, some good old fashion Seattle rain. There was even a little thunder. The toddlers insisted on playing outside, blissfully pointing to the sky, wondering what exactly drops of wet stuff were doing falling from the sky. "Rain, buddy. Can you say rain?"

The best part of my week was watching the cousins play together. Alex, Caleb, Jafta, India and Tanner LOVE each other. They delight in being together. They revel in the excitement of family all gathering in one place. They know they're loved and they know they're safe. With those supports in place, the sky is the limit for the games they can invent, the laughter they can generate, and the new things they can learn.

it was an awesome week.

It's softly raining outside, and while part of me is glad for the quiet, I miss my family.