Next on our stop was Port Angeles. Despite many words of wisdom, we did not get a reservation for the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles. We pulled up to the ferry dock and the attendant asked if we had a reservation. When we said no he looked visibly worried. Basically, we got "wait listed" and told us that we had a 50/50 chance of making the ferry - the last one of the day. Luckily - we were the second to last people on the ferry. It was packed. Thank you Mr. Car-Organizer man. Hooray!
And then we got stopped at customs on the way back into the States. They saw our cooler in the back seat and so we got searched - joy - there's nothing like someone else rummaging through all your clothes and baby stuff. (it's illegal to bring fruit and veggies back in)
In Port Angeles we stayed at the husband's aunt and uncle's [Sharene and Stu's] house.
It was so great to spend time with them and for me to get to know them a little bit better since I had only met them a couple times previously.
Dinner with the fam:
We were also able to visit Uncle Mike's and Candy's restaurant in Port Angeles: Kokopelli Grill.
It was so so so delicious. It had been a while since we'd seen Mike and Candy, too - about 3 years ago at our wedding. It was fun to visit with them and see their new restaurant.
We had a wonderful time in PA. Lots of great people, good food, and fun times (which the husband will blog about soon). On the way out from Port Angeles to Olympia, we stopped by this... interesting... group of homes/barns that had a medieval theme going. (Thanks Stu for the recommendation!)
Evette turned 7 months on April 28! Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl!
This little girl is an absolute delight! She is the funniest happiest baby ever.
She loves to eat and to bounce and to go on road trips with her parents. This month she stopped having her right-before-bedtime-feedings and it didn't seem to phase her at all! She usually [usually meaning not on a road trip...] takes 2-3 naps a day and sleeps 11-12 hours at night.
These pictures were taken on the hotel bed. I brought a different blanket than the one that I used for the previous month pictures, but it's the same size so still comparable.
These were some pictures we took waiting for the ferry to get to Victoria
We went to Chinatown to have some dinner!
So tempting!!!
Victoria was interesting. I think we were a little bit early for the "tourist" season. There wasn't a ton for us to do [especially since we have a baby that goes to sleep at 7:30ish and we don't drink]. We had fun strolling up and down the streets but it wasn't our favorite. Maybe we need to give it another shot during the summer months.
In the last year I have interned, become a father, received an offer from my dream job, fallen even more in love with my wife, graduated, moved away from the Rocky Mountain area (Utah/Southern Idaho) for the first time in seven years, moved to Dallas, and begun full time employment. It's been a busy year.
Each of those transitions deserves more attention than I have time to give, which is unfortunate but part of life. That said, I did want to highlight their existence while also providing some commentary on my thoughts regarding graduating - finishing my formal education (perhaps forever) after knowing little else for the past 22ish years of my life. What commentary do I have to give, then, on closing that chapter? Very little, in fact. I told my (wonderful) mother-in-law when she asked me how I felt about graduating, that I saw it as little more than a formality - that my real achievement took place in November when I signed the offer letter from Oliver Wyman.
In truth, graduation, for as important a life event as it was, was severely overshadowed by the other transitions I listed above. No event can compare to watching my wife give birth to a baby. No event can compare to the novel sensations experienced as a new parent gives his heart away to a tiny, defenseless human being and is glad to do so, and the joy that comes as that tiny person learns that 1) I'm a distinct and recognizable person and 2) she actually loves me back.
Leaving the Utah/Idaho area, my home since graduating from high school way way back in 2005, was a transition that emotionally caught me by surprise. For a long time, I'd look forward to "escaping" from the valley - but as the date of my move came closer and closer, I realized that I loved Utah: my family there, its people, its scenery, its restaurants (Provo has an incredibly diverse selection of foreign flavors), its summer weather. Heidi and I quickly scrapped together a bucket list of things to do before we left - and gladly hit nearly every item.
Moving to Dallas was surreal. Many thanks to my Dad for flying up to Utah to help me load the van (along with Sean Self, Addison Eldridge, Alex Coates, Brad Melluish, and my sister Caitlan - thank you all!) and driving down with me. Pulling into my house's driveway was surreal. The utterly flat landscape is surreal (OK, there's some semblance of hills, at least when compared to Houston, but nothing compared to Utah - from my office tower I can see a distinct curve to the Earth in every direction). The genuine kindness of strangers is surreal. I guess I'll have to write more about Dallas later, once I sort out my thoughts.
And, one month after graduating, nearly to the day, I began the next chapter of my life - one that does not have any sort of expected end-date like my education did. Hello employment and "real" adulthood.
I think this is the perfect occasion to share Dr. Seuss' timeless "Oh the Places You'll Go!" Enjoy. :-)
I am immensely glad that I chose to go to BYU. I met wonderful people, had wonderful experiences, and learned a lot. I cannot thank my Dad enough for the example he set - of the importance of education, no matter the cost. I am grateful for the opportunities ahead of me, for the places that I'll be able to go (to).
To close, I'll attach a dozen or so photos that didn't make it onto Heidi's graduation post from the family brunch we had at Magleby's after the ceremony.
Love you all,
Sean
Thanks everyone for coming!
Four generations!
Dan!
Scott!
Megan and Caitlan!
Hot chocolate from Kneaders. Don't worry, the cup was empty - Evette just likes feeling involved.
After our trip to the flower garden we went to a butterfly garden just a few blocks away.
When we got there Evette and I stole away to the back corner of the garden where I nursed her. It was cool because while we were there and so still I had dozens of butterflies flying quite closely and many nearly landed on us!
Evette was in awe of the butterflies. As we walked around the garden her arms were up and out trying to reach for all of them.
She liked jumping after this bird
Watching the fish in the pond
Growing...
It was hot and humid in there as you can tell from Baby Girl's cheeks :)
The next morning we headed to Victoria, BC. Our first stop there was Burchart Gardens. It doesn't matter how many people tell you how beautiful it is, or how magical or how breathtaking... you don't really get it until you are there.
I mean the trashcans even had beautiful flowers on them!
Beautiful. I think we spent a solid 2 hours just strolling around and stopping to smell the flowers. Gorgeous. It made my heart happy.
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