Thursday, September 18, 2008

Is it September Already?!?!

Wow - the summer just flew by. Here in NOLA we're white knuckling through another bumpy hurricane season, with many Gulf Coast communities taking it on the chin - check out some crazy photos of Hurricane Ike's impacts from the Boston Globe right here.

Em, Z and I were lucky enough to be able to evacuate from NOLA for Gustav by jumping on a plane (then another plane, then another plane) and landing in Seattle. We bumped up an already planned trip and spent a few extra days enjoying family, friends and the humidity free weather.

We had a very nice stay with Z's PaMaMa, Anna May. She opened up her spare bedroom, and Em, Z, the pack and play and I took it over. A great improvement of this trip? Z actually slept in the pack and play. Anna May even hosted a Gulf Restoration Network house party, and my brother Byron, parents Neil and Veda, friends Dan, Shannon and their kids Brooke and Forest came over to eat some red beans and rice, watch some documentaries, learn a little about Louisiana's coastal wetlands crisis, such as how those wetlands protect our communities, and what needs to be done to restore them, and listen to some NOLA music (thanks to Basin Street Records).

We then headed over to the Olympic Peninsula and spent some time in Port Angeles and the Olympic National Park. Great views, great weather and a great time with Dan and Shannon and Forest and watching Brooke and Zoe become toddler friends.

We spent a couple of nights with Uncle Dave and Auntie Judith at their home in Sequim, and enjoyed their fantastic hospitality. On Sunday, they opened up their home to a huge passel of friends and family to celebrate the trifecta birthdays of Uncle Dave, PaMaMa and Laurel. A good time was had by all.

We closed out our trip with a nice evening with PaMaMa, Byron and my parents at the old homestead (Mom even treated us to Mojitos!).

Lots and lots of new photos over on snapfish - check 'em out.

Love ya all,

Aaron

2 comments:

Unknown said...

It was so much fun getting to know Zoe! What a social butterfly, there was no warm up period necessary, I got a hug right out of the gate and we were buddies from then on. She is as cute as they come and I’m bummed I will get to see her as little as I do, but I guess that’s what a continent of separation will do.

Thanks for sharing your time up here with us, we really enjoyed the visit. I loved watching Brook and Zoe play together!

-dan

Anonymous said...

Great pictures, you guys! We so enjoyed your company and were so glad you were able to get out of New Orleans at such an appropraite time! More time for us to get to spend time with you.
I love the pictures of Zoe and the Obermiller offspring. Someday Zoe and Brook will look at them and say, "Remember when we first met? We both looked so good!"