Hanging with the Ike clan in Edmonds

Ryan, Brooke, and Cora. They even look good with Ferry hair.
Gus playing in the Edmonds fountain at the round a bout.
Here we are at the Woodland Park Zoo.

We just got home from a wonderfully long and relaxing weekend with our friends; Ryan, Brooke, and Cora Ike, who reside in beautiful Edmonds, WA. My Mom grew up in Edmonds and my grandparents are both deceased, so it was really bittersweet- more sweet than bitter- to go back to the gorgeous place I visited so often when Grandma and Grandpa lived on 2nd. street. (right by the sound).

Brooke and Ryan have a beautiful home and they are both quite the chefs. Brooke cooked a soufle- yes, a real soufle- with gruere and chard- for breakfast one morning and it was tre manifique (sorry if I butchered the spelling just now). Ryan cooked traditional homestyle japanese cuisine. We had chowa mushi (custard egg soup) and suki yaki (grilled meats and vegetgables in special sauce), and it was divine (complete with sake and Asahi Super Dry).

Besides all the eating, there was a trip out to Langley (on Whidbey Island) and a trip to the Woodland Park Zoo, a lunch at Blue C Sushi (Gus called the conveyer-belt style sushi bar a sushi choo choo), a wonderful family dinner with Ryan's parents; Elaine and Andy Ike, cruising the Saturday market in Edmonds, and dining at Arnie's for lunch with great Aunt Dot.

So yes, there were a lot of calories consumed, but we did hike all over Edmonds and the zoo so we burned a bit of it off.

We were also able to pop out to visit Robin and Wyatt in West Seattle. They are expecting baby any minute and we couldn't be more thrilled for them. It was so fun to see them and say hello at this exciting time in thier lives.

Thanks Ryan and Brooke for your hospitality and the great time! Kiss Cora's buns/cheeks/fingers/ toes, etc. for us!