Spring break brought us to the sunny south. We spent Easter
week visiting Granma and Grandpa Solem in Pensacola. By a stroke
of good luck, our visit coincided with Jim, Jodi, and Ellen's trip down
from Appleton WI. We had a great time playing in the sand, getting
a bit of sun, and seeing family. The day after we left, Grandma
and Grandpa decided to sell their condo. They claim our visit down
didn't drive them to do this.
On the way back to Seattle, we stopped in Memphis to visit Paul's
cousin Chris and her family. We owe big thanks to the Pothier
family for a warm, wonderful visit, including several meals fit for
royalty. As a bonus, the kids got to boss their dogs around all
weekend. The dogs were good sports about it, and Kayla and Rachel
decided that dogs weren't so scary after all.
As always - you can click the thumbnails below for a larger view.
If you'd like to download a full-resolution (2 or 3 megapixel) version
of a picture, simply remove the dimension portion of the name (i.e.
"DSCN9223 800x599.jpg" becomes "DSCN9223.jpg").
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Easter morning in Pensacola.
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The kids looked for eggs in our rented condo. Outside, it was more like Seattle than Florida.
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Comparing goodies.
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Easter dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Solem's.
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Kayla snuggles with Grandma after dinner.
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Jodi and Grandma.
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Kris and her mom. Despite appearances that's not a truck approaching the seventh floor window.
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Rachel lighting up with a smile after lunch with Paul.
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Kris took a few naps during the week.
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Reading a bedtime story in the living room.
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Kayla and Rachel preparing to go see the Blue Angels practice.
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Kayla bundled up watching the air show. It was in the high forties when we got there.
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Rachel braving the brisk morning.
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Nothing that can't be done with a bit of practice, right?
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... I mean, they're not really that close.
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... there's at least seven feet between each of them.
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Kayla and her Cousin Ellen.
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Rachel : "They're too loud". She meant the planes, not the rest of us.
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I do this sort of thing during my morning commute in when the kids aren't in the car.
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See - Rachel can do it too.
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Pilot and co-pilot sharing the seat.
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Ellen kept her cool while Paul white-knuckled it the whole way.
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Who, us?
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The view from the condo, looking east towards Pensacola.
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A hopeful trip to get a windburn.
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Ellen liked playing in the sand.
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Paul and the girls looked for shells.
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Rachel and Kayla built sand castles.
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Sweet Potato, ala' Ellen.
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Rachel practiced her sneer just for Grandma.
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Kris' face stuck like this.
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The girls wearing their easter dresses.
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Kris enjoying a bit of sun on arrival in Memphis.
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The girls blowing bubbles at Aunt Chris and Uncle Mike's.
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Rachel (Pothier) meets Rachel (David).
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Rachel and Kris sitting out back in the sun.
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Rachel didn't quite get the hang of bubble-blowing.
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Petting Precious.
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Kayla and Paul visited the Civil Rights Museum, on the site of the Lorraine Hotel, where MLK was assassinated. The spot is marked by the wreath.
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Meanwhile, Rachel enjoyed watching the Peabody Ducks.
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Aunt Chris with a lapload of kids.
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Who's having the better time here?
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and again ...
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Paul donned Rachel's hair scrunchies pretending he can wear pigtails.
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Mike prepares an excellent dinner for us.
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Rachel watching the dogs in the backyard.
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Petting Einstein.
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A closeup of Precious.
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Rachel plays cards with Cousin Mike.
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Making pizzas. "Take more cheese Kayla".
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Cousin Elise - or as our Rachel calls her "po-weese".
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A spontaneous display of marital affection.
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The girls asleep, just before leaving for the airport.
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Home again, cooling our heels after a long flight home from Memphis.
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