Seattle 2014

We just arrived in Florida after a solid week of lounging / eating / lounging / eating / lounging / eating at my brother’s house in Seattle. My brother, who happens to not just be my brother but also Ken’s best friend from college, along with his wife, 3 kids, cat and dog hosted the 4 of us, my parents, sister and mother-in-law all in their home. Gracious, open, and welcoming as always, we had the best time with them all. Thank you so much, Proskurowski-Rob family for taking us in to your beautiful home and letting us bounce off your walls for the week. And thank you to my parents, who like always, fed, spoiled, and took care of us all. Although I am wider than last week, I am more refilled with love from those closest to me. We love you so much and miss you all, already! Here are pictures to recap our vacation in Seattle.

 

Space!!! Needle! Space Needle!

Space!!! Needle! Space Needle!

4 of the 5 cousins getting ready to explore the Space Needle.

4 of the 5 cousins getting ready to explore the Space Needle. Our little baby Toosh was napping.

The Olympics. I must say that Seattle is pretty incredible. Yeah yeah yeah, I am from the PNW, so one would think I would think that, but in all honesty, it is a remarkable city -- so beautiful with a mixture of urban and nature, high and low, with great food, coffee, organic grocery stores, bookstores, trails, paths, stores. WHAT ELSE DO YOU REALLY NEED?

I must say that Seattle is pretty incredible. Yeah yeah yeah, I am from the PNW, so you probably think I’m biased, but in all honesty, it is a remarkable city — so beautiful with a mixture of urban and nature, high and low, with great food, coffee, organic grocery stores, bookstores, trails, paths, stores. WHAT ELSE DO YOU REALLY NEED?

When in Rome....wear Patagonias and fleece hats (oh wait -- I do that always).

When in Rome….wear Patagonias and fleece hats (oh wait — I do that always).

Can you believe it? We MET Santa!

Can you believe it? We MET Santa!  Cruz with cousin Alagna.

Classic sign.

Classic sign.

Under it.

Under it.

Fish and chips TO DIE FOR.

Fish and chips TO DIE FOR.

The two youngest cousins are 8 months apart and love each other so much. They are BFF times infininti.

Baby Toosh and cousin Nadia.  The two youngest cousins are 8 months apart and love each other so much. They are BFF times infininty.

Lots of tutus and cuddling with Jasper, the cat.

Baby Toosh.  Lots of tutus and cuddling with Jasper, the cat.

Love the look on our family excursion on Christmas Day.

Love the look on our family excursion on Christmas Day.

Trees on the beach.

Trees on the beach.

Cousins skipping rocks.

Cousins skipping rocks.

Savage beauty; my little niece Alagna.

Savage beauty; my little niece Alagna.

Love this shot -- it is a mixture of "Friday Night Lights" with "Pacific Northwest"

Love this shot — it is a mixture of “Friday Night Lights” with “Pacific Northwest”

Food

Food

A visit to the Locks.

A visit to the Locks.

Dramatic bridges.

Dramatic bridges.

Checking the boats out.

Checking the boats out.

A reunion for the Natori 3rd and 4th generations.

Ken’s dad was raised on Bainbridge Island, and still has a lot of cousins in the area.  There was a reunion the day after Christmas.  This is the 5th generation of Japanese-American Natori lineage (along with my brother’s kids.)

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Storyville Coffee. Ridiculously good, and oh so strong.

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LOVE

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My brother, Giora, and wifey, Katie. We had the opportunity to eat at the most delicious and lovely Seattle establishment, Matt’s at the Market. HIGHLY recommend. The food was scrumptious, local, beautiful and tasty.

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Beer for lunch.

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My tuna sandwich, hot dog.

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Pulled pork sandwich for Ken.

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Thank you, Nana and Tata for taking such good care of us for the week. You are the best parents and I love you dearly.

 

So as you can see, we had a lot of quality family time intermixed with outdoor, touristy, and local activities. It didn’t really matter what we did, it was just being together that was important. I am so thankful for my family! And now….some (cross your fingers) sun time in Florida for 5 days! It will definitely be quieter with less home-cooked food, but I’m looking forward to unwinding before the start of 2015. Have a great week!

 

 

Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl

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Josie Girl

8 Comments

  1. Looks like an amazing trip. Happy holidays and happy new year to you and your family.

  2. Fun pics! Toosh hugging Jasper kills me! Matt’s is fab – slightly obsessed with their cobb salad :). Oh and thank you so much for the rec on Alice Hoffman’s “Survival Lessons” – just starting to read through it and wow wow wow is it ever hitting all the right notes for me! I first opened to a chapter towards the end “Choose to Be Yourself” where it talks about getting a tat, duck ou of work early, wear your pi’s for days on end, start wearing red lipstick. I literally had just died my hair icy blue the week before and laughed hysterically that I opened to that chapter! Ha! Soak up that Vitamin D for us PNW gals chica – Happy 2015! May we all have good health! xx

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