7th Annual PNW Sweet Pea Reunion!

So the story starts 7 years ago.

Families all over the country (and a few in the Netherlands) embarked on the journey of a lifetime: to travel to China to adopt a child waiting in an orphanage. The reasons differ: some to add to their family, some because they could not have children any other way, some because they wanted to open their heart and family to a child that had no family anymore. We all had our LID (log-in-date) with China around the same time and supported each other through the wait, which at the time seemed like forever!The Pacific Northwestern (PNW)"Sweet Peas" started a picnic to get to know each other before they ever got their referrals for their children. And they have added some S. Cal residents to the annual affair!

We all came from different political, social, educational, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Yet, because of our children, we became extended family. All because of the internet and a Yahoo group called The Sweet Peas.

And we love it.

Caroline and I boarded a plane at the crack of dawn and flew to Seattle. Seeing Mt. St. Helens from the air was quite the sight. You can still see steam coming out:

Then at the end of the flight, the pilot invited Caroline and me to see the cockpit and he encouraged her that if she wanted to be a pilot, she could!



We went to Alki Beach - which was beautiful, and let the girls play in the sand to their hearts content:



While the adults got to catch up and chat for a while:



Caroline found a friend in Mark (Julia and Mimi's daddy) who helped her build her masterpiece of a sand castle:



And a few pictures on the shore:




Then they posed for the obligatory photo-op. Julian is the tall boy in the back. He is Peter's "birthday twin" since they were born on the same day. He is Mariah's "big bother" and she is his "little sinister" according to their dad. The older girl is Effie, an exchange student from China who is visiting the Williamson-Chavez clan.


We later went to dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. I think we were a little insane to let the kids have their own table, but they handled it quite well!

And the adults enjoyed having their own table!


We stayed with Kristine and Mark and enjoyed their hospitality! Caroline had an almost-instant affection for Ruby the dog. And the feeling was mutual.


We also enjoyed some time at Gasworks Park. This used to be a working gas plant, but is now a park.




Mimi, Julia, Caroline, and Kendra.

Mark is definitely the daddy to girls!


Baden loved the balloons and always managed to keep us laughing.

Caroline and MacKenzie - Huaihua girls. We like to think they were roommates.

Another great photo-op at Gasworks Park. Getting them to all together is a feat in itself! Caroline is next to Baden. Secretly, Tassie and I are planning their wedding. Shhh!

After lunch, we said goodbye to those who live in Portland and had to leave. But we then went on a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and had ice cream! I told Caroline we were going on a ferry boat and she was confused when we arrived and it wasn't a "fairy boat" as she expected. I guess she's been to Disneyland a few too many times and had no frame of reference other than that! However, the girls were particularly excited to look out the window of the ferry as you can see:



And hammed it up for the cameras:

And truly enjoyed playing together:

Mimi, Mariah, and Caroline

Then we enjoyed an evening at Mark and Kristine's for wine, cheese, and friendship.

Baden, of course had to entertain us with his newly-discovered horn skills:


All too soon, it was time to leave. But here is my little traveler back in S. Cal. She did so well on the trip and both flights! The gentleman sitting next to me was quite impressed with her behavior on the flight home and asked if we could play one game of "rock, paper, scissors" while the plane taxied into the terminal since she and I played it quite a bit on the flight.

It was the most successful PNW Picnic to date, as far as I'm concerned and well worth the trip. We loved staying with Mark and Kristine and their daughters Mimi and Julia. We were welcomed in like family. Seeing all the children home with their families after waiting together 6 years ago lifted the spirits of all of us. Comparing notes about our children helped us realize that we are all in this together.