Technically every weekend is a family weekend. But most weekends are consumed with kid stuff. Times five. This weekend was a rare, no sports, no birthday parties, no sleepovers, no anything plans. I wanted to make the best of it, selfishly. Blaise is now a teenager and Laine is essentially a teenager, and Saige has been a teenager since she was two… it’s not exactly easy to get everyone on board to go out and do something all together that everyone likes. Thankfully we have good kids who don’t complain too much for the most part. The other part, that includes comments about wishing they were [insert somewhere else] to [insert what each kid would rather be doing]. But those comments are few and far between, and they tend to go with the flow. Baby and Maive on the other hand, they are always down for whatever.
After being cooped up during winter break between the cold and sickness, we hadn’t really done anything as a family outside of the house. It was time to change this. I’m the planner of the family, and it’s usually me who comes up with whatever we’re going to do. I’m good with this as a hardcore planner, compared to Brian who rarely has an idea where we’re going but he’s always down. Not to say Brian doesn’t come up with things to do—he’s more of a wake up and see how he feels kind of guy. And he’ll decide what to do a few minutes before leaving. I could never, haha. I need things on the calendar and a few days, at a minimum, to mentally prepare.
Saturday
My original plan was to hike Weeks Falls. The kids and I went last July without Brian and I wanted to take him. Not so much for the falls but for the climbing areas along the trail. I had told him about these areas, and how several people climb there on the weekends. What I didn’t think through was snow. As we drove toward the exit for Weeks Falls, the snow became more plentiful. And sure enough, the parking lot where I planned to park was filled with snow. All the cars who had the same idea were parked along the plowed road. I nixed this since we didn’t have any kind of snow gear.
Back on the 90 west, I quickly changed my plan to hike along Iron Horse Trail. Which is also formerly the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. And also Palouse to Cascades Trail?! I have no idea what the actual name of the trail is these days. Whatever the name, it’s the trail on the other side of the Rattlesnake Lake parking lot. We parked and got out, and walked in snow to the trailhead. We quickly nixed this when the kids shoes started to get wet.
Okay, maybe I’m a hardcore planner but I clearly didn’t think any of this through before leaving home. I had a plan and that was all. This is how I end up being spontaneous, haha.
Since it was Saturday, I knew the Cedar River Watershed Education Center was open. A longtime favorite of mine, it’s a fun place to take the kids. Complete with vacuum tubes and ping pong balls. This became the new plan. Melvin was with us so we decided to move the car across the road to the Cedar River Watershed Education Center parking lot, and leave Mel in the car while we went inside. Mel has separation anxiety; this way he could see me from the car. He wasn’t pleased but he watched us from the passenger seat as we walked inside.
It was dead, as usual. At least whenever I go, it feels like we’re the only ones there. We stopped at the front desk and I asked the woman to please explain to Brian why it’s called Rattlesnake Lake (since we have no rattlesnakes around here). They have these seed pods that when shaken, they sound like a rattlesnake. The nice woman demonstrated the rattle sound for Brian. I think they like to have visitors, they’re always so excited to share information.
From the City of North Bend:
Rattlesnake Lake and Rattlesnake Ridge got their name from Seattle pioneer Arthur A. Denny when the rattle of seed pods on the nearby prairie frightened a road surveyor into thinking he was being attacked by a rattler. The surveyor didn’t realize that there were no poisonous snakes in Western Washington.
Where Rattlesnake Lake is today, there used to be a town named Moncton that was flooded when Cedar River Masonry Dam was built. I’ve always know this since the first time we visited the Cedar River Watershed Center. Back when it was only Blaise and Laine, and they were adorable toddlers. I like that fact, and I like to read up about the town because I often forget all the details. We nosed about the Center for about a half-hour before deciding to walk down to the lake (after grabbing Mel from the car).
The last time we went to Rattlesnake Lake, it was so full. That was in July. This day, it was the lowest I had ever seen. Barely a lake, more like a pond. A frozen pond at that. It was so cool being able to walk the lakebed. We found old bricks from back in the days of Moncton. And so many tree stumps were visible. I’m sure there are more under the remaining water. Not much to really say other than it was really, really cool to be able to walk the lakebed. Of course there were rocks to be thrown in the water, and on the ice to try and break through. It was pretty solid.
The wind and cold encouraged us to wrap up our lake time. We went back up to our car after passing the rain drums and Education Center. Actually, now typing this out, we did the lake first and then went inside the Cedar River Watershed Education Center. Man, my memory is shot. So all of that above, but in reverse order. Duh.
Leaving Rattlesnake Lake, of course the kids had the same idea I was pondering in my head. Going to The Swirl for frozen yogurt. Sometimes I laugh at how much of a creature of habit I am, and then to see the kids also be creatures of habit… it’s amusing. Of course we stopped. Nothing like having frozen yogurt outside on a cold winter day. It was a nice ending to the outing.
Back home, we parted ways to our respective activities around the house. After a day of hanging out together and being outside, it never bothers me if the kids want to do tech. Blaise got to gaming, Laine also, and the three younger girls took turns between watching TV upstairs and playing Roblox. Brian and I relaxed on the couch before dinner, enjoying the short break of the kids being dispersed. As the evening wound down, we all called it a day at our usual bedtimes. Not a bad Saturday.
Sunday
The big kids were SO happy to hear we were heading out again Sunday. Haha, that’s sarcasm. But in fairness to them, there were no complaints. Everyone was compliant. Brian had never been to the Maple Valley Gnome Trail so that became the plan. We went the back way through Issaquah, hitting the Dollar Tree first to buy some gnomes.
There were no other cars at the Gnome Trail. I’m still taken aback at how large that parking lot is whenever I go. It has so much parking and yet I’ve never seen more than a handful of cars parked. I think it’s where the Maple Valley Farmer’s Market is held, which probably explains the ample space for vendors and parking. I was surprised it was dead for a weekend. It was cold but it wasn’t raining. Eh, we had the place to ourselves. Amongst the gnomes.
It was a pretty standard jaunt. We went up the trail to see all the gnomes. It’s a short trail filled with gnomes galore. Maive was dead set on finding her gnome from last time. We tried but who knows where that sucker is now?! After giving up looking, it was time to find a spot for her current gnome. She takes this seriously. All the kids kind of do, even the older ones. Although I think Laine kept her gnome to take home. Baby too thinking about it now. But they still looked for the best potential spot.
We weren’t there longer than an hour before loading back up in the car. Now there were two other cars in the parking lot. We passed a man walking his dog and another mom with two young kiddos were just starting on the gnome trail. Earlier when we stopped at the Dollar Tree, we decided we’d hit Flying Pie Pizza for lunch on our way back—they’re in the same strip mall. Which is probably why we only stayed about an hour. We all had pizza on the brain.
Back in Issaquah before getting pizza, we went to check out Jakob Two Trees. I had taken the three youngest gals last summer when Jakob was still new. But Brian and the big kids hadn’t been yet. We parked and walked in the drizzle to see Jakob. Maybe it was the weather but it wasn’t nearly as busy as it was the last time I went. He’s still relatively new. And I don’t quite understand why trolls are a thing now, but I’m all in. I’d love to find all the trolls and be a troll hunter, as they call it I think?! Maybe this summer.
The kids seemed amused at Jakob. We checked him out and took a few pictures, and called it good. It was pizza time. We loaded in the car and made the short drive to Flying Pie. If it had not been drizzly, we would have footed it to pizza. I think Brian was the most excited about Flying Pie. I’ll admit, it’s damn good pizza. Especially after being subjected to the awful pizza here in Carnation. I really miss good pizza. So much so that I want to take all the kids to Chicago just to get deep dish pizza. And see Sue. But deep dish pizza. There’s never enough time (or money) to do all the things! But Chicago will happen. I’m still kicking myself for not buying flights back during Covid when it was $39 to fly to Chicago! But, Covid. Everything was probably closed or limited anyway.
The pizza was GOOD. We decided to eat there, combining two tables to make enough space for our family. Thankfully it was pretty quiet inside, only two men enjoying pizza and beer in the bar section other than our family. The bar was new since I last went years ago. Brian gave each kid a few dollars to play arcade games while we waited for the pizza. We ate and ended up with a decent amount of extra pizza to take home. No complaints there, pizza for the next day.
The kids wanted to hit the Dollar Tree after pizza. I was the only one who went inside to get gnomes earlier in the day. They each were told they could get one thing, which turned into two things. We’re big spenders!
It was a full weekend, and I like to think the kids enjoyed their time as a family. I did, even if I get annoyed with the kids at times (often). Brian’s dad always comments how close of a family we are and I don’t see that, but I guess maybe we are? Then again, I was raised in a small family where we just coexisted but rarely interacted. Being raised in the ’80s by boomers was an experience. What kind of experience, I’m not sure. But it’s not how we’re raising our kids. So there’s that.
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