grandma jan's visit, karate belt test, date night

 i spent the first half of last week cleaning and running errands in preparation for my mom to arrive.  i also had a PTA grade rep meeting on monday night. my mom got into town on wednesday afternoon. we came back to the house and made homemade pizzas and relaxed for the night. 

thursday morning the kids went off to school and my mom and i hit up ross and trader joes (exciting stuff!). then we met vanessa for lunch at 'the highliner pub' at fisherman's terminal. i had never been there before, despite it being just across the ballard bridge. we had delicious fried pickles and fish and chips.

we stopped off at the grocery store, then got home just in time to pick up ashford from school. we took him to karate in the evening and my mom enjoyed seeing him in action. then we picked up azalea from school because she had an all-day field trip that went into the evening. we made tacos for dinner and hung out with the kids. 

friday morning thatcher left dark and early to go up to the property, so we were without a car for the day. thankfully there is lots to do right in our neighborhood. my mom and i walked down to the nordic museum to see the new troll sculpture. 

then we walked to the locks and also stopped by a rummage sale at the senior center where we both found some fun jewelry. :) we hung out at home for the afternoon and then kay and fritz came over. my mom, kay, and i enjoyed wine and appetizers on the deck. 

after thatcher got back, we had leftovers for dinner and played yahtzee and rack-o. 

saturday morning my mom, azalea, and i took a trip to goodwill. in the afternoon, ashford had his belt test for karate. he was so nervous, but he passed and will get his new belt in class this week. he's been saying he wants to quit karate lately, but i'm hoping the new belt will keep him going for a while.

in the evening, thatcher and i dropped off my mom and the kids at 'lockspot cafe' for dinner.

 then he and i went to 'noi thai' in green lake for the first time. it was the fanciest thai restaurant i've ever been to and the food was so good! 

after dinner we walked over to the lake and stumbled upon the coolest event i've seen in a long time. it was a luminata festival happening for the fall equinox and hundreds (or even 1000?) people were there with lanterns and other creative light creations walking around the lake in a huge procession. we can't wait to go to it again next year with the kids. 

sunday morning ashford was out the door early to go to the washington state fair with a few of his buddies from school and one of their moms, who was a saint to take all of them. my mom, azalea, and i went to the library and the ballard farmers market.

in the afternoon azalea had a soccer game in shoreline, so my mom and i took her. her team won 6-2, which might be the most goals they've ever scored in a game. they are 2-1 for the season now. my mom enjoyed watching her play even though it rained most of the time. :) we made spaghetti for dinner (and more apple crisp!)

i took my mom to the airport this morning and we miss her already, but i get to go back to minneapolis for my cousin's wedding in just over 2 weeks.