Yakima

Last weekend we spent a great weekend at the final baskeball tournament of the year. The boys finished 3rd place. That seems to be their place this year. They've finished 3rd in three different tournaments. The hotel we stayed at was in Yakima, but due to scheduling conflicts with a volleyball tournament all of our games were in Grandview which was 40 miles east of Yakima. It was too far to drive back and forth between games so we had to find ways to entertain and feed ourselves in a very small town with few restaurants.

The weather was clear enough on Saturday that we decided to have a picnic at a local winery and do some wine tasting. The kids ran around and even found a hoop out back to keep themselves occupied while the grown ups tasted some fine Yakima Valley vintages. We also stopped at the Darigold plant to sample ice cream. A very yummy diversion on a lovely day. It was nice to spend some time outdoors away from dark gyms.

I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted. But that date, March 7th, is right before Forrest took off for two weeks in Olympia. Forrest spent one week in Olympia before joining the kids and I in Yakima. Then after the tournament was over the kids and I came home, and Forrest returned to Olympia for another week of bridge inspection training. Before we parted ways Forrest took us to a great restaurant in downtown Ellensburg, The Palace Cafe, it's been in operation for 100 years. I'd love to go back and explore this original part of the town. There is a very interesting looking bookstore across the street from the Palace along with some other intriguing stores in century old buildings.