Playtime with Alexa and Brian

We were happy to welcome a visit last weekend from our favorite Seattle couple: Brian and Alexa! It had been too long since we all saw each other, and we were glad for some time to hang out, especially Alton, who just loves them, as you know. Alton was very eager to show off all of his books and monster trucks, but the first order of business on Saturday morning was his swim lesson. So Brian and Alexa came along to the athletic club in the a.m. (Alexa even managed to squeeze in a quick workout!), and after the little guy was all dried off and dressed Brian showed him the rudiments of the climbing wall.


We meandered over to a park for a snack and some sunny-morning playtime before heading home for lunch and nap (for Alton, although there was another male Rhyne in the house who may or may not have caught a few Zzzs, too...). After he got up, Alton was happy to show some of his fun new toys to our captivated guests. He got Brian to zoom him around on his balance bike

and read some books,

and he showed Alexa how a real man rides a rocking horse and still looks cool doing it.

That Saturday night we were excited to share a "first" with Brian and Alexa: our first DOUBLE date night since Alton was born! Each time a family member comes up here to visit us (or even sometimes when we go down to visit them), they kindly offer to watch Alton for an afternoon or evening to give Andy and me some couple time. Zach and Karen had suggested a babysitting exchange when they got to town: we watch *P for a night so that they can go out, and they do the same for us with Alton. The previous Saturday night had been the "date" with *P, and we really appreciated Zach and Karen taking care of Alton on the night that Brian and Alexa were in town so that we could not only go out, we could go out with another couple! (Hmm, but how will we ever go out with Zach and Karen is the question?) After much debating of restaurant choices, the four of us acknowledged that fondue together was our "thing," and we opted for the Portland Melting Pot. It was a very rich and delicious meal and we crept home late, secure in the knowledge that Uncle Zach was keeping an eye on our homefront.
After our late night we had a very lazy Sunday morning, then we all threw on sneakers and headed out to a walking trail park for a quick stroll in the nice weather before Brian and Alexa had to head home. We brought Minerva, along with Alton's red wagon in case he got tired from the trek.
Alton was happy to start out our tour riding in the wagon with his snack and drink cup.

Mid-chomp.

Our crew in the forest, minus Andy the photographer.

Halfway through the trip, Alton decided that pulling the wagon was going to be his work.

He demonstrates proper wagon-pulling technique for Alexa.

Brian thoughtfully walked the dog to free up our attentions to picture-taking and Alton-assisting; Minerva sticks her tongue out in a big slurp.

Alton does the same.

Up some big hills and back to the parking lot, it was time for a quick lunch and then bye-bye to Brian and Alexa. We had so much fun spending time with them, and look forward to our next trip to Seattle to catch up.


The Making of a Blog Post:
For the first time, we are posting a "making of" for a blog post. Essentially, I (Andy) managed a few pictures of Katie and Alton while Katie was putting this post together. The reason I wanted to share these pictures is because it shows AJ helping with the post with his very own keyboard!! This is a keyboard that Katie's cousin Matt gave us specifically for Alton's use. Fun!

Alton needed to recruit some of his friends to help out, too.