A few weeks ago a friend + photographer (Kelsey Moll) came over to document our last date night in Green Lake before the move to Kirkland. With busy schedules throughout the week, Kyle and I look forward to slow Friday nights at home - often with a cocktail, charcuterie board, homemade pizza, and a walk around the lake (weather permitting). I'm so glad to have captured some sweet moments of our date night rhythms in Green Lake.
A week ago, Kyle and I moved from our old home in Green Lake to start a new adventure in Kirkland. Green Lake had been home for the past three years since we got married. We made the move to be closer to work (no more tolls + hours in the car) and to simplify life a bit. The decision to transition to the Eastside (across Lake Washington) didn't come without a few tears (to clarify Kyle didn't cry). We were blessed to have family and friends to help with the move. My dad drove 1,500 miles from AZ to WA with some of our new furniture. He was such a huge help with the whole process and it was fun to spend time together! I am so thankful how God orchestrated so many details - from finding a great parking spot for the moving truck in Green Lake (no easy task during the summer) to my dad's availability to and help.
Here are a few photos from the move.
We're slowly getting settled into our new space (with a guest room ready for visitors).
Stay tuned for more photos and stories to come from Kirkland!
Kyle and I headed out to Mt. Rainier National Park with some friends this past 4th of July weekend. It was great to get off the grid to camp, hike and hang out by the fire!
Our initial plan was to hike to Camp Muir (base camp for the Rainier summit), but due to low clouds and white-out conditions, the ranger didn't recommend a trek to such high elevation. Instead we hiked to Panorama Point which still involved crossing snow patches, glissading, and some spectacular views!
Hope you enjoyed your 4th of July weekend!
Last week we traveled to Arizona for a family vacation, including Kyle's parents (Barry and Beth) and my parents (Mark and Ann). Kyle and I grew up in different states and our folks met for the first time at our wedding (almost 3 years ago - how has time gone by so fast?!) so we wanted to carve out some time and space for everyone to get to know each other better.
Our trip was mostly based in Prescott, AZ (at my parents' cabin) with day trips mixed in throughout the week. We also had a side project (reupholstering some of our teak furniture) to keep us busy. Here are some photos of the trip:
We celebrated Mother's Day by grilling, chatting, and playing Sequence.
We took a day trip to see Montezuma's Castle and the ghost town of Jerome.
We reupholstered our teak dining chairs.
We enjoyed the red rock beauty of Sedona with a hike at Oak Creek Canyon and views from the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
We finished the trip with spectacular vistas at the Grand Canyon.
I am so grateful that we were able to spend this past week with our family. We created memories and added new depths to our relationships.
Each spring, as the rain slows and the days lengthen, my heart begins to long for summer here in the PNW. It's our favorite time of the year. I like to make a bucket list before summer begins because without a plan the season can slip away so quickly! Here are the lists from 2015 and 2014. What are you dreaming up for this summer?
Summer Bucket List 2016:
Family trip to Prescott (Zabels + Benadoms)
Hike to Camp Muir at Mt. Rainier
Camping in Winthrop
We recently headed to the mountains with friends to relax and enjoy some snowshoeing. We stopped in downtown Leavenworth to stroll the streets and grab a beer at Icicle Brewing.
We enjoyed two days of snowshoeing near Stevens Pass at Lake Valhalla and Lanham Lake. Fresh powder and falling snowflakes, made the trail feel like a winter wonderland!
The highlight of our AirBnB cabin was its hot tub overlooking the Wenatchee river. It was awesome to soak after a full day of snowshoeing.
The weekend was a perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, good conversation, and laughter!
After traveling to visit both of our families last Christmas, we stayed home in Seattle this year. In these early years of marriage we are still figuring out what we want our holiday traditions to be. On Christmas Eve we (Elise) baked Pulla Bread, a Finish coffee bread, (which turned into a bit of a kitchen baking debacle!), went to a Christmas eve service, and watched White Christmas snuggled up by the fire. On Christmas morning we sipped coffee, read the story of Jesus' birth, and unwrapped more gifts than we ever needed! Later that afternoon we went for a walk around Green Lake and shared a meal with some sweet friends. The next day we headed to the mountains and strapped on our new snowshoes to get a bit of fresh air and enjoy the recent snow fall. It was a perfect way to end the Christmas weekend! Tomorrow is New Years Eve and we can't wait for what 2016 will hold.
Cheers and Happy New Year!
The Zabels
In early October we set off on an Italian adventure! We spent two weeks exploring, indulging and soaking in the culture of Italy. It was an unforgettable trip. Here are some photos and a few highlights from each of the places that we visited.
Venice.
Highlights:
Cinque Terre.
Highlights:
Florence.
Highlights:
Tuscany.
Highlights:
Rome.
Highlights:
A few weeks ago, Kyle and I were back in the Midwest to celebrate a wedding and spend time with family. First, we flew into Chicago and spent the night exploring and indulging at few delicious spots in some cool Chicago neighborhoods. We also played tourists - wandering Michigan Ave, grabbing coffee at Intelligencia, snapping photos at the Bean. Then we drove north (near the Wisconsin border) for the Moreno / Welch wedding, with Kyle as the best man. It was a beautiful ceremony and a great party! To end the trip, we made a quick stop in Madison (we want to go back again!) on the way to Kyle's hometown where we spent time with family, rode the four-wheeler, and cuddled some new baby kittens. It was a full weekend (a bit exhausting, and too short as always) but so fun to celebrate with family and friends!
How is it possible that a year of marriage can pass by both so fast and yet just slow enough?
As each year comes and goes, Kyle and I want to make it a priority to celebrate and reflect together. There is value in looking back on the past year to be thankful for how God has blessed us and where He has taken us. This reflection comes with an honest recognition that it hasn't all been easy and picturesque, but with healthy doses of humility, tough conversations, tears, laughter and joy! We are not the same couple as when we started this journey, and I'm thankful for the ongoing transformation. I think the sweetest changes have been the ways our hearts continue to be softened.
Here are a few reflections from this past year:
Cheers to the start of year three as a family of two (for now).
The Zabels
Kyle and I spent the weekend in Wyoming visiting some dear friends on their new farm. I drove a tractor for the first time, we went to the Cody Rodeo to experience true cowboy culture, and got to meet the Christofferson's newest addition Jacob Truitt! I think my favorite parts of the trip were the conversations and laughter that was shared. I appreciate the way the Christofferson's live their life: raw and authentic. We certainly miss having this family in Seattle, but we are excited about their new adventure. I have so much respect for the hard work that the farm life entails! Here are a few photos of our trip below.
Spent the weekend camping in the Chuckanut Mountains. We met some friends on Saturday and hiked Oyster Dome, made s'mores by camp stove (no campfires due to burn bans), and fell asleep to rain drops on the tent. Sunday was a slow relaxing day walking around Bellingham and grabbing dinner with friends. Love exploring the Pacific Northwest one camping trip at a time. Here are some photos from the trip below.
Kyle and I had been gearing up for a backpacking adventure over the past several months and we finally decided on the weekend and route! We took a ferry from Edmonds to the Olympic Peninsula and to the Mount Townsend | Silver Lake trailhead.
The initial 3.5 mile climb with 3,400 elevation gain was exhausting in the heat of the day (not ideal). But the views along the route were beautiful! We set up camp at Silver Lake and went to bed early; we were eager for some rest.
Around 1:30am we woke up abruptly to a growl! Our hearts were racing as we waited quietly for the animal to pass. There was some sniffing and heavy footprints around our site for a couple hours. Needless to say we didn't sleep very well!
While making coffee in the morning we heard thunder in the distance. Our plan for a slow, relaxing morning was ended as we scrambled to pack up our campsite, eat breakfast, and get on the trail amidst scattered raindrops. Fortunately the rain was light and the cloud cover was a refreshing change of pace from the previous day's heat.
I learned that backpacking isn't glamorous. It's hard work, uncomfortable, exhausting, and can bring out your best and worst, but it's also invigorating and rewarding. A friend recently asked me how the trip was for our marriage and I've been thinking about it. I think it reinforced the importance of communication and how to love sacrificially amidst challenging circumstances. So here's to more adventures and life lessons!
Here are a few photos from our trip:
I needed to be in Portland this past weekend for a work-related conference on Saturday, so Kyle and I decided to make a weekend trip of it! Whenever I'm in Portland, I feel like there just aren't enough meals in the day to enjoy all the delicious food the city has to offer. A few of my favorites from the trip were Stumptown Coffee, Blue Star Donuts, and Olympic Provisions for date night. The weather was perfect on Sunday for exploring the city. Kyle and I grabbed coffee, stopped in Powell's to stock up on a few books, and spent time wandering in the Rose Gardens which were in full bloom. We even ventured out to Multnomah Falls (along with what seemed like the entire population of Oregon). Hope you had a great weekend!
