Seattle

We recently went up to Seattle, Washington for a few days. Scott and the kids had never been, and we have been meaning to visit friends up there for years. Oddly we traded rainy weather down here for total sunshine and blue skies up in typically gray, wet Seattle.


The first stop was the popular Space Needle at the Seattle Center




This included a fun visit to the fabulous Pacific Science Center housed in very whimsical 1960's building hearkening back to Disney's old school Tomorrowland. The kids loved all the outdoor and indoor hands-on exhibits, and really this is a must-see if you're visiting Seattle with kids.






We joined up with a dear friend of mine from university days and her family for lunch with a spectacular view up the Space Needle in the Needle's rotating restaurant, Sky City. So fun to see her and her beautiful family again!




One day post-mouth injury






We took the ferry from Seattle over to Bainbridge Island to meet up with friends from law school days. We spent the entire day catching up, having lunch, going on walking and car tours of the island before having tea and saying goodbye.


Sadly I forgot I had been playing with my camera's settings and left the ISO at maximum level, so this photo is ridiculously noisy, but still such a fun memory! Miss them already!


Warm dusk colours over Seattle on the ferry ride leaving Bainbridge Island (but don't let the warm colours fool you, my face nearly froze off getting this shot!). I'm still dreaming of Bainbridge and partly wishing we could join our friends in what felt like such a peaceful way of life.


We spent a day exploring the rest of downtown Seattle. I think we'd all agree the highlight was Pike Place Market. Such a lively collection of vendors, delicious food and interesting sights and smells to behold at every step.


The highlight was easily the famed Pike Place Fish Market. It's quite a show watching these guys call out fish orders in enthusiastic unison, then tossing fish to and fro with perfect accuracy. It is like watching sturdy, hairy men in orange rubber boots perform synchronized swimming.


The fish market was a big hit with our resident seafood lover. Dallin was in heaven!


Getting his free smoked salmon sample, Dallin was grinning from ear-to-ear.


















Quaint Pioneer Square surrounded by so many corners full of character. This city definitely has a personality. Tweed-clad business men, coffee shops two to a corner, shops and eateries that think out of the box and expect you to also, a taste of Alaska all with a good appreciation of the great outdoors.




My HDR shot of downtown Seattle at night

Stitches

A four year-old sitting on a desk + an ill-placed chair = stitches.







Literally hours before our flight to Seattle Trev took a spill that landed him in the ER. Three massive gashes, two inside and one outside of his mouth. It was a crazy day to say the least, but Trev's chin/lip/mouth/gum (it's so unclear really) is healing nicely.

Arrow of Light

Dallin is officially a boy scout! He graduated from cub scouts to boy scouts in December when he turned 11, and he also earned his Arrow of Light award then. He was awarded his Arrow of Light at February's pack meeting, where he also emceed. Congratulations, Dallin! We are so proud of you!

T-man is Four

I thought it was about time I got around to this post. Trev's fourth birthday was actually nearly two months ago, but hey at least I posted about it before he turned five! Trevi's day actually took place while we were en route from Washington, D.C. back home. Sad to say this is not the first time this has happened, and probably won't be the last. That's what happens when your birthday has a habit of landing right on the last day of winter break. We did actually get around to celebrating his special day, beyond the M&M treat we feted with on board the flight. We had a family Toy Story party complete with a viewing of Toy Story 3, a Toy Story ice-cream cake and pizza for dinner a la Pizza Planet.


Wearing his birthday crown by Madeleine Designs


This kid knows how to receive a gift!


The cake


Trev was the loudest in our family chorus of "Happy Birthday"

New Year's in the District

After the wedding festivities wrapped up in Maryland we repositioned ourselves in downtown Washington, D.C. for a few days of sightseeing and friend reunions. Although we lived in the D.C. area for two years and toured the national sights many times over, the kids remember nothing. And now I'm hanging my head in thought over all of the places we've taken them to that we'll have to redo again someday. Oy. So for them this visit was like the first visit. And for Trevon it really was his first visit, but it doesn't matter because he'll remember nothing. And in a few years we'll be doing this one over again too. Oy.


Pennsylvania Avenue




















Lincoln Memorial, still my favourite








Ice-skating in Alexandria, Virginia with great friends (curse you florescent lighting!)






Dallin earned most improved skater for the night, starting with a death grip on the wall, before graduating to a death grip on people, to this . . .




Lunch at one of Scott's favourite D.C. restaurants with friends from Virigina


A la National Treasure Dallin escapes the National Archives with the Declaration of Independence (or a $5 replica)














At the base of the National Christmas tree in front of the capitol building








Our own private New Year's Eve celebration in front of Ford's Theater (where Lincoln was assassinated)




Dusk over D.C.