On our exhausting walk back from the (closed) fish market, we went past the aquarium. Where the boys got a chance to do this:
(And that was it.)
Then we hiked our happy selves back to the monorail station, which just happened to be at a mall. That's what I like to call "City Planning," right there.
I was so worn out and hungry that some ice cream was in order.
And McDonald's had vanilla ice cream cones dipped in chocolate. And I suppose that's all lame and doesn't fall in the category of "living locally," but hey. It was awesome.
"Everyone" told us we needed to go see the Fish Market while we were in Seattle. "Everyone."
So we were "close by" our first night in the city and decided to walk there. I don't remember much about that walk other than it was 8000 degrees outside, and all three children wanted to hang from my limbs. It was a long walk. Much longer than we thought.
Anyway. Here are the girls after the walk to the market:
And after all the pretend! excitement! about a fish market...we got there and it had closed early. But the smell lingered around so it was sorta like experiencing the real thing. Sorta.
I think this picture captures just how I felt about the amount of energy I had just put out hiking to the world! famous! market!
Oh. But then there's this.
While I sat on a bench (near the water) with Campers and the Suz, Pa and the Zig got a second wind and went frolicking and photo-ing about. And I thought it was important to show you that justeverysooften that Zigster gets a wild hair and smiles for the camera.
(He's an extraordinarily content little boy by the way. He just rarely notifies his face.)
We interrupt the Seattle storytelling for some very important news:
The FedEx man has brought a piano. We love that FedEx company. First they brought us our daughter, 2.5 years back, and now this. Musical bliss.
It was my "birthday present." MY. PRESENT. That's the story I'm sticking to anyway. But I made Pa assemble the thing, complete with help:
And then we set the timer and let each kid have five minutes checking out the thing, all the while getting a sermon barked at them from behind.
It's what we parents do best.
Ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff ruff!!!
In this next pic, Suz is telling the world that "Ihts Ziggawee's toohrn. Den ihts MIE toohrn."
Part of the pack, that she is. Gotta be where the action and excitement are. Begging to be heard and to make sure she gets her fair share.
Speaking of deprivation, it has been nearly two years since we've had a piano in the house (or played one, for that matter). As many of you know, we had to leave our baby grand behind when we moved across the country in '07. Our intent has been to replace the piano "as soon as possible," but you know. Two years. That's not bad. When comparing that to world history, I suppose. But that's like 8 gatrillion in Musician Years. Mmm-hmmm.
So anyway. For the piano players in the crowd... We bought a digital piano, Yamaha (HELLO), with 88 full-size weighted keys. It has the standard piano sounds as well as 500+ others for the kids to choose from. We also purchased a kickin' set of headphones for the kids to wear, because we have both been through lessons and WE KNOW what kinds of sounds we'll be hearing in our near future.
Anyway. We love it. I can't believe we waited this long to get a piano--but the time is right for Campers (and the Zig) to start lessons so...
We had to get a piano for the kids' sake. And if *I* happen to rediscover a piece of my soul at the same time, well then so be it.
Back to the regularly scheduled Seattling soon. I promise.
You know, the beauty of having multiple children is that when I see my kids striking a pose like this, it no longer sends panic to my scrapbooking soul.
With the first kid, I wanted the pics to be sweet. Now? I want to use them for revenge.
And THAT will be EVEN SWEETER.
Bwahahaaaaaaaa!
Where was I.
Oh. Seattle.
The Monorail was built for the Seattle World's Fair. Now, you may not have ever heard about the World's Fairs unless you are old. Or, if you were raised by people who are old and dragged you to, hypothetically speaking, the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Just sayin'.
So, we decided to ride the Monorail, cuz that's what you do when you go to Seattle. And it cost us an-arm-and-a-leg bucks to take a two-minute trip across town.
Fortunately, the ride cheered good ol' Ziggy-boy right up:
But alas. There is always the Suz. Who can't even make an angry face when she tries.
Anyway, we figured while we were 'up in Washington,' we might as well oughta do the Seattle Touristy Thing too and get it over with.
Fortunately, our whole trip (which I will detail in ten! long! posts!) was tainted with the fact that we had just come off of a 1) relaxing stay at a 2) free condo 3) on the beach 4) in near-total seclusion 5) where the weather was NOT 90-some-thousand degrees like it was in Seattle.
Oh, and did I mention we went there on July 4th weekend? When the city's population was 387 times higher than it usually is?
So...Seattle was kinda blah for us. Just telling you that upfront. I'm sure it's a delightful city, filled with magical and wonderful things--we just didn't have the time or money to see them. I probably wouldn't have like any city under all those conditions.
Moving on.
We stayed right near the Seattle Center, which was the site of the 1962 World's Fair. We also did most of our sight-seeing in that area, as getting around town was a pain in the neck (see: Holiday Weekend In A Big City) and we were not in the Adventuresome Mood.
So. We could see the Space Needle from our hotel:
And look! The Monorail!
And other interesting city-like sights!
The first night we were 'in town,' we headed off to the Experience Music Project, which is just a fancy way of saying "A Museum Having To Do With Something Pertaining To Music But I Couldn't Really Tell As It Was 'Free Night' And There Were Hordes, HORDES I TELL YOU, Of People In The Building The Same Time That We Were."
So we did the run-through, and got out of the claustrophobia as soon as possible.
And because you care, I'm going to tell you that I lost one of my favorite gold hoop earrings in that crazy place. See, Seattle? That did not help The Sad.
While we were staying at the coast, we collected approximately 3487 rocks and shells. So when it came time to leave, we decided to leave about nine-tenths of those behind.
On the morning we were heading out of Dodge, we took one last trip to the beach to "say goodbye." Here is the Suz throwing her rocks back to the water.
It was a nice sense of closure. And a tad bit sad, as well. Here is the Zig, who--on his own--wrote "Bye" in the sand.
Campers, in his true firstborn, grown-up style, wanted a turn with the video camera, capturing the gang in action:
So, ummmm...that "Seattle Part 7" post was, howshallwesay, an accident. Oh, it will show up again in a week or two. (Remember to act surprised.) I just slipped and hit the "publish" button instead of the "save as draft" button.
But I DID notice that there were a number of comments on that post, which leads me to believe--you don't need my stinkin' commentary! You can come up with enough of your own!
Moving on.
Let's finish up some Washington Coast pics.
We won a four-night stay at an ocean-front condo, and it was awesome, and we felt very blessed.
I happened to snap this pic while the boys were lounging around watching "Shrek." Oh, handsomeness.
Pa was particularly delighted that the dining room in our unit was large enough that we didn't have to shove the table out of the way to get to the fridge.
That's what it's like at home, if you're wondering. Which is fine, as the house is superb. But we DO have to move the table out to eat and push it back to leave the room.
Anyway. Our condo. Was nice.
And it was all by its lonesome right by the ocean, which made it just that much more superb.
You know, the stinky thing about a waterfall showing up right at the beginning of a trail is that there is little to motivate the troops to Keep. Walking.
Didn't help that both Pa and I got lost (together) and so we ended up backtracking and sidestepping and all. the. while. not letting on to the kids that we. had. no. clue. how. to. get. off. the. trail.
It's at those times that I marvel at the number of tricks we have in our bag to keep all three kids happy and moving. It's a sight to see, really.
(*patting self on back*)
Fortunately, the kids had sub sandwiches (woo-hoo!) to look forward to once we finally found the right path to the tables. We were only an hour late (!), but let me tell ya, those. kids. were. hungry.
