Sunday, July 31, 2011
Visiting Camille in Dupont
Friday, July 29, 2011
Seattle
We spent two days in downtown Seattle and bought Seattle City Passes so we could see some of the main attractions. We started with a harbor tour on a big ship. We learned some interesting facts about the Coast Guard, the Space Needle, the shipping and fishing industries, and the different piers.

We visited Pike Street Market and stopped by Pike Place Fish Market where they entertain a crowd by throwing fish to each other while selling fresh seafood. Then we went to Ivar's and ate a little fish and chips of our own.
We next visited the Seattle Aquarium, which is right on the pier overlooking the ocean. We saw some harbor seals, got our faces painted, saw the octopus get fed, and saw lots of new tropical fish. My kids also touched a star-fish for the first time playing in the tide pools.
I'm apparently not very tall compared to a Sixgill Shark.
After staying overnight with my good friend Andrea (thanks Andrea!!) in Everett, we spent most of our second Seattle day at the zoo.
I'm glad he's not riding this grizzly! The bears were really active and we were able to view them really up close in a cave with just a thin layer of glass separating us.
The African Village was awesome. We got to see inside some little huts and sleeping areas. All the writing was written in an African language, including the bathroom signs.



The farm area was really fun for the kids. They got to pet the sheep and goats, and learn about how to milk a cow and grow vegetables.
After the zoo, we went up the Space Needle and looked around. The city is gorgeous, especially up high. We loved watching the little planes dive down in front of us and land on the ocean.
Our last stop was the Pacific Science Center. Annalise and Preston loved this little water area. We also saw dinosaurs, rode in a rocket, and saw the planets orbiting the sun.
The tropical butterfly exhibit was really cool. The butterflies would land on people's heads and just stay there. It scared the kids a little, so we didn't stay too long in there. We also saw an IMAX documentary about the volcanoes in the deep ocean. Pretty neat, but too dry for the kids. Anyway, we LOVED Seattle.
Oregon Coast
We decided last year that we wanted to take a road trip to Oregon and Washington. Ryan and I had never been to the Northwest states and it seemed to be a good excuse to visit family and do some sight-seeing. After stopping in Boise and staying over at my good friend Amber's house (thanks Amber!!), we took the long way through the beautiful Cascades to Corvallis, Oregon. Ryan's Aunt Ruth hosted us in her home and we spent a few days with her.
The first day we were there, she took us to the coast at Newport and we had an amazing time.
We went to the Hatfield Science Center first, which was really fun for the kids. They have lots of hands-on exhibits and aquarium tanks.
This octopus, named Ursula, was really neat to watch. Because it was new to the Science Center, it was very jittery and swam around a lot.
Annalise loved Aunt Ruth, especially after she took us to a candy shop and bought her some salt water taffy.
The kids had a great time playing in the sand. Uncle Craig brought sand toys and the kids built a big castle and collected shells. Even though it was windy and cold, the kids loved the beach and still talk about it.
Ruth loves light houses, so she took us to see her two favorites. They were so beautiful and interesting. The next day we just spent in Corvallis. We walked to the park and just had a relaxing day. We were so grateful for the time we spent with Ruth and Craig. The kids loved their dog, Mia (even though they refused to pet her) and their rabbit, Lynx. And they especially loved picking fresh strawberries from her garden and walking along the boardwalk by her house. Oregon, we will definitely be back!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Project: House
So, my sister in Washington has requested that I post some pics of the house projects we've been busy working on over the last year or so. So, here is a little tour.
We painted Adelyn and Annalise's room "purple foxglove" and found a few more accessories to match the decor we already had.
Annalise's crib and shelf.
Preston's room is painted "celestial blue." We hung some curtains and found some more fun accessories.
We painted our room "jute" and finally got a bedroom set (off KSL) and bedding. We've really enjoyed having real furniture, replacing our previous dresser we got seven years ago at a yard sale for $30.
We added a second closet to our master bedroom so Ryan and I could have more space. We installed a closet organizer, which has been awesome.
Our new basement is finally done! After we finished painting and carpeting, I realized EVERYTHING was brown. So I asked Ryan if I could buy a RED couch. He consented and I found this awesome sectional.
Another view of the basement showing the sound system Ryan and his brother installed.
The basement bathroom was definitely the most difficult part of the project. Ryan installed most everything all by himself. I was definitely impressed.
We painted the walls "drizzle" and found a fun striped shower curtain and art piece to match.
We painted the under-stairs play area a creamy yellow called "harvester", which is bright and cheery for the kids. We've had a lot of fun fixing up our house, but we are glad to take a break for awhile and catch up on other things, like blogging. :)
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