Happy July! Beware, this is a long post with lots of pictures. We celebrated the 4th by attending the Richfield parade and swimming at my parents' house. Pictured: Leif, India, Becky, Tyler, Maya, Dylan, Olivia, Nora, Scott, Lauren, Courtney, Owen, Austin and Marissa. The parade was a bit lackluster-no Shriners, no bagpipes and kilts, no Richfield Tapaires danceline (Jake calls them the Tapirs), but the pool was great!
On July 10th, we saw Wilco & Bob Dylan with Michelle & Scott. Lots of fun, but we missed the highlight-a surprise appearance by Trampled by Turtles!
Jake and Dylan had the good fortune to behold the Stanley Cup at the club!! Jake's boss has a nephew on the Blackhawks. I was surprised to learn that there is a designated "Keeper of the Cup" assigned to protect and travel with it.
Maya's dance group performed in the Hopkins parade. I'm sorry to say it, but Richfield's paled in comparison. I got to walk along, passing out fliers, stickers and water. Maya noticed that the crowd was impressed by high kicks, so she's been working on those. She's also been busy teaching herself to cartwheel into the splits, memorize hundreds of pet names on her favorite iPad game and snap her fingers. She practiced snapping so much that it has become as integral a part of her as blinking and breathing.
Last week, we ventured to Washington. It was the kids' first flight. They were both excited and impressed. I mostly overcame my fear of flight, due to being brave for the kids, a more spacious plane than before, and a good book from Anna.
In Seattle, we stopped at the zoo first. Maya's holding her trip journal, which kept her very busy.
Pike's Market in Seattle.
The vile, infectious ABC Gum Wall near the market. Dylan contributed.
Maya was particularly excited about swimming in the hotel pool. The complementary cupcakes in the lobby were a big hit, too.
The EMP museum of rock music, pop culture and sci fi.
Lots of info about Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, Seattle natives.
More pics from EMP. Dylan found a sentinel from the Matrix.
After a couple of days in Seattle, we drove out to the Columbia River Gorge for the Kengarden Roots Tour, a kendama event Dylan wanted to see and 2 Phish concerts. The scenery on the way out was breathtaking. It was 70 degrees in Seattle and 105 out in Wenatchee and George, WA. There were a couple of forest fires blazing.
Kendamas are similar to wooden yo-yos. Dylan's been practicing and collecting. At the event, he won one, we bought one, and he had one handpainted and signed. They had contests & a raffle. They were a good group, young and older, cool and respectful at the same time.
While Dylan was doing that, Maya and I found a playground & a some crystal clear cold water to swim in, took selfies, and made friends with this 8 week old Husky puppy.
Arriving at the Gorge Amphitheater.
Note the poster tucked under Jake's arm. They make 700 artist's prints for each show. There's 20,000 in attendance and the posters are a hot item. Anna really wanted the pair for her new apartment. She was dog and housesitting and I really wanted to get them for her. The first night, I got the 3rd to the last one. The 2nd night, I went to 2 sold out merchandise stands. At the 3rd and final stand, I waited in line and my chances seemed slim. A guy butted in front of me and got the last one in the box. I got the one off the wall for Anna, the last one in the venue. So, if you visit her, be sure to check them out:)
Beautiful view, including the smoke from the forest fire.
Twins vs. Mariners at Safeco field. Maya kept asking for cotton candy. Jake got a laugh out of the Twins fans in front of us when he told her she could just have some sugar packets back at the hotel. We lost, but the kids got to run the bases after the game.
Back at the hotel. They had a restaurant called The Rock with albums on the walls and ceiling, music and song titles written on the booths. We ate there twice.
The Space Needle, another fear I overcame. 2 down, many to go.
Chihuly Glass museum.
More pics from the zoo. That orangutan looked and acted awfully human.
We learned a lot on the harbor tour, about the city, Mt. Rainier, shipping, and landmarks. The mountain was visible and it was sunny, both rare conditions in Seattle.
Cheese making factory
Getting back home. Anna got her degree. Today we started the moving process. We'll finish up tomorrow. It was good to be back together for a few days before everything changes. Kayla's been working a lot and sucking us all into watching Pretty Little Liars which airs on ABC Family, but I don't know how, although I guess almost our whole family has been watching it.
Maya got to see Annie at Grandma's house. Dylan got a lesson in billiards, the electronic version, from Gpa Marc. Thanks to my parents for rides to and from the airport and a spaghetti dinner and swimming the night we got back.
