seattle

with ripp scheduled to be out of town for spring break, we took our dearies out of school a week early (adding grandma at the last minute) and headed for the pacific northwest. 

the seattle area is now at the top of my list for 'places to retire'.

after a mmmmmmm lunch of fish n' chips on the pier, we headed for Pike's Place Market.  hair accessories, a hand carved dagger, a second round of fish in the form of shrimp cocktail and an plethora of sensory stimulation killed the afternoon for us.

with orca season still few months away, we decided to go on a whale watching tour out of everett washington that guaranteed gray whale sightings.  we were able to catch a few lazy harbor seals and once out on the water, spent a couple hours following three gray whales.  the gray whales have migrated back north from their breeding waters off mexico and are feeding in the shallow waters in and around the puget sound.  because they are bottom feeders, even their deep dives don't last more than a few minutes and they surface constantly.  we didn't get any breaches, jumps or fancy tail flips, but something about being in the same water has these 35 foot mammals is pretty impressive.

vashon island is a small island accessed from west seattle by ferry only.  something about loading your car on a giant barge and sailing out into the salt water instantly relaxes you.  if my current desire to live out my days in the seattle area becomes more than a phase, then vashon is where i will lay down my roots.  

we stayed in a small waterfront house located on a land bridge between quartermaster and tramp harbor. one side made for crab, sand dollar and silliness heaven while the other side gave breathtaking views back to the city of seattle. 

and if we were visiting vashon island, we were definitely going to find the bike in the tree.  the story behind this bike has to do with a kid who was ungrateful for the charity bike he received, who rode it into the woods one day and never came back for it.  we know it from one of our very favorite christmas stories, the red ranger came calling.  it was easy to find and as cool as i had hoped.  

no trip with kids would be complete without a zoo stop.  we chose the point defiance zoo because of their brand new baby snow leopard cubs and of course, lush grounds with stunning views of the sound. but, the animals were the highlight.  which usually isn't the case as they are often sleeping and seem saddened by and bored with their captivity.  we were entertained by a show off of a polar bear and watched as trainers taught walruses how to identify shapes and colors.  as most kids do at some point, mine left declaring their marine biology majors.   

so...to say we had some fun would be an understatement.  as would saying that i positively love and adore my family.  big changes are in store for the ripp house and this trip reminded me that change is good, especially with the right people.