A Garage Sale detour enroute to the Reptile Zoo

Naomi was up quite late and so this morning Simone, Naomi and I (family meeting) decided to take a road trip.  Naomi could get some zz's,  Simone could put some time into her workbooks and we could all check out the reptile zoo about an hour north of Seattle.  On our way though Monroe, we stopped for gas and noticed this sign.  

Simone made a new friend.

...and found some additions to our vast family game collection.  

I am thrilled to discover a bike for $30 and a kid's trail-along one-wheeler for $35.  

We heard some whinnies and followed them.

Ah here is the happy gelding.  We shared some of our lunch apples and then got back on the road.

Quite the unusual zoo.  The 10 deadliest snakes in the world were inside.

The turtle on the right gave birth to the turtles below. They hatched about two weeks ago. 

We wanted to take two home but they cost $140 each.  

There was a beautiful Iguana for free as well as a couple chameleons.  Alas, I opted to do another family meeting.  Simone and Naomi talked about it and agreed that they need think the idea of an adoption through and come back another time.  I asked what led to that decision and Simone said, "I don't want to clean up the Iguana poop and Naomi is too little to do it. Maybe when she is bigger we can get one."

On the way home we stopped for a snack at Novelty Hill.  
The winery has lovely spaces to play in and good food.

Then we stopped at Chateau San Michelle to see the peacocks. Alas the birds were at the Vet.  We found a good looking tree to climb and we left covered with little splinters. 

When we got home David and the girls tried out the new trail-along!  Awesome!

Naomi is in the yellow side-car...and Simone is singing "Hey Sister Wister."  
Her own made up song to the tune of Hey Sister.  

Occidental Market

On Saturdays there is a market in Occidental Square so we biked over with our paints and a few toys and set up camp.  I had a delicious bowl of posole from Gran Central.  The girls are painting letters.  In the background there is a hoola hoop performer, a rock band on the stage and a unicycle rider.

Simone and Naomi play chess with David.  

A treasure hunt team stops by.  Seafair has a citywide treasure hunt today.  I had a great time talking with these two about their adventure through the city.  What a rush.  Definitely want to do this next year!

Simone wants to have a stand here next week. We'll have to figure out what she could sell.  Lemonade and cookies just would not work as the Parfait and Dessert food vans already have those covered!  Simone decides that she could sell plants or colorful kids t-shirt prayer flags. 

The girls had enough change to get a marshmallow covered with dark chocolate on a stick.  

Then to the wooden boat museum.

Looking out at the dock from upstairs in the little museum.

Simone wants to take this bicycle boat out. 

Fun.

The beautiful hull forms, the little wood structures, the old coal stacks on the fishing vessels...and buzzing about on the wharf with Simone...made for a fun afternoon stop.  Now I need to get into sneakers for the Seafair 8K run.  I can't wait! 

Ballard Commons

No boarders were in the skate park so Simone used it as a slide and had a great time.  Climbing out is not easy. She had to take a running jump to catch the lip of the bowl and then she had to pull her body out. 

whoo hooo!  Naomi is having a blast exploring what she can do with her bike.  

Mama Mia

Just in from David Stephenson: A snap from the Mama Mia Broadway Bound camp that Simone (pink flowers), Claire (blue flowers), Sophie and Evelyn were in this week.  

It was a TON of fun.  "Here I go again...My My...How can I forget you."

Circumnavigating 100 feet from home court

Pausing to enjoy the adventure of life in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. Simone and Naomi love the rush of "urbanity and motormania" that hits you as you step out the giant doors of our building.

Returning from a spin around Occidental Square.

Simone has her bull and treasure chest in the basket as she circles around the Chinese Room deck.  She is looking at the Muckleshoot fishing vessels that are pouring into the harbor for the opening of salmon season.  The space needle is behind her. 

Simone has a play-date with her good friends Lucy (cowhide) and Josie (closest to us).  They had a great time climbing the firemen memorial in Occidental Square.  I wish our neighborhood had a kids park with a jungle gym and swings.  One day it surely will.  Simone is hugging Misty (Meseret) who works in the Chinese Room of the Smith Tower.  The girls often visit Misty when she is working to share the adventures of their day and show her their latest gymnastic tricks.

Simone and Naomi are making sure they have all their supplies before setting off.

We were so excited to find out that the Recess Monkeys were playing downstairs.  Simone and Naomi love to dance to the Monkey's tunes.  The musicians, Jack, Daron and Andrew are wonderful teachers.  Jack and Andrew are at UCDS and Daron is at Spruce Street.  There new album is about  s p a c e.

In the background is our dear friend Avery and her mama, Lauren with baby Pasha in the bjorn, just a few weeks old. 

We talked the band and our friends into coming upstairs for lunch.

Resurfacing our street with a fresh batch of concrete.  "Some of our company's flyash, blast furnace slag or aggregate could be in that batch." - Petra    "What's 'a green ghost'?" - Simone  "Aggregate usually means to gather things together to make a whole of something, but in this case I was talking about another kind of aggregate and that one means little rocks that can be added into the concrete." -Petra  "I can find you some little rocks for you." - Simone

Checking out the big equipment in front of our building.

Urban expeditions start here.

David takes the girls on many cycling trips.  He has a sidecar and a basket on his bike.

Naomi is coming home from a birthday party in the neighborhood.

Alex helps Naomi get her backpack on.  Alex is the security guard in the evenings and the girls love to hang out with him in the lobby doing cartwheels and playing hide and seek.  If he happens to catch us on the security monitor heading toward the building, he comes outside to welcome us in and the girls run ahead the minute they see him.  "Alex, Alex, We went... We saw...Would you believe...." - Simone and Naomi.

Limb to Limb

Was your first house a tree?

Simone and Naomi found a nook they could play in.

Simone making her way up.

Naomi found a great look out and nestled in.

Tree cave

The surface of the water

Simone had Moss Bay sailing and kayaking camp this week. 

   Here she is coming back from Ivar's Salmon house.

At the end of the day everyone jumps into Lake Union...including Naomi and me!

It must have been quite a work-out. Five minutes after getting into the car, Simone was asleep.  

We sat in the parking lot for a couple hours.  

Naomi also fully spent after jumps into Lake Union.

The first day of camp focuses on Being Smooth, the second is about Being Balanced, the third is about Rhythm, the fourth is about Being Powerful and the last day is on Being Harmonious.  Moss Bay was a great camp.  

Peeking through the kayaks.

The mornings were overcast and chilly but the afternoon were clear as a bell, sunny and hot.