Seattle: More of Week 1

Marko's Kindergarten Graduation in Sammamish

Marko and his little buddy at school. We thought it was so cute how all the little boys were so affectionate with each other. They would hug and try to pick each other up and lock hands like this. Clearly they haven't reached that age where this is no longer "OK" and it's so cute!

 One night we made a trip out for dinner with my high school teacher, Mr. Day. I have known him since I was fourteen years old and over the last 16 years he has gone from my high school history teacher, to my first Psychology teacher, to a very real mentor and now, I suppose, a friend. He and his wife Leota are really incredible and I'm lucky to know them.   

One of my favorite Seattle craftsmen homes.

Wayne has had a long-time love-affair with the idea of smoking a tobacco pipe (you know, in the vein of Bilbo Baggins or Gandalf, or maybe just a professor at Oxford). Well somehow, he and Dutch got on the subject and before long, Dutch had broken out two pipes, his stash of tobacco and they were out on the porch like two hobbits. He was so excited! And Mr. Day was so wonderful that he let Wayne keep one of the pipes. Don't worry, Wayne won't be taking up pipe-smoking anytime soon but at least now he can say he owns one and can fantasize about being that old professor, smoking during office hours. :)  

So, the "old" men were outside smoking their pipes on the front porch while these two ladies were inside washing dishes. We were momentarily transported back about a hundred years. Norah loved helping Leota out in the kitchen.

On Saturday (Marko's Karate Day), it was "Silly Hair" and "Bring-a-friend" day so Norah got to go to Karate Class.

One-on-one nun-chucks (?) tutelage.

 "Um, excuse me, sensei?"

"We're going to the top of that in the next hour?! Yeah right."

 Father's Day Hike to Rattlesnake Ridge

Washington is so beautiful!

 The summit!

 Simon at the top of the world

My Dad waited for us at the bottom of the trail as it was too steep for him to go to the top. Well, on our way down, at mile 1 (halfway down), I spotted this.... Yep, there's my Dad.

This is what the kids did every day with the couch cushions. A jumping gym/nerf rifle fort.

On Father's Day, apparently Wayne and James needed to do some "Real" testosterone-filled "DAD" stuff. James was out washing his SUV and Wayne starting chopping this bush down. ha!

 Norah helped Uncle James

Norah made this for Wayne

 Sarah and I had a little competition, making Father's Day cards.

 Above is hers - clearly inferior.

 And here is mine - clearly SUperior.

Notice him surveying the vast greatness that was my card.

 Wayne got the Forks over Knives cookbook he has been asking for.

Dropping by Uncle Dan's one afternoon.

And then to my very favorite place in Seattle - Mighty-O donuts! These are Vegan cake donuts that are the most decadent things you ever tasted. Calling them donuts is an insult.

This is the very Mighty-O donuts where I ran into Dave Matthews one time. I played it cool - so cool that I never even looked over at him. I didn't play it so "cool" when I proceeded to hang out near this Mighty-O donuts for a week afterward, hoping to "run into" him again. "Oh hey Dave...you come here??"

This is the newly-renovated Maple Leaf Playground near our condo in North Seattle. This is where we had Norah's 1st birthday party - back when it was a junker-park (no it was alright but now it's amazing!). So glad Tim & Shonda and Atticus get to live so close to this park.

We came north to visit Tim, Shonda & Atticus (our friends who are renting our condo).

Norah and Atticus had a blast and we wish we lived closer so these two could be buddies all the time.