2016: May 16-22 WA trip w/ Karly

WALK W/ MEGAN & SUMMER

Monday we went on a long walk with Megan Lewis and Summer. We had the girls get out and walk to get some energy out. The walk took twice as long BUT they loved every minute.

PLAYDATE W/ JEN EMPEY & HER BOYS

Tuesday, Ruby and I had a play date with Jen Empey and her boys, Braxton and Aiden. Jen and Lance live in her parent's house right now while Lance finishes school. It was a beautiful day so the kids played outside. They have a huge sandbox and lots of fun sand toys to play with so Ruby was in heaven.

WASHINGTON TRIP W/ KARLY

A while back my friend Karly P. told me she had never been to Washington before so we planned a trip! I go up several times a year to visit so it worked out perfect. We left on Friday and flew there.

Here's Ruby waiting in the airport.

On the flight! Ruby is still under 2 years old so she sits on my lap. To pass time we took funny photos on my phone and watched her favorite show, Daniel Tiger.

My Mom picked us up from the airport and we went straight to Costco to get some food for the week.

MANCHESTER DOCK

We didn't waste any time, that same day I took Karly to one of my favorite spots, the Manchester dock. You can see Seattle across the water, and Mt. Rainier when it's clear.

HUMANITARIAN PROJECT

Saturday, my Mom was involved in a humanitarian project for a local hospital at our church so we went to support her. They were making beautiful burial gowns for little babies that were stillborn. They made them out of old prom and wedding dresses, it was the sweetest thing.

We took Ruby into the nursery while we seam ripped beads off old dresses. I donated several of my old formal dresses. The orange one on the left in the above picture was one of mine.

FERRY RIDE TO SEATTLE

After that we caught the Southworth ferry, it stopped at Vashon and we got off at Fauntleroy.

ALKI BEACH

We drove to Alki Beach and ate at a place called Spud Fish and Chips, it has views of Elliot Bay and downtown Seattle.

We met up with Aubrey and got some Gelato at a place called Gelarto Italian Ice Cream. Then we walked along the beach while Ruby took a snooze. We wanted to rent a 6 person bike to ride around but they were closed because of the rain. Next time!

We were sitting on this bench taking a picture when a big group of girls came up and asked if they could get in our picture with us. They were doing a scavenger hunt and were in competition with another group that tried to sabotage their photo.

FREMONT TROLL

Next, we went to see the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge.

SEATTLE CENTER & THE SPACE NEEDLE

After that we went to the Seattle Center and went up the Space Needle! Just Karly, Aubrey, Ruby, and I went. My parents stayed at the bottom since they had done it before. I hadn't done it since I was about 10 or something so I was due.

While waiting for our time to go up the Space Needle we went to the Artists at Play park right next to it and Experience Music Project. It had a tall climbing tower with slides that come off of it. It also had cool swings you can lay down on and music-themed play toys.

EMP and Artists at Play Park from the top of the Space Needle.

Right next to the Space Needle there was a tribe of indians that were playing flutes. Ruby loved it, she was dancing and everyone was gathered around watching her.

We finished off the night by going to The Blazing Onion in Gig Harbor where we met up with Shay. What a fun filled busy day!

MANCHESTER STATE PARK

Sunday we went to Manchester State Park and showed Karly the old structures and the beautiful beach.

Some facts about the park...

The park was named after the nearby small town of Manchester. Originally called "Brooklyn," the citizens renamed it "Manchester" in 1892 on account of their expectation that Manchester, Washington would become an active seaport comparable to Manchester, England.

The park was constructed at the turn of the century as a US Coast Artillery harbor defense installation for the protection of the Bremerton Naval Shipyard. During World War II, the property was converted to a navy fuel supply depot and a navy fire-fighting station.

A former torpedo warehouse, built in 1901, still stands in the park. It was later an officer's club, a barracks and a mess hall, and is now a picnic shelter in the day-use area. The small concrete building east of the torpedo warehouse was originally used as a mining casement, and later for coal storage. A gun battery also remains from the park's early days. All three of these structures are on the register of National Historical Monuments.