My Dad visits Seattle

My dad left early this morning after a FULL week in Seattle. We had a great time and I enjoyed getting to show my dad all my favorite Seattle spots!! (Lots of photos - my dad LOVES to take pictures....)

He got here last Thursday and we visited the Ballard Locks (where the ships and boats come in and out of the Puget Sound), ate at Dahlia Lounge (YUM!!), and had Trophy Cupcakes (Double YUM!!)

Pops


The Locks


The next day we headed to Rainier. It was totally foggy, but we had a great day hiking around among the wildflowers

Entrance gate


A marmot!! Cute little guys!


Freezing!


We spent Saturday downtown. We ate lunch at Fisherman's on the water, then headed to the Experience the Music Project. We also did some shopping and went to a Brewery for dinner.

Our lunch spot


Enjoying the view


Experience Music Project Sculpture


Sunday was the Mariners/Yankees game - Mariner's won!!!

Pulling out my photography "skills" for this shot...


The stadium


Monday and Tuesday we spent on the Pacific Coast. We drove out to the peninsula of Washington and enjoyed being by the ocean!!

The cabin we stayed in


The view from our cabin


Giant trees are everywhere


I'll be back here next week for my backpacking trip!!


Yesterday was another day downtown. We went to the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and shopped!! Our last dinner was at Lunchbox Laboratory and it was DELICIOUS. I love that place!! If you ever visit Seattle, it's a must!! We also had cupcakes from Cupcake Royale - so good!!

Pike Place Market


Starbucks HQ


I love this city!


Ahh, the Space Needle - I love it!


This weekend, Marcy's cousin is getting married, so tonight is her rehearsal dinner and tomorrow is the wedding. Then, next Tuesday, Marcy and I are headed to the Olympic Peninsula for a 6-day/60-mile backpacking trip. I can't wait!! After I return from that trip, I leave for New York a few days later!! I think things will actually slow down once school starts....

Catching up...

It's been a while since my last post, and I really just can't believe how quickly the summer has passed... Last weekend I took girls to camp with my co-workers at Girl Scouts. We took ten girls for two nights and had a BLAST. The girls really enjoyed getting to hike, swim, kayak, and experience all the cool aspects of camp (including sneaking out of their cabins in the middle of the night for a party in the bathroom...yes, you read correctly, the BATHROOM. One of the girls snuck snacks into her pack, so they even had snacks at their party...in the bathroom...SICK!) We overheard some of the girls talking about sneaking out on the second night of camp to have a party in the teepee, so we thought we would outsmart them and be hiding in the teepee...well, our well-laid-out plan was shot when one of the girls saw us waiting for them...dang...that sure would've been fun :)

When I got back from camp, Marcy and I went to see the Indigo Girls at a Concert at the ZOO!! It was so much fun. We took a picnic dinner, and really enjoyed relaxing and listening to great music. Brandi Carlile showed up as a surprise guest, which was a cool bonus to the evening.

This past week I was busy at work getting things ready for the upcoming school year. I'm going to teach two Personal Growth Classes at a Seattle Public Schools Middle School as part of my Girl Scout job. I'm really excited about it, and I get to create my own curriculum, with lots of fun lessons on self-esteem, team building, bullying, etc...

Then, this weekend, Marcy and I spent a lot of time with Linden. (Background Info: During Grad School, Marcy started working as a care-giver for Linden, who is developmentally delayed) Linden's parents are in Paris for the week, so Marcy is staying with her, taking her to t-ball, and doing lots of other fun stuff This weekend we went bowling, swimming, and hiking. Linden works at Starbucks as a cafe attendant, and she always like to talk to me about Starbucks and what drinks I've had lately and what I get to do at work. We had a fun, relaxing weekend, and I'm ready for a full week back at work!!

Art Projects at Camp


Tie-Dye Fun


Kayaking


Marcy and me at the Indigo Girls Concert


Video of Indigo Girls singing "Closer to Fine." Beware - it's shaky and off-centered - I was grooving to the music...just like all the other folks around me :)


I've got a really fun month ahead...
Tomorrow: Badge Workshop with my Girl Scout Troop - I haven't seen the girls since our camping trip, so I'm really excited
This weekend: Going to see "Julie and Julia" - YAY!! I love Julia Child and hello, it's my namesake in the movie :)
Aug. 13-20: My dad is coming to visit - we've got a JAM PACKED week planned and he hasn't been out here since I moved here, so it should be really fun!!
Aug. 24-30: Marcy and I are going on a backpacking trip in the Olympic Mountains - 60 miles total!!
Sept. 4-7: NYC with my parents, Bryan and Leann - SO FUN!!
Sept. 9: First Day of School!!