Week 11 photos

We took these the night we came home from Portland and despite being exhausted, Thomas let us snap a few. 

Week 10 photos

We took Thomas's week 10 photos on the public pier in Seattle. Chucky bear didn't make the trip.

Portland!

We were able to visit our friends, the Prewitts, in Portland for a four-day weekend. We had a great time exploring Portland and even got to visit with another UVA family, The Cohens, as we overlapped at the Prewitts for a day. The Prewitts were excellent hosts allowing us to overrun their home!

Poppy playing violin for the crowd

"sea turtle" in sign language

Lu Lu holding Thomas

At the Columbia company store. This hat was picked out by Poppy and Lu Lu

I had to order a beer from the doorway of the bar because minors aren't allowed in. Apparently, they were afraid Thomas would try to order a beer? And they were rude when I thought they were kidding about asking me to stand in the doorway. Really?

Pitch and putt course

Poppy and Lu Lu are excellent aspiring golfers

Lu Lu wearing her shoes on the wrong feet (and refusing to change them).

Wild blackberries were delicious

Keeping the men and kids company on the course (Katy and I didn't play).

On Sunday we went to the rose gardens which were magnificent.

We also went to the Oregon Zoo and saw these gorgeous tigers

Big yawn

And giraffes

He galloped!

And a lion!

Hyenas!

Cheetahs!

View of Mt. Hood on the flight home

Even more Seattle

On Wednesday, Steven had the morning with us, so we went on the Seattle Great Wheel. It provides great (if shaky!) views of the city. The perfect weather made for some good pics.

Breakfast on the pier

Happy to be in the ferris wheel

His stretch

Shadow of the wheel

The last four letters of aquarium spell: "Muir"

Then on Thursday morning, Thomas and I set out early so we could see the King Tut exhibit at the Pacific Science Center. It was awesome. I was thankful not to be the only mom with a noisy baby in a stroller but ended up having to hold him to keep him quiet during the exhibit.

On the monorail to the exhibit

Fountains outside the exhibit at the PSC

Tut's head covering

This mini sarcophagus housed King Tut's stomach. 

Golden finger and toe coverings. These actually preserved his bone health to allow for more thorough DNA analysis. 

His sandals which look just like today's gladiator sandals to me!

With replica tomb statues

A replica of King Tut's mummy. Did you know that he was found by two men: Howard Carter, the egyptologist and Lord Carnarvon (his financier) who is the historical character from which they've based Lord Crawley's character on Downton Abbey? Of course King Tut's exhibit doesn't mention Carnarvon's link to Downton, but I read that elsewhere and think it's a neat link.

At the PSC

Dale Chihuly glass at the space needle

Once Steven was finished with work, we drove up to the Ballard Locks in northern Seattle to see the salmon fish ladder and locks. 

A boat passing through the locks.

At the locks

These water tracks help the baby salmon swim downstream towards the ocean. They have netting overhead to protect the baby salmon from predatory birds

Art above the fish ladder

So these enormous salmon (we think they were Chinook) swim from the ocean back through the locks and to their spawning grounds where they will spawn and die. It takes them some time to adjust to the fresh water, so they sit in this ladder to acclimate. It was cool to see them on their final passage.