What I Did on My Summer Staycation

Well we didn't get a summer vacation per se this year, but Sam and I took a long weekend trip to Maryland and then we had the last week in August mostly off from work and school. I had to go in one day for a presentation and Sam (and his parents) went to school one evening for Back to School Meet the Teacher night. My presentation went well, but Sam was sad to find out that 3 of his 4 best friends were assigned to the other pre-K classroom. He gets to see them during outside playtime and in the late afternoons, but he's still confused and stressed by the situation. On the other hand, we had a great time during our free time together. Emma came to visit for part of the week and we all played the part of Seattle tourists. Here's a recap of the week.

I've already written about our trip to Mount Rainier.

On Monday, Sam and I took the bus down to the Seattle Center to visit the Children's Museum. Unfortunately the museum was unbearably crowded, so Sam negotiated a stop at the carnival rides instead. He frequented the airplane ride and the 2 bouncy slides.

We also went to the Seattle Aquarium, where Sam and Emily were fascinated by the sea otters, and we all got to see an octopus have his lunch. Sam was tickled by the machines that simulated waves in the tanks. And running around on the pier with a friend from school that we ran into.

On Thursday we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island. We started off the morning in downtown Winslow for breakfast then headed up to Fay Bainbridge State Park to walk on the beach and pick blackberries.

After a few clams "attacked us" Emily was determined to dig one up, which she accomplished after much effort.

We returned to Winslow for a bit of shopping and lunch. Best of all was dessert at Mora's. And my lovely yarn purchase from Churchmouse yarns. My first yummy Malabrigo.

On Friday we made it to the Ballard Locks. Sam and I are regulars, but it was Emily's first visit and she was rewarded with jumping salmon and the most enormous barge we've ever seen.

On Saturday, Ari was finally able to join our sightseeing and we made it the Arboretum and the Japanese Garden as I mentioned before. Sunday we took our last summer outing to Seward Park. We picked more blackberries and exhausted ourselves.

It was the best summer staycation ever.