Seattle holds a special place in my heart, and I think I will always refer to it as home. I was lucky enough to be able to take a trip on my own, to my RHS reunion, and spend sometime with my life long friend Taj. It could not have come at a better time for me, or for her. We spend to many years apart between our visits. I needed a little R&R and we both needed a little time together, to bask in each other's light.
Taji has an obsession with knitting. Here is just a TINY portion of her obsession. 
There are several more spaces full.
It rained while we were at a farmers market, and it was glorious. So this was taken thru the car windshield.
I was taking the picture first, and she copied me! 
So once the rain came, we thought it would be best to stop and get some ice cream.
A little Kirkland art, again thru the car window. 
A rare sight indeed... Taj reading. 
Pasta needed to be kneed well.
LOOKIE! Spaghetti!
Our pasta had to be hung somewhere? right?
silly picture taking. at least I knew how to use my timer! (thank you Alison)
and last for this trip, was lunch at where else, but... 
I also took a few pictures of my old house, for nostalgic reasons. 
Looks a bit over grown if you ask me. My Mom always had her yard and garden beautiful.
I wanted to get a shot of a slug, and a squirrel, but the squirrels kept running from me. I used to be able to feed them out of my hand...what happened to NW squirrels? But this one's for Robert. (I actually ran back to the car to get this, and Todd helped me with the macro/micro somethingarather to get it to show up, and not look like a pooty). And it was dark, very very dark. 
After getting in trouble and not being able to watch TV for a few days, or play outside, this is what Audrey did with her time. 
(if you can't tell, she is a drummer) I am still unsure of why the drum is under her chin, other than to hold it but she sure used her imagination, and entertained herself for sometime!
What to do on a lazy August Sunday afternoon? When no one has any plans, and everyone is a little SeaWorld'ed out? Why go to the Cabrillo National Monument of course!!! 
Robert recalls going often as a kid, to jump around the tide pools, but that was before the tide pools were part of the monument. 
The last time Robert and I were there, was when Alison came out to meet PJ back in November '07. So we loaded up our water, and spend a fun afternoon, taking in the ocean, scoping out the sailboats, and spotting lots of little crabs running for their lives from the many tourists that were there. 
(I guess we have to go back in September when the guides say is the best time of year to hang out at the tide pools).
I did however make sure to check the tide charts on line before we left, to at least make sure we were not going there, during high tide. My Gammer would be proud.
Audrey made sure to take adequate notes, for the "What I did during summer vacation" essay she is bound to write in the fall. 
Jazmin sat and contemplated.... something.
Paytin took a nap. 
I have a final thought...
Cabrillo National Monument, you ain't got nothing on Pirate's Cove! Those are some good tide pools!
Yes Ladies and Gentleman. You read the title correctly! PJ was actually taking a bottle at dinner last night! Not only did she drink 1oz, or 2oz, or 3oz...but she drank 4 WHOLE oz. And it was in a relatively short amount of time. I'm so proud! Now... the trick is to keep it going! 
Did you notice the bottle she is drinking from? It is one of the bottles that came with my pump, that I got when she was just a few days old. It is not even one of the fancy newfangled bottles we have gotten her!!! No the less, she does sometimes drink out of her BornFree sippy cup so, I guess she does sometimes use the fancy dancy bottles/cups.
I'm so excited!!! She drank from a bottle!!! WOOHOO Robert kind of rolled his eyes at me when I asked him to grab the camera.
How else was she going to get upstairs? 
Walking with Grams in her new dress, that Grams got at the Mexican Market Square. 
I don't think standing in the bathtub is such a good idea...especially this soaking tub. It is kind of deep. 
One of them is asleep, and one of them is awake. I don't know which is which. 
Isn't that nice. All the cousins together! 
Goofy kids. 
Baby corn. Who knew! 
SKEE BALL! I have taught her well! 
JACKPOT! (three in one night) she should have played the lottery. 
I did not get very far. 
I think that PJ got into a little something. Could you sign here please? 
I swear those papers were on the floor before I started playing with them! 
PJ got a new walker on the 'tax free' weekend! 
Grandpa bought PJ a high chair, and she thought she would take a little nap in it, just to try it out. 