Seattle Aquarium

One of the highlights of our trip to Seattle was the Seattle Aquarium.

Alice could have spent all day at the wall of fish.

Louis and Hector, checking out some microscopic pond life.

The touch tank was also a big hit.

We also liked the river otters.  Unfortunately they were too quick for me to get a picture of them.

Take Louis out to the Ball Game...

Our first night in Seattle my dad and Hector took Louis to his first major league baseball game.  It was the Mariners vs. the Rangers.  Louis had a lot of fun, even though his team lost.

There was a really cool glove statue outside the stadium.

Since it was after Alice's bedtime, she stayed at the hotel with my mom and me.  We had a really cool view of the park from our hotel room.

"King" Felix Hernandez was pitching, and Louis got a King's Court crown.

Leavin' on the Mid-Morning Train to Seattle

My parents flew up to Vancouver this weekend, and we all took the train up to Seattle. This was Louis and Alice's first train ride, and they were very excited. 

Here's Louis at the train station in Vancouver.

Louis and Grandpa waiting for the train.

Alice keeping watch.

All aboard!

And away we go!

Spring Garden

I've been planting some Northwestern native plants lately.  I think they're pretty cool looking, so I though I'd share.

This is a native lupine.

This flower is a camas.  They are related to lilies, and the bulbs were once an important food source for the native tribes in the region.

This is a wild columbine.  I have a couple different columbines in my garden, and apparently they'll cross-breed with each other, so next year I may get some unique hybrids.

Louis with lettuce (no, not native) that we grew this spring.

Backyard Fun

Here are some cute pictures of Louis and Alice playing on the swings in our backyard.

Alice pushing her baby on the swing.

Louis pushing Alice on the swing.  (She really was having fun, even if you can't tell.)

Water Fountain Fun

Last Saturday was our first trip to the fountain in Esther Short Park downtown.  It was another beautiful sunny day.  The weather has completely spoiled us this year; it's just been one gorgeous weekend after another.  Louis and Alice both loved the water feature, and I'm sure we'll be back many times before the summer is over.

Oregon Irises

I planted these neat little irises last summer.  They are Oregon Irises, a Pacific Northwest Native.  They are actually quite tricky to grow in a garden, and they only bloom for a couple days in the spring. They're not very big, but they are pretty.

T-Ball Opening Day

This weekend Louis had his first T-ball game.  His team is the Purple Dragons. (They named themselves.)  It was another gorgeous weekend in Vancouver.

Lookin' alive.

Louis is a switch hitter, but this time he was batting lefty.

Go Louis!

Roundin' third.

Louis' cheering section.

More Birthday Pictures

For his birthday I made Hector a book of the first few years of blog postings.  It turned out really cool, and he loved it.

Alice waited (mostly) patiently for Grandpa Alex to undo all the twist ties on her new baby.