Spring Break - Seattle Style

I had a training in Seattle so we decided to turn it into a family vacation. We visited my brother Matt, his wife Jaime, and their two kids, Ashley and Donovan. My Dad pointed out that Sydney has now been to both coasts - twice - all before her 1st birthday! She did great with the traveling and immediately adapted to the time change courtesy of not sleeping at all on the plane trip to Seattle. Here is Sydney getting acquainted with her Aunt Jaime.

Here she is looking up to her cousin Donovan.

We went to the zoo in Tacoma. Here is Sydney learning about gibbons from her cousins. Note: you cannot see the gibbons in the photo because they are at the top of the cage. I made an executive decision that it was more important to capture the kids than the gibbons.

Donovan, Ashley and Jaime checking out the sea otters.

Matt, Donovan, Ashley, and Jaime cracking up at the sight of puffins trying to fly and then posing for a picture.

Here is a short video of our crew walking around with Donovan's thoughts on heading to the "play park."

All of the kids (big and small) enjoyed the play park.

Elizabeth and Sydney tested the slide.

Here is a video of the slide. Elizabeth is not slowing down to make sure Sydney doesn't get overwhelmed by the speed, she is slowing down because there was a little boy working his way up the slide while they were headed down!

Some Peace Corps friends of ours (Jose and Rosa) came up from Portland to go to the zoo with us. Here is their son Manu with Sydney in the hippo.

Rosa helped Sydney walk with assistance.

Jose and Rosa taught Sydney a new trick...guess what it was?!

Here is some of the group after the zoo.

When Jaime and Matt had to go back to work and Ashley and Donovan had to go back to school, Joshua, Sydney and I saw some of the sights in Seattle. Here we are at an indoor Waterfall Garden in Pioneer Square.

Here we are at Pike's Market with fish being thrown behind us.

We went to the Seattle Aquarium. Sydney was sleepy at times and took a snooze in her stroller but enjoyed a lot of the aquarium when she was awake.

I think Sydney's favorite part was the overhead salmon exhibit.

Sydney also liked the seals and sea otters. Here she is checking out the otters above water.

Here is a short video of her watching the seals from the observation tank with Joshua.

On our last day, we decided to do some hiking. We went to Discovery Park north of the city.

Sydney and Joshua checked out the lighthouse.

The raincoats in these photos are not for show. Seattle weather was exactly what we expected - in the 50's and drizzling. We used the attachment for the hiking pack to keep Sydney dry.

After the Faucher family Northwest finished their daytime obligations, we went to Snoqualmie Falls and did a short hike with them. Thankfully, the sun did decide to make an appearance for this hike.

Here are Ashley and Donovan at the lookout.

Here are Matt, Donovan, and Ashley closer to the falls.

Jaime, Ashley, Donovan, and Matt.

Here is a nice family portrait on our last afternoon in Seattle.