M&D took me to Seattle for a visit.  Boy do they have a lot of fun things there!

On the first day, we started out with an airplane ride:

They have a really great airport where you get to walk way out and be near all of the propeller planes.  I could have stayed and watched longer, but M&D said it was time to go.

Next, it was a ride on the light rail (my first real train ride!):

Not only was the ride fun, but there was lots of great stuff to see out the window while we were riding, like these diggers!

After the train ride, Daddy and I went for a big, big ferry ride.  This ferry carried a hundred cars – and even big tractor trailer trucks!

Not only that, but it had three levels with stairs, and it had an inside with seats and tables, and snacks!

That was kinda nice because it was pretty windy “topside”.

After this big day, we stayed with Uncle John and Aunt Carol at their house by the lake where they have a dock where you can throw rocks in the water – which is the best kind.

The next day, we went to the market.  Our adventure started with my first bus ride:

And that was no ordinary bus!  It was a double bus.  Daddy said it was “articulated”.

At the market, these chocolate croissants tasted as good as they looked:

The fish were fun to look at, but we didn’t taste any.

Then it was down the big hill…

…to see the UPS truck:

Just Kidding!  It was the Seattle Aquarium!  There was lots of fun stuff to see here, like this enormous fish tank…

… and sea otters…

… up close and personal!

The next day we went to visit my friend Lauren at her house.

We worked on making a snack together, and also on puzzles and games.

Later, we went for a ride on their dock-boat.  Lauren’s Daddy Big Ben let me drive!

At the end of that day, I guess I was pretty tired.

Our last day in Seattle, my photographer apparently took the day off so I don’t have any pictures of me to share.  But we saw Aunt Jo, Uncle Don, and cousin Sarah for a yummy breakfast.  And we visited with cousins Nicole, Haley and Toby, and we even went to the Lego store where I got a recycling truck set!

What a fun trip!  I hope we get to go back soon!

Last weekend was the big Agilent Summer Picnic.  There was lots of stuff to do, including this big, big slide.

In case climbing around the side isn’t fun enough…

… you get to climb up the back and then slide down the front.  Weeee!!

There was also lots to eat, including hamburgers, ice cream, and cotton candy.  Mmmmm…

I also met my new best friend, Lauren.  We played tag.

And then we went on the slide together and put on our shoes together when we were all done.

Then it was time to try the climbing wall.  I was still working up my courage while the guy was putting on my harness.

But I went climbing right next to Daddy.  I didn’t climb as high, but I sure had fun!

Lauren went climbing with us, too!

I can’t wait to go to the picnic next year!

It was finally time.  We had some M&D alone time and it was finally time.  To go for a ferry ride to get a Balboa Bar.  Can you see my anticipation?  I think I can see it!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…

And to top it off, another Ferris Wheel ride with Daddy!  Maybe this vacation stuff isn’t so bad after all.

But I do miss playing with my trucks at home.  I have to settle for the little one I have here at the beach.

Then Madeline and Lauren arrived.  The next day we were off to the big wave beach!

Boy those waves are big!  And they move fast!  They sure are fun to run away from when they come in!

While I was there, I invented sand surfing.  It’s kind of like skateboarding, but with a Boogie board on the sand.  And you don’t go anywhere.

Later, I taught sand boarding class to Mommy and Lauren.   They were very good students.  (Beginning students practice on the sidewalk.)

After all of that playing and teaching, I sure was tired.

(Note to M&D: This does NOT constitute proof that I don’t sleep with my eyes open.  I must have been blinking.)

What a fun vacation!

The first order of business was to get some holes dug and sand castles built, stat!  Luckily, I had Avery there to help me.

Avery stayed over, so we got to keep having fun even after pajama time.

The next day, it was time for a ride over on the ferry.  There’s lots of things to see from the ferry…

… like… the Fun Zone!  Boy did I have my eye on that Ferris Wheel!

First, though we went for a walk out to the pier to see the big waves.

There they are!

On the way back was the big payoff!  A Ferris Wheel ride with Daddy AND Avery!  Weeeee!

The first visit on our trip was at Ma and Pa’s.  As always, I like reading books with Ma.

And it’s always fun to play with my favorite LA cousin.  Daddy says she gives me a run for my money on the noise making front, and I said, “Uh huh”. Pbbbbbbbbffffttt!

This trip was special because I got to meet my newest cousin, baby Oliver!  Do babies really start out that small?  I was never that small!

After visiting at Ma and Pa’s, it was time to see Grandpa and Nana.  As always, I start with cleaning the pool.  The pool at Grandpa’s is sooo fun.

Then, some more relaxing and book reading.   I wanted to share my new Airplane book with Grandpa.  I know he likes airplanes because he has lots of papers with pictures of them on his table.

Then it was time to go to lunch where we saw some big vacuum trucks!  Very cool!

After that, it was time for a trip to the park and some exercise.  Look at how strong I am!

Thank you Ma and Pa, and Grandpa and Nana for letting us come stay and visit you!

Next – on to The Island!

We’re now back from our vacation, but I wanted to tell you all about it.

We started by driving all the way to Los Angeles.  Our first stop was Ghiradelli’s for ice cream.  That made all the driving worth it – at least that’s what Mommy said!

We had some fun climbing on the rocks and looking for otters amongst the kelp.  We found a crab claw and a starfish!

After all that excitement, I retired to our room to relax with the rock garden.

The next day we drove through Big Sur and stopped at this very functional bridge.  There was a waterfall there, too.

With all the driving we were doing, I got very good at sleeping in the van.

Later we were at the pier in Santa Barbara.  They had some very neat flags – and more ice cream!

The next morning, I got to carry our “officially sanctioned” breakfast down to the lobby for breakfast.  I think M&D wanted me to eat something good after all that ice cream!

Next… on to Ma and Pa’s!

Today, M&D took me fishing at a local fishin’ hole.  They had a dock and everything.

I started by practicing with the net.  I got me!

Then Daddy got our hook in the water and I did some reeling.

After a while, I left the fishing to Daddy and I just did the netting.  Here we are, catching our 4th fish!

We’re planning to have fish for dinner tonight.  Anybody know how to cook trout?  Anyone?

Ed. Note: Thanks Jim for the loan of the pole and tackle!

Last week it was Jack and Elliott’s birthday party.  They’re only just turning 3, so they needed all the help they could get eating that cake and ice cream.  I was happy to help!  Yum!

The big work party day finally arrived.  I couldn’t wait!

I wore my safety vest and hard hat, and brought my shovel and wheelbarrow.  I was ready!

Today we were going to move the sand out of the far yard playground, and put in some new wood chips!

We started digging!

And barrowing.  Luckily, some friends came to help, so it was fun while we were working!

Check out my dumping technique!

Sometimes you have to stop so your photographer can get that “money shot”.

After we finished moving the sand out, it was time for a break!

Some water and some really yummy cookies really made it all worth it.

And how often do you get to sit on a gigantic pile of sand like this?

After the break was over, it was time to move the chips.  I started by surveying the situation.

Then it was time to get to work filling my wheelbarrow and hauling those ‘chips down to the yard…

Here I go!

And of course, it is good to have help.  We had a lot of work to do!

And here’s the dump!

And here’s the video highlights!

When you’re working hard, it’s hard pay attention to keeping sand out of your shoes.  You can see how hard I was working!

Boy was that a fun day!

It was hot dog day at the air museum, so Mommy took me over, and Daddy even took a “long lunch” so he could come, too.

We looked at lots of airplanes, but the most fun was playing Ex delivery man, and delivering packages from the airplane while Daddy flew the plane.  My friend Elliott helped!

I also got to sit at the controls of this helicopter.  I was a little worried, but the nice man in charge assured me that it would NOT take off.