Madd Max Spends A Last Seattle Day

The next morning, the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.

Followed by an underwhelming stop at the Museum of Pop Culture.

And finally a food tour of Pike Market.  Good times.  (There was even little rain much to Jess' delight and Françoise's dismay).

Madd Max Gives The Seattle Tour

Jess has been to Seattle 4 times in the past year for work, and LOVES it (enough that there has been some heavy hinting at Sam for this as a possible retirement city).

That said, she wanted to show Françoise her favorite spots.  They started by the Fallen Firefighters Memorial (the spot chosen for Station 19) and breakfast in Occidental Square.

Pioneer Square District.

Down by the Pier.

After grabbing a CityPass that offered 5 different attractions - they headed onto the first - a cruise around the harbor.

Followed by a stop at the aquarium, where they watched an octopus feeding and it was amazing.

Top of the Space Needle.

That's high!

Madd Max Heads To Seattle

To meet up with Françoise who had a conference in the area.

The Scrapper Goes To Orchestra Practice

The beginning of year two, and his teacher is quite pleased at his progress.

Slappy Heads To Hurricane Harbor

A gift from Tante for her birthday.

She got to choose who to bring, and she chose her besties, Elizabeth and Ellie.

Madd Max Has A Dinner

With friends.

Who have interesting eating habits.

Madd Max Makes The Walk Home

The morning started with prep for Maddie's Marie Curie presentation.

And ended with the first walk home from school all by themselves.

Madd Max Is Chillin

Just two dudes, hanging on the couch.

Madd Max Walks Partially Home

Jess has been thinking for awhile that the kids are old enough to walk the three-and-a-half blocks home by themselves.  Max was all in.  Maddie was more trepidatious, so a deal was made.  Jess would meet the kids one-and-a-half blocks up the alley so when they turned the corner, they would see her.  They were quite pleased by the entire thing.

Slappy Has A Girl Scout Meeting

In the park.  Where they're all getting so big.

Slappy Likes A Long Straw

This brought great joy during dinner.

Madd Max Celebrates The Start Of Steeler Season

With a Steelers brunch at the Leonhardts.

Madd Max Has A Day In Orange

Which began with breakfast.

Eventhough it was a Boy Scouts Family Camp, Maddie had three of her Girl Scouts there, who had also come with their families.

A mining expedition offered by the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center.

Panning for gold.

Cracking geodes.

Geode.

Mining for coal.

Followed by a swim in the solar panel heated pool, where there was even a water slide.

And some Apples to Apples.

Madd Max Goes Camping

Sam had to arrive later due to work, but this time, Jess and the kids got the tent up all by themselves.

Maddie was Jess' powerhouse for most of the set up.

Tent up just in time for sunset.

Beautiful.

Slappy Begins Piano Lessons

And is super excited about it.

Madd Max Starts A New Endeavor

This 2000 piece puzzle.

Perhaps we are in a little over our heads.

Madd Max Has A Blast From The Past

 When Rodney sent pictures from Laura and his wedding.

Jess is on the right.

 Tio Greg with Uncle Ant in the background on the left.

 Dozee.

Madd Max Continues The Cold War

Closer, but not happy about it.

Slappy Has A Reading Spot

It's quite cozy.

Madd Max Has Some Huntington Beach Pool Time

 Water slides.

And a swim.

Madd Max Continues The Staycation

Hot tubbing with Jess.

 S'mores by the pool.

 Movies in the hotel room.

Madd Max Heads To Huntington Beach

 For a mini-staycation as you can see by the bed jumping.

 Beach time.

 Which involved a lot of this.

 And this.

And this.