Adam’s post:  Yesterday, Rita took the day off of work (Randy couldn’t get out of meetings) to guide us around the town.

Isabella woke up feeling sick (sore throat, no energy) and we were worried that she might be getting that from which I am just now recovering. We decided to leave her to rest in the hotel room (with TV, cell phone, iPad, books, etc) while the rest of us walked down to Pike’s Place Market to do some touristy things.

Rita texting her daughter, Angela, to coordinate lunch plans.

Josie at the Market, finding a friend.

We had to make another stop at the original Starbucks location.

Holden learning the secrets of the Swami.

Seattle still has all of the hills that you remember…

Bella’s health improved enough in the afternoon to join us for lunch and all subsequent events. She did NOT like being left out of the fun.

For lunch, we drove up to Capitol Hill to a restaurant that Rita’s family knows and enjoys. There we met up with Angela (Rita’s daughter), her husband Rob and Angela’s two children (Hugh @ 17yrs and Ellie at 14 months).

After lunch, Angela and Ellie agreed to accompany us to the Seattle Science Center – Angela even had free passes to sweeten the deal.

The kids took a little convincing to get them excited about visiting a “Science Museum”, but once we got it, they scattered to the four corners of the building and had a blast.

At the Science Center – this is a game that the kids couldn’t get enough of; Mindball. The machine measures brain waves and rewards those who can “relax” (more alpha brain waves) than their opponent.  Like the opposite of tug-o-war, the little ball in the center moves toward the opponent who isn’t relaxing enough.  As you can see, Josie has achieved the highest level of Buddhist meditation to beat her sister.

Isabella holding Ellie, and Angela.

After the Science Center, we returned to the hotel to rest a bit.  A couple of days ago, I had made dinner reservations for all 7 of us (Randy is now back home after work) at the Space Needle.

Dessert – the Chocolate Lunar Orbiter.

Josie on the observation deck – not tall enough to actually get the telescope to point “down” toward the skyline.

Gorgeous weather in Seattle on a Friday – sunny and 85 degrees.
Today, Rita and Randy exchanged roles – Randy took the day off while Rita went back to work.

We started the day off right at Portage Bay Restaurant near Lake Union. Isabella couldn’t resist just ordering from the fruit bar – all you can eat by loading up the plate.

Walking around Lake Union.  Randy took me to his favorite camera shop in the area so that we could lust after the newest models behind the glass.  We left our credit cards in the car so that neither of us could be tempted to radically diminish our net worth.

We drove south to Boeing Field to tour the air museum, but it was so crowded with people there that we couldn’t even find a place to park. As such, we decided we would all have more fun just wandering around downtown Seattle – all within walking distance of Rita and Randy’s condo. We made a special visit to the Filson flagship store – where I purchased a hat to be used this winter.

Quick break downtown for cold chocolate milks.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the pool – at R&R’s condo.  Randy, Brenda and I celebrated Wine Time by the pool.

For dinner, the entire gang showed up.  Rita and Rob (Angela’s husband) came in from work.  Angela came with kids Hugh and Ellie.  It was dinner for 11 at one of R&R’s favorite spots.