Spring Pictures

Jenny Fairbanks took Spring pictures of our children.  With various conflicts with vacations, we finally got the pictures back. Here are some samples.  These pictures were taken in our neighborhood late May-absolutely gorgeous walking path.  We quickly learned, however, that Jack is severely allergic to these "weeds!"  His allergies broke out in full swing within minutes that Darrin had to rush him home for a bath and multiple doses of medicine.  The pictures with him below were taken the next day.  (Yes, Jenny was kind enough to retake pictures of Jack the next day.  So those are his semi swollen eyes after multiple and heavy doses of Clariton and Zyrtec 16 hours later-poor kid!)

Alki Beach-Seattle

We're coming to our last couple of days with Kate.  We have been wanting to take her to Alki Beach.  Alki Beach is West Seattle off Elliott Bay.  It's one of the closest things to a normal pacific coast beach for us with rolling waves, salt water, and real soft sand.  We were a little concerned this morning when the fog rolled, bringing it cold and damp weather.  But fortunately, by 10:30am the warm sunshine burst through!  So we took adventage of it and headed to Alki Beach.  The kids played, got wet, searched for sea glass (mom's favorite), dug holes, got sandy, got more wet, collected more sand... It was a really good day, a much needed incredible day, in fact.

The tide was really low when we first arrived.  But within a couple of hours, the waves rolled in, covering most low beach.  Still left plenty of room to run, splash, and play for the kids.

It wouldn't be a Seattle day without watching the ferries go back and forth.

Happy 38th to My Handsome Hubby...

 One of our family's favorite Seattle Parks is Gas Works Park-view above. 

This 20 acre point on Lake Union was cleared in 1906 to construct a plant to manufacture gas from coal - later converted to crude oil. Import of natural gas in the 1950's made the plant obsolete. The city acquired the site for a park in 1962. The park was opened to the public in 1975. The boiler house has been converted to a picnic shelter with tables, fire grills and an open area. The former exhauster-compressor building, now a children's play barn, features a maze of brightly painted machinery.  Our kids especially love running to the top of kite hill.  It has some of the most gorgeous views of Seattle.

On Darrin's 38th, with lots of encouragement, he climbed up the mill pipe and actually touched the top.  He just beat a bunch of college students who couldn't make it all the way.  You Go Honey!!

The Allred Family

Sunday, July 29, 2012