Fremont Troll and Gas Works Park

On Saturday, the 24th, it wasn't raining so we headed out to mark some more things off our "Seattle Bucket List". We figure we need to do the things in the city while we live so close to it in case we move further out sometime sooner or later. Because, really, who wants to fight Seattle traffic to see a troll or go to a park?

Wes actually learned about the Fremont Troll at preschool (and even that it's off Aurora) so we figured we take him to see it.

Sydney was mildly concerned about the troll, but we assured her that it was just a statue.

Brian had to get his picture with the random Lenin statue in Seattle since he served his mission in Russia.

Here's a bit of info about the statue in case you're interested. Good luck reading that! (I'm sure you can Google it if you're really interested in what it says.)

We then went to the park. Brian was super excited to park in this giant, luxury parking spot (which was not a handicap spot, despite what you may think) so I told him he should take a picture. He did. :)

The kids had a fantastic time running around Gas Works Park.

The park has a beautiful view. The water and the city in the background is nice, too. Haha. :)

Wes had a great time chasing the soccer ball down the hill and attempting to kick it back up the hill.

Sydney ran around collecting flowers.

Wes got tired a took a little break.

Then, he did some more running!

We stopped playing for a bit to have some lunch by the water. (It was not St. Patrick's Day, but both of the kids wanted to wear their shirts again.

Boats, sea planes, water, the Space Needle and sandwiches...happy family!

In true Hanks fashion: look at that plane!

Brian showed off his manly muscles by climbing up the pole.

Sydney apparently didn't completely trust that her dad's big muscles would be able to catch her so she never did jump down.

As if to prove her wrong, Brian ascended the pole yet again, but with a different strategy.

After seeing her dad climb the pole and some teenage girls make an attempt, Sydney was convinced she should give it a shot. Luckily, she had some help.

The kids paused for a minute to pose for a picture before continuing on their way.

A family snapshot with our beautiful city in the background!

The Underground Tour

On the 20th, Brian and I went on a quick evening date to do Seattle's Underground Tour. Brian was the cameraman on this outing, so all of the pictures are of me!

Waiting for the tour to continue by one of Seattle's many totem poles.

This is Pioneer Square in Seattle where they began rebuilding the city of Seattle above the old city of Seattle.

Underground Seattle...which technically is the level Seattle was at originally. The founders just raised the level of the ground by building streets and sidewalks above where I'm standing.

If you've taken the tour, you know about Seattle's "One-Step Program" for the drunks. Essentially, when they first started moving Seattle's streets up a story, they left the sidewalks at ground level so you'd have to climb up and down a ladder to get to/from the street (sounds unreal, right??). However, if you were drunk and stepped off the street onto the "curb" you'd fall a full story (or more) to your death. I think the tour guide said 11 people died this way.