West Seattle

Today we headed out to Costco just to get out of the house. Dave wanted to pick up a few items so we got the boys in the car and went. One of the gifts that the boys got was a "reader". A certain book is put into this device and it will read the book to the child. It was easy for Riley to figure out to work. It came with 4 books and I picked up 3 Mickey Mouse stories today. Later Kari and the boys watched some TV, and then they met up with her boyfriend James. He has a boy that is Riley's age so they all played together. Brady didn't get a nap at all so he will be going down tonight early.

Today is also my dad and stepmom's anniversary. My dad passed in 1999. If he was alive it would have been 34 years today. She really misses him. I really miss him too. He contracted MS when he was in his 30's and was in a wheelchair for half of his life. But it wasn't MS that he died from, it was prostrate cancer. Because of he was weak because of MS the doctors couldn't really take the steps with him as the would otherwise. The cancer grew. He died at home August 12th. He and Eva was married even though he was in a wheelchair. In fact, the met when he was in the hospital. She was a nurse working there. The had a very special relationship and I am not sure that she will ever get over his passing. I hope she does if she finds someone just as special and will treat her as well as my dad did. But in the meantime, she has many friends and family that keeps her busy.

You know, 34 years pass really quickly. I was 18 at the time they married and I remember that night like it was yesterday. I was a member of the wedding party and I was sick with a fever. I was really sad that I couldn't enjoy the reception as I wanted but I went home to bed. Although I remember every event since, in reference it is a very short time. It causes me to once again to not take time for granted or those around me.

Today Dave and I also took a drive to West Seattle and Alki beach. You might remember Alki beach in "Sleepless in Seattle". Do you remember the scenes where Megan Ryan is following Tom Hanks and his son in a row boat? She stops the car and watches them while they play on a beach. Well, that is Alki beach. It was where Seattle was founded. Al-ki with the "i" saying it's long sound or it's name.
From West Seattle one can look over the water back at Seattle. Here are two pictures that show today's Seattle skyline. You can see the Space Needle in the second picture. Seattle is the Emerald City but in these pictures it looks like the Golden City. The sun was shining right on the face of the buildings. So between the sun and the cellphone camera, it isn't all that clear.



This is a picture from Alki beach looking out to Blake Island. You will see a small Statue of Liberty which is loved by the community. It was just fixed after vandals messed with it. They cut off her arm. The community is looking to put something around it so that no one can destroy it again. These pictures are from my cellphone's camera so I hope you can see it ok.


Here are some more pictures of Christmas. This is Butchie again.

This is the dining room...

Here is Steve doing dishes...

and finally a picture of a picture of Jason and Todd (who were not present)...

With that, I will say goodnight...