Seattle Sights, page 2

This is second page of the layout!  There were even photos of Roy and me!  I love how the kids just ham it up for the camera!  The upper photo was taken at a little coffe house near Pike's Market Place.  I had a glass of wine there!  Much better than the typical coffee house.  I love the overcast sky and the little drops of rain we felt.  I remember seeing a wedding party coming to the park as we were leaving.  I believe they had matching umbrellas.  How clever!

Seattle Sights

The Kids!

After visiting the troll, we headed on over to Gasworks Park!  What a beautiful view of downtown and the water.  I'm thinking that we need to take an extended vacation and visit more of Seattle and the surrounding areas.  Everywhere we went, we experienced great food, drinks and scenery.  By the way, Heather didn't get her drink at Gasworks; after this photo shoot, we went to Duke's Chowder on the other side of Seattle.  Thanks again to Brandon and Amanda for showing us some great places!

Here's the Fremont Troll!!!

The Fremont Troll!

Look at the size of the Troll!  Heather is always such a out of the box thinker/doer, she chose to climb it to pose for the pictures.  I don't think you can read the quote on the tag; it says "Everything you can imagine is real. -Pablo Picasso".  Some very clever people imagined what the troll under the bridge looked like and now we all have the opportunity to share in their creation.

Quite a few people were there to visit and have their photo op.  Thanks Brandon and Amanda for taking us to this unique spot!  After this visit, we headed on over to another Seattle site!

Fremont Troll / Seattle

When we were up in Seattle this past October, we were fortunate to spend some time with our niece Amanda and her husband, Brandon.  They showed us a few sites we have never seen before on our previous visits.  Brandon asked if we wanted to see the troll under the bridge and we said "why not"?  So, here we have the bridge and I had to take a picture of the plaque describing the "troll".  I thought the photos looked great in black/white.  This page design and the one you will be seeing later are from the "Wings" Workshop on the  Go from Close To My Heart. 

Isabel and Roy Have the Aloha Spirit!

Isabel and Papa!

Isabel and Roy, he's such a good sport, had their own photo op at Tiki Jim's while we were hanging out at Broadway on the Beach.  We had such a good laugh while they were "posing".  They became full of the Aloha Spirit as soon as they stuck their heads into the cutouts!   I know we are looking forward to our summer vacation and heading back to Hawaii with the family this coming July!  Aloha!!!!

Feeding the Ugly Fish!

Papa and Isabel

In the lake at Broadway at the Beach are living the ugliest fish I have ever seen!  And they are even more ugly when you are feeding them!  For a quarter you get a handful of fish food and boy do they come swimming over so fast!  Even the ducks were getting into the picture.  I couldn't get over how large their mouths were!  Don't these things ever eat?  But, Isabel sure did enjoy feeding the ugly fish. 

Isabel and the Grands

Isabel and the "Grands"

Like I said earlier, there were so many restaurants at Broadway at the Beach.  We didn't eat at Margaritaville but it proved to be a nice backdrop for a photo.  Roy and Isabel are standing in front of a water wall (ha), that is why you can see her holding her arm...she was getting wet.  I enjoy being out and about with the family.  This was a nice road trip from Brenna's.

Having Fun on the Boardwalk

Just a few shots of the kids and Roy on the Boardwalk.  I love the photo of them walking "away" from me; I think I will have that one printed in black & white.  Did I tell you that there is a man-made lake there?  You can rent paddle boats and feed the fish (wait until you see the photos I have of that....) Having a playground on the premises is such a great idea!  The little ones can play (with one grown-up watching them) and the others can shop! 

Broadway at the Beach!!

This was  a great place to spend some time.  Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach!  It's outdoors and the weather was perfect!  Lots of shopping, places to eat and rides for the children.  I will be posting other pages later with more of our Broadway fun!

Farmville in North Carolina!!!

Farmville, North Carolina

How many of you knew there was a "real" Farmville?  There is and it is in North Carolina!  Brenna took us on a little day trip to see it.  It's about a couple of hours from her home.  A nice drive through the country.  We just had to stand in front of the city limit sign for all of our friends who play Farmville!  It's a nice little town, I think there downtown area was more active then Upland!  They even had a Mexican restaurant downtown. 

Birthday Presents!

He really wanted it!

I wish you could have seen the look on his face when everyone was singing Happy Birthday to him.  It is on an earlier page I did, he's standing next to Brenna.  Rudy was so happy!  And when he was opening his presents, he was overwhelmed in a quiet way!  Here he is just wanting to open this gift (a car wash!)  He played with it as soon as we were back at his home.  He handled all of the commotion just great!  I think Isabel was just as excited as he was!  She enjoyed his gifts too!

Wild Thing

Little Rudy having fun at his party!

What a great place this was for a birthday party.  Look at Little Rudy's hair, it started out with his "normal" hairdo and by the end of the party, it was standing up.  All that running around and sweating makes for great gel!  He is our own "Little Wild Thing" and if you can't be wild at your own birthday party; where can you be wild?

Little Rudy's Birthday!

Toy Story Party!

One of the reason's we went to North Carolina in October, was to celebrate Little Rudy's 3rd Birthday!  I have been fortunate enough to celebrate each of his special days with him!  From his birth to his 3rd!  And this year, Roy was able to be there too!  Brenna had his party at a very fun place for the kiddos!  Lots of jumping "things", they even let the parents jump with them.  Isn't his cake just special!  Rudy loves the Toy Story characters and the cake included his favorites!  Happy Birthday Little Rudy!  You are so loved and so special to all who know you!

Let's Make a Pizza

Little Pizza Maker

This was a clever display at the museum; learning fractions while you're making pizza!  Isabel had a great time pretending to make pizzas for all of us.  I love how she poses; what a little ham!  Overall, we had a great time at the Children's Museum.  So many different and fun things to see and do. 
Roy and I were glad to be able to share this activity with our grandbabies.....we cherish our time with them very much!

Roy, Diane, Isabel and Rudy at the Museum

Just a few photos of me and Roy hanging out the Isabel and Rudy at the museum.  We were kept quite busy during our visit there but enjoyed every minute of it.  We sure do miss the Ramos Family and we are looking forward to our next visit.  I think the next time, we will most likely visit the Childrens/ Museum in Wilmington.  It's just a tad bit closer to their home.

Playing With Trains

What little boy doesn't love trains? And at the Children's Museum they were able to play to their heart's delight! I wish he had the space in his bedroom for a train table. We sent him a wooden train set but it would be great to have it set up all of the time. The layout I did here and the one before were a challenge I took on from the Creative Keepsake website. Using three 4x6 photos and what you have at home in your supplies......these two layouts were completed in less than an hour.

Inspired Play at the Childrens Museum

Here is Little Rudy riding on the Magic School Bus. It was a half-size bus and it gave the children the feeling they were riding on a real bus! You even had a ticket and could pretend that you were the driver and were taking everyone on a magical trip! I wonder where he was taking us!

Busy Boy at the Childrens' Museum

Here is my very busy boy, Rudy, having a fantastic time exploring at the Childrens' Museum. So many activities that kept him so busy and the grown-ups tired from following Rudy and Isabel around. I'm glad that Brenna exposes her children to these types of outings. These day trips are the best for every family!

Let's Sail Away!

Brenna and Rudy are getting ready to sail away from the Children's Museum to lands unknown! There was even a lifeboat on this replica with life jackets included. This was quite a popular attraction in the museum. I think this would fit in Brenna's backyard. I think I will mention that she should put one back there!

Blowing Bubbles

Blowing bubbles was another "station" that Isabel visited before she moved on to the giant bubble! It is so amazing to see how much children enjoy the simple things like blowing bubbles, watching pinwheels spin in the wind and using their imaginations.

Bubble Girl

This was a very cool activity that you could do at home! A little tub, soapy water and a hula hoop and you can become a Bubble Girl or Boy! Isabel had fun just making sure the bubble surrounded her. It did take a couple of tries because the bubbles weren't cooperating. A simple activity that can provide quite a bit of fun!

Look at Isabel!

Here is Isabel at the Children's Museum. The mural was painted on a wall outside of the museum. She and I were waiting for the others to meet us there so that we could head on to our next adventure. You can see in her hand that she is holding the pinwheel we bought; she loved watching it spin! While we were in the museum, she was also quite busy with her activities. Here is Papa seeing how tall his baby girl is! And what a big girl she has become!

So Many Things to Do at the Museum

There was literally so much for the children to do at the museum. Here is Little Rudy playing with the largest Light Brite I have ever seen! He also had a blast trying out the "just my size" dental chair and the car was actually half of a VW Bug / stick shift! I just kept following him all around with my camera. This is when I decided I need a camera that takes multiple shots in less than 15-seconds! Is there one like that?

Exploring the Museum

Rudy loved exploring at the museum. You had to keep moving just to keep up with him! He loved all the freedom to touch and explore. Truly another great experience for Rudy and Papa! I'm glad that Roy was there too because there would be no way I could have been taking the photos and then following our grandchildren.

Fun at the Children's Musuem of South Carolina

What a fun time everyone had at the Children's Museum in Myrtle Beach! Quite a few things to see and touch! Even a dinosaur lesson for Isabel! I will be sharing more layouts showing the little ones enjoying their experience. The size of the museum made it easy for all the children to have fun. There weren't long lines or pushy parents there! If you find yourself in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with young children, head on over to CMSC and watch them discover fun!

North Carolina Cotton Fields

These cotton fields were just around the corner from Brenna's home. I took these photos while we were driving past them. It was a grand sight. The fields were huge and I think the cotton was ready for picking. It sure is a different landscape for the Ramos Family! I'm sure they are glad that the ocean is not that far from them too.

Dinner With the Ramos' Family

One of our evening meals found us at the local Mexican restaurant. It really isn't that far from Brenna and Rudy's home! So, here we are eating the usual Mexican fare and what does Isabel eat? That's right....macaroni and cheese! Though she did enjoy the churro. Look at the picture of Brenna and Rudy; doesn't it look like she either is wearing large hair rollers but it was just a "lucky" shot! Sometimes, I am pretty clever! It was a great evening and actually not bad Mexican food for North Carolina!

Myrtle Beach Moments

Isabel found that the boardwalk was the best place to go for a walk with her pinwheel! The wind was blowing and the pinwheel was spinning frantically! It was a pleasure to see her enjoying such a simple thing with a simple toy! These are the moments I live for and enjoy; spending time with my grandchildren is the best thing in the entire world! Looking forward to summer 2011 with all three of them!

The Boardwalk at Myrtle Beach

October 2010, we were so lucky to be visiting our family in North Carolina! We took a trip down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and spent a few days there. Here we are on the boardwalk! Brenna, Little Rudy, Isabel and me! I love how the beaches look on the East Coast; the grass growing through the sand. There was a restaurant on the boardwalk that was offering a great deal on Long Island Ice Teas! I suggested that they leave me there and pick me up later! But, we headed on to other shopping adventures this day! I think going to the Carolinas in October is the best! The weather was perfect.

Happiness is a Maui Sunset

A beautiful Maui sunset is something that should be shared with everyone! Here are two different views. One from the beach and the other on the deck of the catamaran. They are simply breathtaking! I look forward to visiting Maui again and experiencing more Maui sunsets with family, friends and Mai Tais! Aloha!

Maui Swap Meet

The best unexpected find during our stay on Maui was the Maui Swap Meet! The flowers, fruits and vegetables were out of this world! The prices were outstanding also! On Fridays, at the resort, local vendors come and set up stands. Prices were what I expected; so you can imagine my feeling of shopping euphoria when I was able to get the shirt I wanted plus two more for the same price as one! So, if you are there on a Saturday, you need to check out the Swap Meet at the Community College.

Resting at the Westin!

After spending time by the pools, soaking up the sun with all the families, it's time to head over to the adult pool! I think the most people that were enjoying the area with us were seven! It's quiet, no one splashing in the pool and as you can see, most of the time it was all ours! A great place to read, sleep and enjoy the warmth of the sun.

Mai Tais at the Pioneer Inn

Roy gives his vote for the best Mai Tais on Maui to the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina! Brenda's LavaFlow was pretty to look at and was tasty too! He loved the cost of the drinks, $3.00, the atmosphere and the history of the place. Of course, these were Happy Hours prices. We did go here a couple of times while we were there. We are thinking of staying there sometime, either before we go to the Westin Ka'anapali or after. The hotel courtyard was pretty cute. This place is across the street from the Banyan Tree and close to the harbor.

Paia Fish Market

This is absolutely one of our most favorite eating spots when we are on Maui! We visit every time we are there! This past summer was even better because we were there for two weeks.....and we visited this great establishment TWICE!! Roy was looking at the photo and commented on how he had something different each time we were there. As for me, I'm sticking with the shrimp and chips! Did you know that the Paia Fish Market was also featured on the Food Network? We only go to the best places!

Best Mai Tai in Maui

Ok, this was just our opinion but the best Mai Tai that we found was at the Hyatt Regency in Kaanapali. There was a very close second but I will share that with you in a later post. Roy said it better be the best one since even at Happy Hour it was $10.00 lol. I really don't remember the cost. We had an enjoyable time while we were there; hula dancers entertained us and the sun was beginning to make its exit. I do believe I will go back there next summer just for one drink! Aloha!

Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach

A must-see on your Road to Hana visit is the black sand beach at Wa'anapanapa. You might even know it as Pa'iloa Beach. It's a park, a nice place to enjoy that lunch you brought from Paia. The sand is really made from lava...it's an amazing sight! I had to take a photo of the "No Nude Bathing" sign, it just gave me a good laugh. I also saw mongoose while we were there. It was a great day for a ride!

Road to Hana Views

Here are just some of the different views while taking the Road to Hana. Most people think of the waterfalls and the curvy turns but these different sites also make up the beauty of the trip! I would love to live in the little valley that we saw from a vantage point. The title of this page is "This is where I BELONG". I love the drive because of the scenery, the serenity and feeling that I am home!

Road to Hana

This is one of my favorite stops while we're driving the road to Hana. It is in the area called Huelo! You can find the best banana bread at a great little food stand. The waves are so amazing; the way they crash against the rocks! It is an area that you wouldn't go swimming, but to sit and enjoy the views and the sound of the ocean are top notch!

Libations at the Cool Cat - Lahaina

Here we are enjoying the Cool Cat's very cool libations! Instead of a MaiTai, I opted for a Margarita and it was pretty tasty! Brenda's drink of choice was always the prettiest wherever we went. Steve is a pretty good vacation photographer, he is not shy about taking a photo! I do appreciate it because I'm in some of the pictures!

Maui's Winery

Here is a view of the building that is the tasting room. It's not very large but serves quite a few people in a day. The other section of the home has photos on the wall sharing the history of the ranch and other family relics. The grounds are vast and so peaceful! You can take a picnic lunch and enjoy the serenity. The road up is windy in a car; just imagine what it was like during the mid 1800's.

Tedeschi Winery

One of our daytrips was to the Tedeschi Winery in the upcountry area of Maui. What a amazing drive, almost like the Road to Hana! Spectacular views and a great history of the Ulupalaku Ranch! If you are a wine aficionado, you must make a visit and try the local wine. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that you enjoy a pineapple wine! If you ever have a chance to try Maui Splash.....please do!

Old Lahaina Courthouse

The Old Lahaina Courthouse is in the same area as the Banyan Tree and we took these pictures on the same day. I always think of the movie "Hawaii" whenever I am there. I can just see Rafe running through the streets looking for Jerusha! I know it didn't take place there but it's what I picture! I just love feeling the history of old Hawaii. One of the things I want to do in California is to visit all of the Historical Landmarks!

Resting Under the Banyan Tree

Just a few shots of the plaque describing the history of the Banyan Tree. While we were walking around enjoying the shade of the tree, I noticed an older couple just sleeping while sitting up! It really made me laugh. They must have been so tired from the heat and walking around Lahaina! Anyway, I couldn't resist and I took their photo and here it will be in my scrapbook! Maybe that will be Roy and I one day...left at the Banyan Tree while the kids and grandkids are off enjoying Lahaina!

Visit to the Banyan Tree

When I think of Lahaina, I think of the the Banyan Tree. It is one of the most amazing trees in the world. It was planted in 1873 and has been maintained throughout the years. It still provides the shade needed during those hot days. In the early evening, you can hear the birds settling down for the night. When you go to Maui, if you miss the Banyan Tree, then you've missed a piece of Maui's history.

Michael's 10th Birthday!

Michael had his 10th birthday party at a place in Chino (no longer there) where kids could run around, go down slides and just become very smelly! LOL! In fact, we had to drive home with the windows open (I do remember that). A great group of his friends were there to help him celebrate. Brenna and Lindsey Russell also attended - I don't have a picture of Michael Russell but I bet he was there!

Michael's Kinder Photo

Michael, kindergarten 1988-1989 at Cabrillo Elementary. His teacher for the first part of the year was Mrs. Sedlack. While looking at his picture, I found myself missing those days! All the hustle and bustle. The years have just flown by and now his daughter is five years old and in kindergarten at Cabrillo Elementary.

Summer Wishes = Maui!

Going to Maui is one of the best summer wishes a person could have. Here is Roy showing us how large the whale carving actually is! I wonder who did the carving? Does anyone know? Thanks to Steve for being such a great vacation photographer....I'm at least in the pictures!

Ma'alaea Harbor

Ma'alaea Harbor was one of the places we visited at for Happy Hour! Had to try the Mai-Tais at the Beach Bum's restaurant and later that week, we tried their BBQ at dinner time. The carving of the whale was an interesting piece of artwork. I like how you can just touch it, stand next to it and enjoy the craftsmanship up close and personal. This is also the spot were quite a few snorkel trips begin their day trips.

More views 'Iao Valley

The history of 'Iao Valley is simply amazing. Just to know that a battle had taken place up here all those years ago, is mind boggling. We need roads to get anywhere and the ancient Hawaiians made their way through the brush, trees, rocks and streams all on foot. The 100-steps to the viewing point was enough to sap the energy out of most people and that isn't even to the actual peak (which is off limits). If the history of the Hawaiian Islands is of interest to you; you must make a visit to the 'Iao Valley.

Melanie's Official Kinder Photo

It seems like it was only yesterday that Melanie was born! And here she is in kindergarten. She is attending Cabrillo Elementary (her Daddy and Aunties went there too) and has a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Larson. I think I will be scrapbooking the kinder photo of my kids. Gives me an idea for an album. Melanie, you are growing up too quickly!