Thursday, September 30, 2010
Willawong Station
If you ask Jammy, this was the best part of the best day on the boys' trip to Seattle. Willawong Station is an exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo where you can feed friendly little birds.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Climbing Lenin
Jammy and Macho posed for a picture with Lenin because Mom wanted them to. This bronze monstrosity was born in Slovakia in the 1970s.Jammy and Macho have a pApa who was also born in Slovakia in the 1970s!
The boys didn't care much about that, but they were much more interested in trying to find a way to climb high enough to touch Lenin's bum.
To learn why this statue is in Fremont, WA, click here.
Exploring Seattle - Ballard Locks
Mom wanted to take the boys to see the Ballard Locks (aka Hiram M. Chittenden Locks) in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Jammy wasn't sure that he wanted to see locks, but he changed his mind when he got there.
The locks work like elevators, making it possible for boats to travel back and forth between freshwater lakes 20 feet above sea level and the salty Puget Sound below.
The first thing that happened when Jammy and Macho arrived at the locks was that a big, fat squirrel greeted the boys at the gate. Macho gave it a piece of muffin.
Next the boys found a trail of fish medallions embedded in the path. Mom told them it would lead to the fish ladder, but they reached the locks first.
There were no boats in the locks when Jammy and Macho first got there, but after a couple of minutes a little boat came in from the Puget Sound. The captain of the boat tied it to the wall with a rope, the gate closed behind it, and the water level rose to lift the boat up. When the water inside the lock was level with the lake, the gate opened on the freshwater side, and the boat glided into the lake.
Jammy had to admit this was cool!
After they watched the boats for a little while, Jammy and Macho followed the fish medallion trail to its end at the salmon ladder. This particular fish ladder is unique because it is a pathway between salt and fresh water. It has an indoor viewing area where the boys could see fish making their way across. They also read educational signs and looked at the development of salmon eggs.
On top of the fish ladder observation area is a sculpture called Salmon Waves. Jammy and Macho thought it was cool, but it's supposed to be even cooler after dark.
All too soon it was time to go. Jammy and Macho had a wonderful time at the locks, but the most special part was that they got to explore them with their Greatest of Grannies.
There is no charge to visit the locks, but the parking lot fee must be paid in advance. The boys' tour took them about an hour, and they could have easily spent another hour looking around. The grounds have several more things to see, including a visitor center with a gift shop and the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden.
(Thank you DeliciousBaby.com for the outing idea! Jammy & Macho also approved of Debbie's Ballard recommendation of Clover.)
The locks work like elevators, making it possible for boats to travel back and forth between freshwater lakes 20 feet above sea level and the salty Puget Sound below.
The first thing that happened when Jammy and Macho arrived at the locks was that a big, fat squirrel greeted the boys at the gate. Macho gave it a piece of muffin.
Next the boys found a trail of fish medallions embedded in the path. Mom told them it would lead to the fish ladder, but they reached the locks first.
There were no boats in the locks when Jammy and Macho first got there, but after a couple of minutes a little boat came in from the Puget Sound. The captain of the boat tied it to the wall with a rope, the gate closed behind it, and the water level rose to lift the boat up. When the water inside the lock was level with the lake, the gate opened on the freshwater side, and the boat glided into the lake.Jammy had to admit this was cool!
The boys stayed to watch a few more boats go through. They saw a boat with a dog, a tugboat, and a sheriff's boat.
After they watched the boats for a little while, Jammy and Macho followed the fish medallion trail to its end at the salmon ladder. This particular fish ladder is unique because it is a pathway between salt and fresh water. It has an indoor viewing area where the boys could see fish making their way across. They also read educational signs and looked at the development of salmon eggs.
On top of the fish ladder observation area is a sculpture called Salmon Waves. Jammy and Macho thought it was cool, but it's supposed to be even cooler after dark. All too soon it was time to go. Jammy and Macho had a wonderful time at the locks, but the most special part was that they got to explore them with their Greatest of Grannies.
There is no charge to visit the locks, but the parking lot fee must be paid in advance. The boys' tour took them about an hour, and they could have easily spent another hour looking around. The grounds have several more things to see, including a visitor center with a gift shop and the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Garden.
(Thank you DeliciousBaby.com for the outing idea! Jammy & Macho also approved of Debbie's Ballard recommendation of Clover.)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Exploring Seattle - Space Needle
Since he was three years old (3 years ago), Jammy has wanted to visit the Space Needle. He has been fascinated with it. He draws pictures of it, and talks about it anytime someone mentions the city (that and Chuck E. Cheese).
From the time someone told him that there is a restaurant inside, he has fantasized about eating there. A few months ago, someone else told him that if you set your keys on the windowsill when you are eating at the restaurant, by the time you are ready to leave, your keys will have rotated away from you. He mentions the key story now at least once a week.
Mom promised Jammy that the next time they were in Seattle, Jammy and Macho could go up to the top of the Space Needle, and today that is just what they did.
Jammy was the navigator and used Mom's iPhone map to give Mom driving directions to the Space Needle from Gramma's house. Then, once Mom found the most expensive parking spot possible, Jammy switched the map from driving to walking directions, and got everyone to the destination safely.
The Seattle Center parking lot is expensive, $9 for 0-2 hours, so if someone doesn't mind walking a block or two, they can find a better deal.
Jammy and Macho are going to be seeing a lot of things in Seattle this week, so Mom bought Jammy a CityPass for $39 at the Space Needle ticket booth. Macho is only 3, so he still usually gets into places FREE!
The elevator ride was cool, but the observation deck was better!
Macho was a little bit disappointed that he couldn't see over the safety wall, but Mom solved that problem by boosting him up so that he could see. Macho's favorite sight was a news helicopter landing on the top of a building below.
After they looked around for awhile, Jammy started to get hungry. He could smell hot dogs, and it was lunch time. Mom didn't think that the boys were ready for the fancy Sky City restaurant after their long day of travel yesterday, so instead they headed inside to the O-Deck snack bar. The boys each had a Kobe beef hot dog ($5). Yum! The snack bar also sells chili, bottled drinks, chips, candy, coffee, and more.
From the time someone told him that there is a restaurant inside, he has fantasized about eating there. A few months ago, someone else told him that if you set your keys on the windowsill when you are eating at the restaurant, by the time you are ready to leave, your keys will have rotated away from you. He mentions the key story now at least once a week.
Mom promised Jammy that the next time they were in Seattle, Jammy and Macho could go up to the top of the Space Needle, and today that is just what they did.
The Seattle Center parking lot is expensive, $9 for 0-2 hours, so if someone doesn't mind walking a block or two, they can find a better deal.
Jammy and Macho are going to be seeing a lot of things in Seattle this week, so Mom bought Jammy a CityPass for $39 at the Space Needle ticket booth. Macho is only 3, so he still usually gets into places FREE!
The elevator ride was cool, but the observation deck was better!
 |
| Going up in the Space Needle elevator |
 |
| Jammy could hardly believe the boys' good luck that they didn't need quarters to operate the binoculars and telescopes! |
Macho was a little bit disappointed that he couldn't see over the safety wall, but Mom solved that problem by boosting him up so that he could see. Macho's favorite sight was a news helicopter landing on the top of a building below.
After they looked around for awhile, Jammy started to get hungry. He could smell hot dogs, and it was lunch time. Mom didn't think that the boys were ready for the fancy Sky City restaurant after their long day of travel yesterday, so instead they headed inside to the O-Deck snack bar. The boys each had a Kobe beef hot dog ($5). Yum! The snack bar also sells chili, bottled drinks, chips, candy, coffee, and more.In 2000, the Space Needle was "revitalized." The observation level is now much nicer than it was when Mom was a kid. In addition to the amazing views, it offers many other ways to explore in Seattle, from remote control cameras to interactive maps. It is a great place for people to go if they want to learn about Seattle and find things to do around town.
After a little more than an hour at the Space Needle, Jammy and Macho started running laps around the observation deck, so Mom decided it was time to go.
Like a ride at Disneyland, the elevator dropped them off right in the middle of a huge gift shop!
Jammy picked out a little robot magnet that he couldn't live without, but he'll have to come back to the store another day because they couldn't wait long enough to pay. Jammy and Macho had to hurry back to the car because they only had 0-2 hours prepaid at the parking lot!
Goodbye, new and improved Space Needle! It was nice to meet you. We'll see you around!
Like a ride at Disneyland, the elevator dropped them off right in the middle of a huge gift shop!
Jammy picked out a little robot magnet that he couldn't live without, but he'll have to come back to the store another day because they couldn't wait long enough to pay. Jammy and Macho had to hurry back to the car because they only had 0-2 hours prepaid at the parking lot!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Jammy says . . .
Jammy was more than pleased with the deep red, Dodge Charger that Mom rented to drive around in Seattle.
. . . as he rode away from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, he exclaimed, "We have a sexy, hot-rod!"
. . . as he rode away from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, he exclaimed, "We have a sexy, hot-rod!"
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Bugs in the Sandbox
This morning Macho went out to his sandbox and just sat there. Mom asked him if something was wrong. "No, I'm watching this bug get this caterpillar." When Mom came to see what was happening, she found a wasp dragging an immobilized caterpilar into a tiny cave in the side of a hill of sand.
After the wasp had pulled the fat caterpilar into the hole, it came back out and starting digging, doggy-style, throwing sand back into the hole. The wasp stopped every few seconds to go back into the hole to pack down the dirt. After a minute or two the hole was completely filled in, and the sand was smooth once more.
Macho went back to digging in the sand with his trucks, while Mom started wondering how many more wasp-holes filled with caterpilars are out there.
After the wasp had pulled the fat caterpilar into the hole, it came back out and starting digging, doggy-style, throwing sand back into the hole. The wasp stopped every few seconds to go back into the hole to pack down the dirt. After a minute or two the hole was completely filled in, and the sand was smooth once more.
Macho went back to digging in the sand with his trucks, while Mom started wondering how many more wasp-holes filled with caterpilars are out there.
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