School's Out For Summer!!!

School got out just over a week ago, and we've been playing and working and been getting in the summer groove. Here's Carson, home from his last day of kindergarten. He very proudly announced that he's now a first grader!





Our first summer outing was to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. We had great weather and carpooled in the new minivan. Two moms and four kids in total. Lots of animals to see, including the new penguin exhibit, and a roaming peacock. It was a great day.

Yesterday, we joined some of Carson's local cousins, and went down to Seattle Center and the Pacific Science Center. There were lots of cool exhibits at the Science Center, including Grossology, life-like dinosaurs, and a room full of butterflies. It is a such great place for kids and adults.

Carson has been afraid to ride carnival rides since he was about 2 or 3. But, at the Science Center, they had a virtual roller coaster ride. It was a capsule on hydraulic pistons that held about a dozen people. Once you are seated inside, you look at a small movie screen of the ride, and feel the capsule move and jolt; very much like the real deal. We coaxed Carson to give it a try. And after some hesitation and waffling back and forth, he sat between mom and dad. About 30 seconds into the ride, he was hooked!

After leaving the Pacific Science Center, we hit the carnival rides at the foot of the Space Needle. Carson finally had the nerves to ride the little roller coaster there. He ended up riding it about 5 or 6 times.

As well as riding the roller coaster, Carson rode almost every ride there was. Mom and dad even rode a few. Then we went over to the midway area, where Carson stunned us with his dart throwing prowess. He came home with six stuffed animals and several inflatable items. It was a great day of family fun.