Trip to Seattle

Because my most recent business trip to Seattle fell on my birthday, I decided to take the family with me.  Unfortunately I had to work all three days, but Graham and the kids had a blast venturing around, and I joined them in the evenings.  It made for a great mini "vacation."

"Pillow fight!!!"

Riding the carousel at the Point Defiance Zoo

Hanging out in the cozy hotel bed

The second day at the zoo

Out on the town with Daddy

Enjoying some yummy Seattle ice cream!

The first ever Starbucks location

The famous fish market at Pike's Place

Graham's favorite Seattle site (though we aren't quite Mariners fans yet)

My birthday dinner

The best dam tour ever!

During Mom and Harold's visit back in April, we had the pleasure of getting a full blown tour of Wanapum Dam where my co-worker's (aka "Farmer Nicole") husband, David, works.  

The dam is one of 16(?) along the Columbia River, about an hour east of Ellensburg.  It produces hydro-electricity not only for parts of Washington, but California as well.  For more info, check out the website: http://www.gcpud.org/resources/resEnergy/wanapum.htm.

An outside view of the dam

Hard hats required!

Above is inside the upper section of the dam.  Notice the large crane at the top.  This crane travels along the entire length of the building to transport the equipment in and out.

It just so happened that the day we were there they were replacing one of the turbines.  This is what I called "the space ship", but is really the propeller that was being replaced.

After touring the upper level and getting wobbly knees from looking down into the hole where the turbine fits in, we took an elevator three stories down.  At this level,  we could see where the water came in and was directed into the propellers to maximize speed and flow.  We also saw the massive tubs of hot grease needed to keep the 16 turbines lubricated.  It was unbelievable.  The gauges were uncountable, but are monitored by just one person 24 hours a day.

For the next part of the tour, we continued another three stories down at which point we were 60 feet under water and could look up at the propellers.  Apparently there was one more story below that wasn't accessible to visitors.  

We walked down a long hallway with little stairways and doors as seen below.  We had to wear earplugs to reduce the amount of noise created by the thousands of gallons of water rushing through the turbines behind each little door.  David said we'd be under water in about 10 seconds if any of the doors were opened.  Freaky!

That being said, he proceeded to lead us through the door of the room to the turbine that was in the long process of being replaced.  It was the coldest, darkest, dampest place I had ever been in my life, yet a half a dozen guys carried on their work, not thinking anything of it.

A crane from the outside moves along the top length of the dam to provide this wall, if necessary, to block off any of the turbine rooms.  This picture doesn't do justice, but it's what's holding back the 60 feet of water above us from coming in.  Because it's metal, it doesn't seal completely, allowing just enough water to make us a little nervous.   For perspective, you can barely see the top of David's head (at the bottom of the picture) who is about 6"5'.  Graham says it was like being inside some gigantic Indiana Jones temple. 

Grandma Sara and Hannah enjoying the tour

If you have time, read through the history of the dam and how amazing it was that 1.  someone came up with the idea and design, 2.  the amount of man-power it took to build it and 3.  just how incredibly HUGE it is.  It's hard to impress me, but boy, was I impressed!  I have such a new respect for engineers and all those folks who work "down below" to keep this place running.

And thanks, David, for taking the time to show us your "office" on your day off!

Down on the farm

During her interview process, we learned that my now new coworker, Nicole spends the better part of her day as a farmer! She, her husband and her still-very-German mother live about 11 miles out of town on a ten acre farm. Since her niece and nephew loved the farm so much, she thought it would be fun to have Gideon and Hannah visit, too.

Going out to see the animals

The "gobble gobble chickens" as Hannah calls them

Chicken pen #1

Apparently chickens like apples

Here comes...

...the piggy (a.k.a. Amelia)!


Collecting the eggs


Gidders was amazed at all the different colored eggs

Miracle of miracles... Gideon pets a dog! ("Tripper.")


Nicole's favorite chicken, Gracie


One of three "guard" dogs on the farm, Hector. Graham's favorite.


Cruisin' the farm with one of my students from Kenya, Kate who visits/helps out on the farm almost every weekend



Feeding the cows "cow cookies"


Duckies! Big duckies!


Feeding the chickens in pen #3


Nicole has about 200+ chickens whose eggs she sells as her business. Apparently "the girls" hadn't been laying due to the cold weather, but once it warmed up, she was inundated! She gave us about 3-1/2 dozen to take home, but said she gave her sister 30 dozen and still couldn't fit them all in her storage fridge.

The geese were roaming free that day, and the funniest part of the day was when Gideon and Hannah came running around the corner with terror on their faces. Then about five feet behind them were the geese running and squawking like crazy. It was hilarious!

Happy Birthday, Gideon!

Gideon's big number 5!

We can't believe it's been five years (Jan. 8) since Gidders came into the world. Not only that, but five is a huge milestone with starting school, being more independent and going from a preschooler to a "kid."

To celebrate his birthday, Gideon chose to go bowling. We thought this was a great idea since we hadn't been bowling in a while nor had we been to the alley in Ellensburg yet. Thursday nights just happened to be "Glow Night" where you bowl in black light which makes everything glow (hence the fuzziness of some of the pictures).

In the end, Gideon got a 105 on his first game and 80+ on his second game.

Ellensburg's Rodeo Bowl

Gidders was so cute. He'd carry the ball like this, then run up to the line and hurl it with all his might. Hey, it worked! He got at least two strikes!

Graham in action!

Even Hannah had a few good throws (apparently not this one, though).

Gideon doing the happy dance.

Sure! I look like I know what I'm doing. :)

Enjoying his present from Grandpa and Grandma Moes.

The next Saturday we had a few friends over for a birthday party. It was a "Cars" movie theme, but included a fishing game, a racetrack cake and a "happy birthday" train banner.

Gideon with David Hudson (back), Emily McReynolds (left), L.J. Kincaid (middle) and Bailey Baumgaertner (right)

Graham's hard work in making the magnetic fishing game.

The "pond"

L.J. caught one!

Opening gifts. He got a slinky, a racetrack, a racing Xbox game, a bubbles set, a "Cars" poster and some Play-Doh tools. Thanks everyone!

"...and Lightning McQueen rounds the last corner with Chicks Hicks close behind! Guido and Luigi cheer him on!"

Happy 5th, Gidders. We love you!