Archive for June, 2009

adaptations

for better OR for different here are some more notes on the adaptations we are experiencing…

  • grab SUN opportunities whenever they come out —- even if it is 8pm! the sun stay up so much later here (or a more accurate way of saying it is that it stays ‘light’ further into the evening here in the summer… it isn’t always ’sunny’ late per say ). 
  • Because it is light longer, it has really thrown off our kids’ sleep patterns… adjusting to school schedules in the fall may be a bit more challenging since the boys are regularly staying up until 9 or 10pm. (for the record mom, when I was a kid I really hated going to bed while the sun was still out past 8pm or later. My friends were typically still out playing and would come  knocking on my bedroom window… ahh, what childhood agony!)
  • There are some more, shall we say, “interesting” neighborhoods that you just won’t find in Phoenix. Nate (cousin) and I went bike riding last Saturday. As we came into the Ballard/Freemont area I spotted a brewery up ahead on the bike path. ‘Glorious, I will have to remember this path’, I thought to myself. Then I noticed that there was a large grouping of people in front of the brewery… kinda odd and early for 930am. As we got closer it became apparent that the group of people with their bikes were all NAKED! Turns out they were setting up to be in the Summer Solstice parade that started at 10am.  Article | Official Link | Wiki | Pics — you can look them up if you are that adventurous.
  • The most average parks here are greener and better used than the best parks in Phoenix (could have something to do with the weather) – Gasworks park (see pics on Facebook) is weird, unique and fun all at the same time.
  • EVERYONE at least owns a bike here it seems… plenty of great bike paths and lots of urban terrain to explore.
  • We MIGHT have found an emergency pizza fix (I am still anxiously awaiting Jen’s pizza revues, aren’t you?) – Bison Creek – thanks Gordon!
  • Our goal = to live as close to downtown & the water as possible. Since we will be renting for a year, we aim to ‘try something different’.

Alec’s Graduation

Alec Aiton – 2009 Graduation from Ryan Russell on Vimeo.

First Seattle Beach Fort

1st beach fort from Ryan Russell on Vimeo.

early notes

our kids ( & us too I suppose ) are learning some fun and notable differences between Seattle & Phx…

  • You need multiple clothing options here on any given day in the summer. It could be hot one hour and cold the next or rainy or… In PHX you just need shorts, t-shirts & flip-flops. [NOTE - you need long sleeves while riding mtn. bikes because of the vicious black berry bushes]
  • You know your kids were born and raised in PHX when your 9 yr. old (& his brothers too) is excited about the newness of an ordinary fuzzy caterpillar… this find in the grass outside our RV delayed our departure for an activity by at least 5 min.
  • We keep having to remind our kids that “we live here now” every time they want to bring their new ‘treasures’ with them back to the trailer. ‘Treasures’ can include but are not limited to cool rocks, sticks, sea shells, crab parts (from the beach not the restaurant), sea washed/smoothed glass, eagle feathers (really large bird feathers of any type actually) and wild flowers.
  • Jackson stated tonight that he hates bugs and isn’t there a place that we can live with out them, like AZ.
  • All 5 of us put on long sleeves and pants if the temp drops below 65, which happens every day at some point… when will our blood thicken?
  • We have already tried 2 pizza joints in a 8 day span… Jen will write her reviews. We are still searching for the Barro’s replacement.
  • We went to www.Eastlakecc.com for church on Sunday. Everyone liked it; the boys want to go again soon!