Today is the 200th post on Russell5.com! We started almost 2 years ago chronicling our adventures and we are still having them, so hey, why not keep going. But for a while I suspect you won’t get much more than tidbits* about our adjustments to Seattle. So here are a few:
- “that’s weird” is evidently not an acceptable term in Seattle for new sites and sounds that strike you odd, peculiar, or down right different. the Seattle p.c. synonym is “now that’s interesting”.
- Leslie & Troy Wolek gave us a very useful book before we left to help us get to know Seattle and it’s variety of neighborhoods. There is one page in the book dedicated to helping children get acclimated. There are 3 pages for the LGBT community, complete with neighborhood preferences. (Don’t fear the link, it’s just wikipedia info on the subject.) Turns out you need this information here….
- With the Sound (not ocean, not sea, not ocean waters) being so close and the salmon running, we are contemplating taking up fishing… Not really my thing, but hey, why not give new things a shot!
- We have started our first ever “fort” in our own yard. The boys got out hammers & nails. Our landlord provided the scrap wood…. we will post a few pics when we get further along.
- I (Ryan) am flirting with other coffee shops. Don’t worry though, I will never give up my love affair with Starbucks. I stand by my word… it is the most dependable good cup of coffee in the world. It’s just that Seattle has so many choices AND many of them are hipper PLUS have free wifi. Will definitely keep you posted on this breaking news.
- Ryan bought house slippers. (Chip Stauffer would be proud.) They are especially comfortable, have rubber soles for when you go out in the rain and they are needed to keep your feet warm even on August mornings. BONUS = they are really hip; made by DC shoes and have a black & white tweed top.
* “who uses that word?” -Jen
We are trying a new “rewards” system with the kids. Kinda like a frequent shopper program but based on behavior and work. It then takes them into the real world with long term saving, sharing, spending and short term savings.
Here is the weekly chart from the fridge and the end of the week reconciliation with Dad on Excel (yes, it even has formulas!)
After 10 weeks in the trailer, we “landed” this week in a house in West Seattle. We are pretty excited. The house sits up on a hill overlooking the sound and the Fauntleroy Ferry dock. We are very near to Lincoln Park — I think this is the boys’ favorite part. We can watch boats go by and see the water from our front deck, living room, master bed room and 2 out of the 3 other bedrooms. Our landlords (rental) are great people and they are excited to be renting to a family. YES…. they do know that we have 3 boys. In fact, John, the husband of 1 of the owners, is providing us with different lumber products to make a fort out in the trees & bushes; we have 2 palettes arriving sometime next week from him. Within an easy walk there is a local bakery with “the worlds’ best doughnuts” according to Ethan. There is also a very tasty restaurant - Endolyne Joe’s. And of course, there is PLENTY of biking.
Pics will be coming as soon as the house looks presentable.
RENEMBER” – Elias’ pronunciation of remember. He is great at reading, but still working on some of his verbal language skills.
Tonight (Aug. 2, 2009) is the OFFICIAL LAST NIGHT of the Trailer Life; it goes up for sale this week. Here are some of the highlights & stats from the last 17 months we have owned it.
- originally purchased for study leave; traveling to the Maryland & back visiting people, places and churches.
- we have lived in it for 11 weeks in summer 08, 10 weeks in summer 09 and many multi-day trips in between totaling over 6 months — why did we even bother owning our home that whole time?
- during that time traveled to 19 states plus Canada! (AZ, NM, TX, OK, TN, AK, NC, VA, WV, MD, PN, OH, KY, IN, UT, CO, CA, OR)
- Summer of 08 saw the highest gas prices in history —- $4.50 @ some places; we traveled to the East Coast & back.
- Summer of 09 saw the highest temps in Seattle history PLUS the longest period of days without water & the highest sustained temps over 6 weeks —- we moved just in time from PHX!
BEST of RV Parks:
- TN state park outside Nashville – Clean, fun, and park adventure guides where the kids could go play! The boys had a great time on an adventure hike here too.
- Smokey Mountain RV park - best water slide!; Elias got all the adults to
- The Diamond Park in AK – great pool; downside = ‘dry county’
- Beach RV Resort in Ocean City in MD – Destination of Ryan/Elias Star Wars birthday 08.
- Vasa RV Park @ Lake Samamish (epitomized ’classic’ summer experience.)
- KAO Kent, Wa – Pancake Breakfast
- Riverside RV in Whistler, BC
Best Activities: (very hard to mention them all and very hard to rate)
- Washington DC
- 4th of July Fireworks in Cincinnati @ Red’s field
- Yosemite
- Whistler
- Durango (bike trip with guys)
- Nashville
- Aquarium in Baltimore
- Summer Camp in KY/IN
Some of the Best Family Memories (as told by them) over the span.
- Breakfast for dinner cooked outside (AK)
- Whistler skate park (Canada)
- Movie nights on the couch all together (West Coast 09 – Just watched Sand Lot and the whole 3rd season of Avatar)
- Playing video games with Uncle CJ (MD)
- Snake hunting (AK, TN)
- Fireworks the boys could light (smoke bombs especially – purchased in NM, lit up in multiple places)
- Aquariums in Baltimore & Seattle w/ the world’s best mom while dad was working (city activities of all kinds really)
- Lightning Bugs on the teeth (TN – thanks uncle Jim for the suggestion)
Best Food
- Zeeks (WA)
- 5Guys (MD & WA)
- Crab Bushels from Lighthouse (MD)
- Ribs (OK, AK, WA)
- Red Mill Burgers (WA)
- Bentz Street Bar (MD)
- Pancakes (TN, WA – sorry Diane, can’t remember the famous name)
It is very safe to say that I (Ryan) might cry when we sell the trailer… at least on the inside. What a great time we have had doing adventures on the home with wheels. Living the trailer life was a dream maximized to it’s fullest. I am looking forward to more adventure in another mode. Who knows what’s next…?
