Last few months in the U.S.

It has been far too long since my last post. Life has either too boring to write about, or I have been too busy to write. However, I have decided to lump our last few months in America together in a photo journal or sorts.  

My Big Sister Amie came for a long weekend visit in early February. We had fun checking out some art galleries in Seattle on the first night she arrived. 

The following day we showed Amie and her friend Cameo some of our our favorite spots around the Bellingham area. We started off our day with a sampling of donuts, including the incredible Buttermilk Bar (pictured below) from Rocket Donuts. I have to say, I have never been a big fan of ANY kind of donut- but this thing (especially when warm from a hot vat of grease) was a whole new eating experience for me. It is basically a log of fried buttermilk biscuit that is glazed while still hot, so the sweet glaze soaks into the crispy outside of the plain dough. Not too sweet + not too dense of a dough = Perfection. The weirdest thing, is that regular buttermilk biscuits are one of the few foods I will not touch. However, in this form, and with a nice cup of hot coffee I found joy....until the carb crash arrived a few hours later!

             
These shots are from a particularly gorgeous evening sunset at the Bellingham waterfront overlooking the Lummi Island, the Lummi Peninsula, and Orcas Island.

Marcus and Ben throwing stones at the shoreline.

The next day it was on to Vancouver, B.C. to check out ScienceWorld and eat some food!

NERDY RANT ALERT!!: They had a seriously awesome, and scientifically accurate exhibit on dinosaurs! Alas, velociraptor (above R) will never be as cool to me with his down feathers. Fact: It is now known that young raptors (yes, even ferocious T-Rex) had those fuzzy down feathers. Much like their modern day bird ancestors, they lost their down once they developed the ability to regulate their body temperatures, as these dinos were indeed endothermic, or warm-blooded creatures. I recall a day when all dinosaurs were thought to be cold-blooded reptiles...I'm still getting over the fact that birds are now classified as reptiles.

So, in loo of velociraptors spoiled reputation (at least in my eyes) I found a new favorite dinosaur called Gigantoraptor...unfortunately it's large size didn't allow for a good photo oppurtunity. Imagine giant talons, the body of T-Rex, except turn the tiny arms into tiny wings, add a goose-like long neck, and the head/beak of a parrot...you catch my drift. What a wacky combination of features, what's not to love!? We also had fun with the other various interactive scientific exhibits like playing in a Medieval themed Lego land, and all sorts of kinetic body tests.

After developing all those new neurons from all the Sciency stuff in the museum, it was time to find something to eat! Using Cameo's chef expertiseWe decided on some Japanese food, since Vancouver has the best Japanese outside of Japan. We started with Ramen at some place (I forgot the name), the BEST place in town for very authentic Ramen.

Spicy garlic ramen (note the heaping scoop of raw garlic)

 For those of you not familar with Ramen (no, not the dry pouch of noodles with the packet of powdered saltiness), it's noodles (good ones are made fresh daily by hand), with different flavors of  slow simmered pork broth (Miso, soy sauce or salt as the main flavoring), fatty tender slices of pork, garlic, and a slew of other possible toppings. If you want it rich, they will sprinkle it with melted pork fat...it's rediculously satisfying and warming on a cold rainy night, but I'd even eat a small serving for breakfast if I could. 

Overall, I had a great time visiting with my sister and her pal, Cameo. I was especially sad to see my sister go this time, but I know without a doubt she will visit us in Japan! The pace of life took a slow turn after they left, I wound up fighting some bronchitis for nearly 10 days...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sleepy Grizzlies.

After we packed out of our Apartment in Bellingham at the end of  February, we headed down southeast of Seattle to stay with my in-laws for our last few weeks in Washington. We spent time seeing and doing a last few things we hadn't had the chance to do before. One weekend we went to Northwest Trek, a wildlife viewing park.

Northwest Trek, start of the Tram tour.

Trams...

                            Cuddly Beavers...so cute!

This park got the good 'ol Benjamin stamp of approval, it was really cool. We got to see every kind of animal they had, nobody was hiding not even the moose!


The following weekend, I was determined to go to the top of the Space Needle, which in 8 total years in the Seattle area I had never done...so...

We did it, despite the general cloudiness of Seattle weather. It was worth it though, really great views of the entire city and beyond. I can't even imagine how amazing the view must be on a clear day. We also took Ben to the Seattle Children's museum. Overall, it was a great day. The perfect end to the best five years of our lives. In the last five years Washington state has found a true place in my heart. Most of my significant memories take place in the shadows of  the mountains, evergreen trees and cloudy skies of Western Washington. It's where I met my the love of my life, had my child, and went to college...It feels like home to me. I hope to return there after our adventures abroad. 

I mean, look at these guys! How could you not love that!

On our way back to Westlake Center on the Monorail.