Gam & Pa: Abby's Graduation Trip

Our journey began on Monday morning, July 8th. Abby's planned trip consisted of flying into Seattle, renting a car and driving down the coast on Highway 101 and stopping along the way to see all the beaches we could and other tourist sights.

We were at the airport at 5:30 a.m. Annie had our boarding passes on her phone so we were able to go right to security. I was wearing a beaded top that apparently caused the security concerns so I was patted down! Yup. Literally patted down. The lady said that we could go in a private room if I would be more comfortable. I told her as long as I didn't have to remove any clothing to just go ahead. It wasn't a bad experience, but would prefer not to ever have that happen again. Here we are waiting to board the plane after surviving security,

Here we are on the plane. Just a note here. Abby is not fond of flying. she would much rather be on the ground.

We arrived in Seattle, rented our car and off to see the sights. Our first stop was to see the house where I grew up in until I was 7 years old. It has changed very little over the years. The color has been the most drastic. It was always a red home and now it is yellow. They've also put a fence or shed on either side of the house, but the main house is exactly the same. Such good memories.

After we left the house we found my old elementary school, Daniel Bagley, which they are renovating. They had tall fences around it. It is interesting that everything, when you are little, looks so much bigger and when you revisit the sight as an adult, you see how much smaller it is.

From there, we circled Green Lake and then headed to the Needle. We didn't go up but wandered around the area and took some pictures.

From there we headed to the Farmers Market or Pike's Place. We had a fun adventure there. Tons and tons of people but very fun. We bought our share of doughnuts and dried apple slices.

You can see how dang crowded the market was. People, people everywhere!

This picture is the three of us standing in line to get doughnuts! It was worth it!

We finally reached the end of the line and got our doughnuts. They were delicious. Every good as we remembered.

Our next stop was the gum wall. UGH!! Good to see it once. But once will do it for me!
Abby loved getting the smashed penny from the machines at each place we went to. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the penny she puts in really isn't the penny she gets back. It is just a piece of copper that has been previously made to look like the penny she put in.

From there we headed to the Bremerton Ferry. It was so fun to experience the ride across the Bay to Bremerton, Washington. Look at the Seattle skyline. It is gorgeous!

When we reached the shore we drove into Puyallup to see the home where Annie and Jeff lived for a few years. As we were leaving Annie saw her neighbor and stopped and visited with her. Fun catching up on each of their families and some of the ward members.

This next series of pictures we laughed and laughed at. I laugh now as I'm posting this. Annie's face!

then the next picture looks like she is flipping us off, which she wasn't.

I'm looking at her laughing.

Finally the picture

This is the home in Puyallup.

Our next stop was Oregon.

I think our first stop was the Astoria Column. I may get the stops a little mixed up but close. Abby took notes and has a better calendar of facts of places, but she's home and I'm here blogging so we will go with the best my memory can offer :-)

164 total steps to the top.

At the top of the tower. If you look closely you will see the wooden airplanes all over the top of the house with the dark roof and you can't see but they are all over in the trees.