Seattle Science Center

While in Seattle we spent at lot of time at the Seattle Center. From all the awesome museums, to the live musicians to the fountain that is timed to music, we were awash in culture and did not want to leave. After our first amazing trip to the Children's Museum we knew we had to go back for the Pacific Science Center. They have a butterfly exhibit that I knew the girls would just tremble over. I am so glad we went because it was a great adventure.


Sarah was a trooper in her "boot". She broke her foot in three places right as summer started. She told me she tripped on the stairs but she later confessed she did a kamikaze dive off the balcony.


Bugs are always a boys favorite right? The bug exhibits were very interesting and had just enough of the "ick" factor to entertain the teenagers. The Butterflies were a huge hit as I expected. It is very warm and humid in the exhibit and there were a lot of rules to follow. Watch where you step and sit, butterflies are everywhere. No touching and if you are lucky enough to have a butterfly land on you, stand very still till it flies away. The girls were wishing with all their little hearts a butterfly would land on them but as hard as they wished the butterflies stayed just out of reach. Owen was a butterfly machine though and several landed on him. The first time he was thrilled but by the third time I think he was wishing they would go for the girls. Poor kid ended up standing stock still the whole time we were in there.



The Baby area was a big hit with the littlest ones. There were things to climb. Water tables to splash in. A music room to make lots of loud noise and a quiet area to read and relax. The Grandparents and I played with the little ones in there for a bit while the older group went off to explore the tide pools and other amazing exhibits.




After all that education who could resist playing in the fountain. It was built for the 1962 World's Fair. It is a wonder to be sure. Covered in spouts the water shoots in time with music playing through the park. After looking on in envy last time, we came prepared with our swim suits.

I've Got a Daisy On My Toe

Ever since I can remember we have camped. We camp at Fallen Leaf in Lake Tahoe. Some of my best childhood memories are of camping with my mom and her family. Hiking, fishing, swimming, getting dirty, cooking smores and singing around the campfire. Those are some of the things my childhood was made of. I am so blessed to be passing the tradition to my own kids and they love it as much as I did.

Over the years my Grandparents hauled 11 children camping. Their friends the Castanso's camped with them as well. Campfire songs were a Castanso specialty and they wrote the one that we have passed down the family tree.

I've got a daisy on my toe
It's not real, it does not grow
It's just a tattoo of a flower
So I look neat taking a shower

It's on the second toe of my left foot
A stem and flower but there's no root,
cause it wouldn't look good!
I got a daisy on my toe,
my right foot loves my left foot so

This song represents a lifetime with people who mean the world to me. It reminds me of singing and laughing with my mom. It reminds me of the undying, unchanging love of my Grandma and Papa. It reminds me of my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. It is funny how a simple campfire song can bring so much emotion. So in honor of all those memories and my Grandparents and Mom, I got a daisy on toe.

Seattle Children's Museum

While we were in Seattle we visited the Children's Museum. We almost got turned away at the door because they have a weird policy of 4 children to an adult. Even teenagers count as children. Needless to say we were over the limit and they had to call all sorts of people to get a pass to let us in. We were told is was only allowed that one time because it was very slow and we would not be allowed to do it again. I was pretty put off and considered leaving but swallowed my pride and took the leap.

I am so glad I did because it was a pretty cool place. There was so much for little ones to do and explore and although it was a bit young for my older kids they had a ball too.

There was a Lego room where you could build just about anything and there were employees there to give the kids a helping hand.

A mini grocery store with shopping carts, isles, food and check out lines. We played here for quite awhile.

A stage with costumes, lights, curtains and seating. The kids invented a story and put on a play for me and the baby.

There was a construction store where you could build, a restaurant where you could be a customer or a chef. There was a trip around the world with houses and stores from different countries. There was a nature walk, a toddler area and our little artists favorite a real live studio!

We actually shut the place down and had not done it all. Once we got past the gestapo at the door, the employees were all very friendly and wonderful to the kids. I wish we had a place like this at home in Reno.