Salmon Ceremony

We went to our first Salmon Ceremony experience today up at the Tulalip Tribes. We all felt honored to be a part of this event, which is open to the community. This is a special event for the Tulalip people and a time to celebrate the return of the salmon with all. Photos are not permitted in the longhouse, but I did gather a few from the time we spent outside after the many songs, dances and stories we heard while in the longhouse.We all followed the drummers and singers down to the water after a messanger announced a visitor had come:

We all followed the visitor up to the community center where we enjoyed a large lunch of salmon and more all together. After that, the visitor was taken back out to the water to go tell his salmon family that the Tulalip people are good people, and they should all come this way.

 The drummers and singers then sang the happy song once more as the kids threw rocks in the water and an eagle flew by overhead. Thank you Tulalip tribal members for sharing this tradition with us, we hope to enjoy it again one day.

Edmonds Arts Fest

It's the Edmonds Arts Festival Weekend here, and we went down to enjoy it this afternoon. This festival really does hit the spot for me, art and artists I really like, tasty food, good music, and in a spot we can walk to from Gigi's. The kids really loved listening to Carrie Clark, while playing on the playground. 

 

(Side note: did ya notice H's impressive collection of jewelry? We hit up one of the many garage sales on the way down, and Gigi treated her to a new collection of elastic beaded necklaces bracelets, and a new butterfly necklace too. Perfect attire for an arts festival where lovely jewelry like that of childhood friend Nicole's is available as well! Plus, all this bracelet decor brings me right back to 3rd grade and friendship bracelet making and wearing, love it!)

They would climb, slide, etc. then periodically stop to watch, or dance along and then go back to playing, it was quite sweet that they were so tuned in to the music. 

 We all enjoyed some tasty festival food (thanks Vince!):

"Hazel's corndog!"

I loved all the artwork for sale and wish I endless reserves to buy it, but for now I'll be pleased to enjoy the Jennifer Lommers print Gigi got for Hazel's room. Perhaps we'll go back on Sunday for a little something else for our new home. Shh don't tell Papa, but I think we've got to go back to pick up one of these: 

The kids had fun in the Kids Creative Corner as well, Quin did one of everything, 

and H was engrossed as well, 

all while we enjoyed the tunes of a local elementary school's impressive marimba band production. We'll have to head back again this weekend at some point, if you're around, you should too!

Museum of Glass

Taking my two rascals to a museum full of glass sounds absurd you say? Really it was wonderfully fun and I'm so glad Gigi and I took them! Between the kids design glass art exhibit, the hot shop, the hands on art studio, and all the cool outdoor glass art this is the perfect spot to take kids. It's definitely worth the trek down for Seattlites, or Edmondsites I guess I should say.

Q was absorb in the mini movie of an eagle catching a fish in the current show of works by Preston Singletary.  

He and Gigi also watched a whole little show about this artist in the theater.
Quin was also inspired by the Kids Design exhibit, which was so fun to see. Kids design the works and 1 piece is created every month by a guest artist in the hot shop. They are bursting full of color and creativity. After seeing them Q drew an alien on the white board:

We all really enjoyed watching the guest artist Davide Salvadore from Murano, Italy in the hot shop.
The highlight being when they dropped the big piece they were working on right in front of us. It was pretty long and had cooled at the back end, but they recovered it quickly, so all was well.  

Quin in the mask that he made in the art studio which was Singletary inspired. He's standing in front of his favorite Chihuly on the Bridge of Glass. And here's the 3 of us (pic by Gigi) on the bridge as well:

 I also loved the ceiling full of glass creations, wow, here's just one panel:

Thanks for your help and company Gigi!

* Thanks to the Delicious Baby travel blog for inspiring me to go with the kids sooner than I might have otherwise!

Too Shutterbuggy! (And my BOY)

Ok, so I've solved my posting images problem (bought space on Picasa, no prob), but now my camera is on the fritz, yowza! As I said to the camera guy today, "This is my other baby, the one I'm not so careful with, but what did I do?" So, it turns out I took too many pictures. What the? He asked if I was a shutterbug, I sheepishly replied yes, and he said that the motor goes on the lens around 10,000 pictures. What? I had no idea I ought to restrain myself. Did I really take 10,000 pictures in 2 years? I have cute kids and all, but really? Ummm...guess it's quite possible considering I often download 100+ pics from a few days of camera usage, or more from an event or special outing. 

So, he thinks it isn't worth fixing cause the cost of the repair is as much as a new lens. So, any tips on where to get the best deal on a replacement? For now I'll be using some backup cameras and my 35mm lens. Here's the evidence of the backup camera usage (from a Kodak camera I used to let the kids use in my classroom, that is now Quin's):

 Had to take advantage of the sepia feature

 yep, I let my kid play in the mud, naked, you would too if you were reading, Last Child in the Woods 

And now, a little more randomness:

 

Quin being a tough fisherman/rescuer guy in his new coverall rain pants etc. 

There was lots of diving in from his "boat" (the couch), for rescuing of animals, and then fishing from another boat. Sometimes he had to use his 490 gunfighter weapon (big gun stage here, much to my dismay) to get the bad guys. Oh this boy just needs mud, some costumes, his beloved couch, and an adult to play along, and he's happy!

Vashon Beach Day

We took a trek to Vashon for the lowest tide of the year with Gigi and Poppi Vince. It was a full day, two trips to the beach (KVI and Lisabeula), meals enjoyed outside, and lots of grandparent time. 

Nami and Danpa's "hot tub" with water from the solar water heater:

  Extra doses of gparent attention = relaxed parents = wonderful trip to the island!

An Edmonds Day

We sure did enjoy a lovely Edmonds day today with Poppi Vince and Gigi. We started at the Saturday market, next door to which the Fire Dept was having an open house:

We got to check out the whole place, which is always fun for all.

We sped through the market, which was pretty packed and we needed to wait to buy anything cause we knew with the warm weather everything would wither in the car. Cause next up was a visit to the Tall Ships down at the marina. We'd seen them earlier in the week, but they weren't open for tours, so today we went on board. It was fun to check them out, and H got lots of ooos as she was decked out in her sailor girl dress again.

We popped on over to have a quick snack I brought while playing at the sandbox by Anthony's

 H, serving some "tea" to Gigi

Then, I took H on up the hill to nap at home while Papa continued to work on the shed organization. And Gigi, Poppi and Q stayed back at the beach. I joined them with lunch and we enjoyed the super low tide.

I practiced my teaching skills with lots of beach goers who didn't know what moon snail egg cases, sculpin, or crab molts were among other such beach wildlife. And of course Q did lots of wading:

Back home we played in the bouncy house one more time!

In the evening I got to go see my good friend Trezzie do her solo dance performance at On the Boards with other Mom friends.
Wow, what an amazing day!

Kids Luv Soccer Finale

Quin's last Kids Luv Soccer class was a hoot. Between the kid doing cartwheels the whole time, 

and the parentrozzi (the coach had told us all to bring cameras), and the goofy games these guys play anyway, it was a fun time! Gigi came to watch too, so H got to have fun playing "explore Gigi's pocketbook", and checked out a snail while Q played:

Yay Quin!