We are almost there!

We ride a bus into downtown Seattle to pick up our passports. We have them now and if all goes well, we will leave the country tomorrow. Arielle and I couldn't find seat with the rest of the family. So we sat in the middle while they sat in the back. About half way through the ride I heard my name come up. I look to the back of the bus and see everyone smiling and waving at me. I really am popular down here you know! Alex was telling everyone about life, is what that was.

A very steep road



We had lunch by the water...and had lots of fans eager to see us!

I was reaching out to this one when another one came flying down and tried to snatch it from my hand.

We also went to the aquarium....that was a lot of fun

They also had Clown Fish

We finally have our passports!

The tunnels under ground

Seattle/Japanese

We met our cousins for dinner tonight at a Japanese restaurant. It was a lot of fun. The chef was really funny and good with what he was doing. At one point he asked if we wanted to try chicken sushi, when we all told him no, he laughed and said, "You don't have a choice."

Some of us have mastered eating with a chopstick better than others of me

That was very warm

Alex laughed and laughed

He asked if we wanted any more shrimp. I had been avoiding eating shrimp because I had decided about twenty minutes earlier that I was allergic to it. But then the chef said if you wanted more shrimp you had to work for it. He diced up a piece and tossed it to my second cousin. He missed. Alex then volunteered me. Not wanting to seem rude, I tried it and missed it as well. He went around the table until no one else wanted to try. There was one piece left. He asked me if I wanted to try again. I don't like to try something and lose, if I lose then I try it again until I win...that shrimp was a challenge. I tried again and actually caught it....wished I missed. I just kept smiling and nodding...while fighting the gag re-action. I got extra fried onions for that manoeuvre!

OR-WA

We headed for Seattle on Sunday

Isn't the view breath taking?

I was having trouble getting Alex awake Monday morning and so I told him that there were giant ducks outside....Canadian Goosen....I know it's really Geesen

Elevator troubles

We are in Seattle...I'm waiting for picture before I update to much. But we had our passport appointment this morning and it looks like we will be flying out of the country this week.

While leaving the passport office I got caught in the elevator door. While all of us were in Seattle a couple of weeks back, we would practice getting on the elevator in less than 10 seconds (that's how much time you would have for the bullet train). Once or twice someone wouldn't get on and Josiah would say, "In this scenario Dad is stranded in Tokyo." Well in that scenario, "Jared is going to have a very long ride to Misawa."

Arielle, Nolan, and I were getting on the elevator in the hotel. The door opens, a guy steps out, looks around.
"Is this the lobby?"
"No sir, it's floor 3." I'm thinking, look at the big 3 on the wall!!!
"Oh *beep*" He gets back on and looks at the number panel. "Which one is the lobby?"
"Number 1 sir." Arielle and Nolan are trying their best not laugh as I help this guy out. We reached the lobby and the door opens.
"Here is the lobby." I inform him. Instead of thanking me for helping him through this very hard time in his life, he just glared and walked off. I tell ya!

We're having trouble with the camera card thingy on the laptop and so we need to buy a white cord for it...but there will be pictures! lol

BACK to Seattle

We are BACK in Seattle. We have a lot to do tomorrow...please pray.

I'll give a more detailed update when I have more time...and don't have the AAFES employees sending me subtle hints they want us to get out of their store!