The BIG TRIP

This summer marked the approximate half way point of our tenure in Korea, so we decided to celebrate by coming back to the States.  We were going to try and do it on the cheap by flying Space-A, but after hearing a few horror stories (long, pointless, inexcusable waits at multiple terminals, etc...), we chose to book six seats and head east toward the US.

On a calm Friday morning in Korea we boarded a bus and headed for Incheon International Airport.  One quick flight and we landed at Narita International Airport in Tokyo.  We spent 3 hours wandering the terminal while we waited for our connecting flight to Seattle.  We finally boarded and, 9 hours later we landed in Seattle (2 hours before we took off-isn't the international date line great?).

First order of business in Seattle was medical--it wouldn't be a Lipski Family vacation if Owen didn't require medical attention.  Poor kid woke up on the airplane with pink eyes, so we had to sneak him through immigrations and then, after unloading our stuff at Uncle Steve's house, Lorri took Owen to Everett Naval Station to get the eye looked at.  She didn't do it alone, though.  Herschel and Cheryl had flown to Seattle to visit with us, so Herschel went with her.

We spent the next few days visiting with Herschel and Cheryl while we took in some of the sights in and around Seattle.

Herschel and Cheryl outside the original Starbucks.

Owen and Anna Grace got balloons.  AG wanted a flower, Owen wanted pink and purple butterfly wings.  Did I mention it was Gay Pride weekend in Seattle, and that many "couples" wandered by, nodding approvingly at his choice?

They have this needle in Seattle, supposedly having something to do with Space.

Hey, who's head is that?

There was something poetic about the kids being photographed with a volcano.

The kids, Gre and Papa, and Mt St Helens

Jacob, thinking about what it would have been like to have been standing in the same spot 30 years ago. The volcano erupted laterally at first.  Jacob is standing on Johnston Ridge, where a USGS geologist (named  David Johnston) was monitoring the "rumbling" mountain.  He got in one brief radio transmission as the mountain began to blow, then was never seen or heard from again.  The volcano erupted directly toward the ridge (only a few miles away).  

(Not my picture)

30 years later, still not a lot of growth in the immediate blast zone.

This lake was created when ash and dirt clogged a creek.  The island you see was once a part of the mountain.  It was blown, intact, more than 5 miles to it's present location.

On our way down the mountain we stopped for cobbler.  This is my bowl of strawberry rhubarb cobbler with heavy cream.

My more popular brother, known as "Tacoma Dome," has his own off ramp.

Jacob and Ethan at the Boeing factory museum in Everett.

After just a few short days we had to bid adieu to Gre and Papa.  We also said so long to Lorri, as she headed to Pensacola to visit with Mema, Pepa, Bobbi, John, Tyler and Madi.  Fortunately for me, Grammie rolled into town at about the same time.  We spent our first day with her on a day trip to Victoria, BC.  We got on the ferry early in the morning in Seattle and headed north through the Puget Sound.

Grammie and her brood.

The kids each got to pick an activity.  Jacob wanted to go to a magic store.  Ethan chose the Insect Museum.  Yes, that is a cockroach in his hand.  Attendants take the kids around and explain about all the different insects on display.  They even pass a few of the bugs around for the kids to hold.  Awesome.

Without a doubt, the highlight of the day was the street entertainer on the waterfront.  He was very talented, and very funny.  

A view of a lighthouse while on the ferry back to Seattle.

The kids helped Uncle Steve pick berries one afternoon.

Anna Grace claiming the ground...

...which seemed to wear her out.

For my birthday I wanted a strawberry rhubarb pie (as there is no rhubarb in Korea that I know of).  Unbeknownst to me, my Aunt Ann harvested fresh rhubarb from her backyard and then stayed up until 2 am baking 4 strawberry rhubarb pies.  The perfect birthday.

The next generation of crowns heroes.  For the first time in three tournaments, Jacob was NOT named rookie of the year.  Ethan received the Single-minded award.  He had some 26 hits in the tournament, all were singles.

One very proud grand-Pete.

Running proud.

Owen imagining greatness at the Imagine Children's museum in Everett.

Jacob zonking out at Narita Int'l on the way home.

We had such a great time in Seattle with all the family and friends.  We got to see some great stuff, visited a great church, ate some great food, (drank some great beers), and simply reminded ourselves why we love this great country of ours so very much (what an interesting corollary--stuff, church, food, beer).