Now that the decision has been made to move to Seattle, the next big step is to find a place to live. Its not my favorite step in this process but its an important one. Being a tad hesitant to just blindly choose something online, Shaun and I decided to take a quick trip up and check a few things out.
Ellie would stay behind with Grandpa and Nana but Abby came with us. Being a little older we felt that bringing her with us and making her a part of the process would make the move fun and exciting. That and it would allow her to see Seattle and get to know the place that we will soon be calling home.
On Thursday we packed up the car, picked Abby up from school and hit the road. We drove and then drove some more, making it all the way up to Medford, Oregon for the night. We stayed in a Red Lion, which made Abby so very happy as she is obsessed with Red Lion hotels. It was a long haul but it helped to make the drive the following day shorter and easier.
 |
| Enjoying all of the lovely smells of central California. Its a good thing it wasn’t that hot out! |
 |
| Abby got her stay at a Red Lion. I am sure the trip would be complete for her at this point and the rest is all gravy. |
We left Medford a little late the next morning but we were rested and ready for a shorter day on the road. The drive was beautiful and reminded me of all the reasons I love the Pacific Northwest. From Salem to Seattle it rained off and on. At times it poured buckets. Ah the rain!
We arrived in Issaquah, where we were staying with Auntie Kelli, in the early evening. We had decided to stop and scope out a few of the places we were looking into the next day. Abby had a crash course in Lucy, Kelli’s pup. It was interesting to say the least. Once we settled in, it was off for some dinner at Red Robin and then to bed when we got back.
 |
| We have missed this. Rain and lush green surroundings! |
Saturday morning we were up early and hit the ground running. We started our search for a place to live right away. We looked at apartment complexes, town homes, private homes and more. We found a few we loved but it was obvious there was going to be some competition. It was a mentally and emotionally exhausting day but we survived! Abby was wonderful and so patient. She had a blast and even loved the fact that she got to ride around in a golf cart to see several of the apartment complexes. Every time we ask her which place she liked the most her response was always, the one with the golf cart! Places with playgrounds came in at a very close second.
After a long morning and afternoon of searching we took advantage of the beautiful day and headed to Blythe Park so that Abby could play. She had been so patient and well behaved that she deserved some time to have fun. She played on the playground and then we took a walk along the Sammamish River. We saw Canadian Geese swimming through the river. One mama goose had a large group of brand new goslings. They were still yellow, fluffy and very adorable.
After the trip to the park we headed down to Renton to view one more home. By that point I think Abby had enough so we decided to do the one thing she was waiting for. A ferry ride! We headed to downtown Seattle and made it just in time for the ferry to Bainbridge Island. While it was cool, the weather was still nice enough to go out onto the deck to enjoy the ride. We enjoyed the beauty of Puget Sound as a storm started to roll in.
When we arrived on Bainbridge, we were hungry and ready for some dinner. We stopped at a cute little place, called The Madison Diner, which served all American diner food. Yummy! It was hit and while the PB&J still wasn’t as good as Grandpa Pat’s, Abby really enjoyed her dinner. After dinner we took the ferry back to Seattle and headed back to Issaquah for a very deserved night of sleep.
 |
| For Abby its play time but for us the hunt for a home hasn’t ended. |
 |
| The Sammamish River on a beautiful Seattle day! |
 |
| The Cottonwood trees were shedding their “fluff” as Abby called it. It looked like it was snowing. |
 |
| Finally on a ferry ride! Abby was so excited and loving every minute of it! |
On Sunday we only had one place to look at, So Auntie Kelli came with us! We stopped for lunch at Azteca first and then headed to another apartment complex in Bothell to see what they had for us. Once again we got to ride around in a golf cart, so Abby was very happy!
After our appointment we decided to enjoy the remainder of the day and take another ferry ride, this time with Auntie Kelli! This time we hopped onto the in Edmonds and headed to Kingston. We made it onto the ferry just in time too! The day was a bit more gloomy and rainy but it was beautiful. We even had a bit of fun as the ferry starting rocking in the wake of a cruise ship leaving from Seattle. When we landed in Kingston, we stopped for a treat. We found the most delicious crepe place, ever. The Nutella with whip cream was out of this world but I recommend sharing it with someone. It was a lot to eat.
After eating our delicious crepes we drove from Kingston over to Bainbridge. The drive in the gloom among the dense trees was kind of eerie but beautiful at the same time. After a small wait at the Bainbridge terminal we were heading back to the city. We were following the tail end of a storm which made the ferry ride spectacular. Ahead of us the city was shrouded in rain and clouds but behind us the Puget Sound was lit up by the emerging sun. What it created within minutes was stunning. Almost instantly a rainbow appeared over Seattle. A full and complete rainbow over the Emerald City. And even though the wind was blowing and it was raining just hard enough to drive drops right into your eyes, the deck of the ferry was filled with people admiring the beautiful skyline with its rainbow. As we got closer to the city, a small double rainbow appeared as well. What an experience. So glad I was able to capture it too!
After the amazing ferry ride we stopped for dinner at Spaghetti Factory and then headed back to Auntie Kelli’s place. After a day filled with such excitement we needed some sleep! If Seattle was trying to lure us in (which is didn’t need to it) it certainly worked. What a day.
 |
| On the ferry again and ready to head over to Kingston! |
 |
| Its Auntie Kelli! And behind her is the cruise ship that was making some waves for us! |
 |
| Somewhere Over the Rainbow in the Emerald City. |
 |
| Double Rainbow |
 |
| Sunset over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. This is heaven on earth. |
On Monday morning (Memorial Day) we were up and out the door quickly. We had a last minute appointment to see a town home out in Bothell. It was perfect and absolutely gorgeous. We had some competition though, so I don’t think we plan on holding our breath over it.
After our walk through we came back to Kelli’s apartment to get ready for the afternoon. Over the past several days, Abby has been hiding out in the guest room because of Lucy. We finally realized that it was time for some in your face therapy. So we brought Abby out into the living room and let Lucy go. You would have thought a murder was taking place and I am surprised Kelli didn’t have the police on her doorstep. With some time and some bribery, Abby had calmed down enough to pet Lucy and even let her kiss her hand. Through some tears she giggled and talked with Lucy and then promptly asked to go to the car. A little bit at a time I guess but she was so brave. I am hoping that over time this will pass and we can teach her to trust again.
Because it was our last day in Seattle we headed to the city to show Abby the Space Needle and have dinner there. We had some time to kill so we thought about going down to Pike’s Market but it was raining and it was crowded due to the holiday. We decided at that point to just head on over to the Space Needle and explore around there before dinner. A large folk festival was going on near the science center, so the area was busy as well. Abby did have the chance to meet several mounted police and their pretty horses.
Soon it began to rain again, so we headed into the gift shop at the Space Needle. We thought it might be nice to go to the Observation Deck before dinner but we got lucky and they had some open reservations at that moment. We took them and headed on up for dinner! Because it was an earlier reservation before the dinner rush, we were able to get a seat by the window! Abby was very excited and loved the fact that the restaurant rotated.
As a special treat we ordered Abby the famous Space Needle dessert called “The Orbiter”. Nothing like ice cream surrounded by dry ice and sparklers to create big smiles! Dinner and our time at the Space Needle was a blast. We poked around the observation deck and the gift shop afterwards and then left. For one last glimpse of the city and the Space Needle we drove around Queen Anne hill, looking for the spectacular night views. We found them too! We enjoyed our last bit of time and then said goodbye to the city for now. Then it was time to head back and get all of our things packed up for the trip home. We were sad to go but the nice thing about this trip is that we know we will be back very soon.
 |
| Space Needle! |
 |
| The view of Seattle on a cloudy and rainy day. So pretty! |
 |
| Abby thought her special dessert was “out of this world” and pretty neat too. |
 |
| Elliott Bay |
 |
| Outside of the Chihuly Museum, so strange but beautiful. Amazing to think that its all hand blown glass ! |
Tuesday morning we packed up the car, hung around for a meeting Shaun had and then hit the road. Now it was back to the business of solidifying a place for us to live and start the process of moving. We enjoyed the remaining day and a half in the car and took in all of the green scenery before we hit central California. Abby even enjoyed a lesson in a new kind of fun on road trips. She learned that if she waved at trucks drivers as we passed by and gave them the signal, they would honk their horns. She was able to get several of them to do it too!
That night we stopped at the Black Bear Diner for dinner, a favorite place for Shaun and myself. We stayed in Redding at the Red Lion which Abby enjoyed, of course. She is too funny about her obsession with the Red Lion and staying in hotels on road trips. Glad she loves to travel!
 |
| Truck driver, road trip fun. Nothing like a cute little four year old to get those drivers to honk their horns! |
 |
| The many faces of Abby. I think the time on the road has gotten to her. |
The following morning we had a nice breakfast and hit the road for the last leg of the trip. By that point we were excited to get home, see Ellie and get the ball rolling for the move. But I will say the trip was missing something without Ellie. Home sweet home, for now.
The Wharton Adventures 