Summertime and the Living's Easy

Saturday afternoon we went to Magnusson Park in Seattle with the cousins Claire & Sean for a picnic and some kite flying. They have some homemade kites they like to fly there, and Chels and I have been wanting to come along to fly them (even though I was too chicken to!) for some time now.

Magnusson Park is very beautiful, with beaches right on Lake Washington, many trails and parks (both dog & people parks) and lots to do! It used to be a Naval base, and that's where Chels and I used to see the Rat City Rollergirls host their derbies in the old airplane hangers when we lived closer to the park a few years ago.

Chels is ready for the picnic with her fork in hand!

I LOVE living near water, whether it's a lake or ocean, I just have to have it! Well, I've never lived near an ocean (Puget Sound is the closest for me), but maybe being a Minnesota girl (land of 10,000 lakes for those of you not from MN) makes me crave being near water. I don't think I could live somewhere land-locked without a close opportunity to see water frequently...it's just so refreshing and beautiful!

And the mountains are an added bonus! I love seeing the snow-capped mountains in the distance. It's so surprising each time, like I forgot what a beautiful place I live in until it's a clear day and I see them again. Or maybe I have temporary amnesia after 40+ days of rain and overcast sky and that's why I forget... Thanks, wintertime in Seattle :)

Sean & Claire, so cute!

Me and my sweet wifey

The mountain is out! Mt. Rainier in the background

We had a lovely picnic dinner and then it was time for the kite flying

Claire is first up to bat, getting her kite up in the air

Claire's kite is the green with white streamers, high up, and Sean's is below, green with purple steamers

They enticed us with their offer of "no running" kite flying. Apparently all you need is a ridiculously-long string and you can sit back and relax

Here they are side by side

It's peaceful watching the kites and the clouds move in the sky

These trees are what caused me to decline to fly a kite, as they snagged Claire's. She was able to get it free with remarkably little damage, go Claire!

Just down from Kite Hill, there is a public art display called "Fin Art". It was dedicated to the park in 1998 by artist John T. Young, made from submarine fins and set up to look like a pod of whales. Find out more here: http://1.usa.gov/kHClbu. Pretty neat!

Look at them go!

Fun in the sun

Sunday afternoon we saw Super 8, the new JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg movie, with Boo and Dan. I loved it! Some parts scared me, mostly because I'm really jumpy and things kept jumping out suddenly. The movie had some unexpected surprises and I recommend it. We then went over to their house for dinner. Boo made a delicious lentil soup, yum! It's been a fun few days hanging out with the family in the beautiful Seattle sun. Stay tuned for more pictures from our latest trip to Minnesota!