It started with a road trip in a rented mini van. Brad, Melody and Kyler picked us up, we loaded up, and drove. We went to a Mariner's game while we were there...
Taylor and I were waiting for Ben. He dropped us all off and parked the van. Taylor had some dipping dots while she waited for her daddy...
She even convinced him to buy her this...
It was a good game and Taylor did really well watching it...
Ooops...I'm getting ahead of myself. First, we stayed in Bellevue at an Embassy Suites/Hilton. This is looking down at where we enjoyed cocktails and Taylor and Kyler ran around. That little glass door leads to the pool where Melody and I took the kids swimming...
The glass elevator was a hit with Taylor and Kyler...
The pool...
They have a "Manager's Reception" in the evening and a cooked to order breakfast in the morning. The reception includes complimentary cocktails. It was wonderful! After we arrived, we had a glass of wine and let the kids run around a bit before our dinner reservations. Taylor had a lemonade...
There was a little stream, and waterfalls...
Taylor and Kyler enjoyed running around...following the stream...especially after the four hour drive.
I enjoyed a nice glass of wine...
We have a smoker we keep at Brad's house. The guys use it when they make sausage and we have also had many wonderful smoked meals. Our little vacation was much around having a wonderful steak dinner. Ben and I love Ruth's Chris, but we had some people recommend Daniel's and the Metropolitan Grill. We made reservations at Daniel's in Bellevue the first night. We were told they have wonderful steak.
The view from the 21st floor was amazing, the service was nice, but the steak was not as good as Ruth's Chris.
Taylor loved all the lights outside.
The hotel breakfast was more than what we expected. So many choices, including omelets cooked to order. After that, we headed off to the Woodland Park zoo. Taylor seems to really like snakes. It may be because her daddy does not.
This was Taylor's favorite bear. It's a sloth bear. It was pretty active. And, she may have recognized it from an episode of Go Diego Go. And, who doesn't love watching the monkeys...
She loves flowers!
It rained on and off the entire time we were at the zoo, so we got through it rather quickly. We then went down to Pike Street so Brad could get some oysters and crab.
We were in a hurry, but I still found time to take some pictures. That's my girl, peaking over her daddy's shoulder with a smile...
I love this picture of Melody, Brad and Kyler...
We donated money and got Taylor this balloon. She loves balloons too!
We had dinner reservations at the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle, before the Mariner's game. Again, the service and the atmosphere were very nice...but we still prefer Ruth's Chris in Bellevue for the best steak. We liked the Metropolitan better than Daniels, but our next visit will include Ruth's Chris.
Ken Griffey Jr! We were thrilled he was playing while we were there.
We always enjoy going to a Mariner's game!
We love to sit in the upper level on the third base side. I don't worry about foul balls, and it's quiet enough I can take Taylor for a little walk, if we need to. The views are nice from here too.
The Mariner's were winning, so Taylor was doing a happy dance...
It was a wonderful little get away!
It started with a road trip in a rented mini van. Brad, Melody and Kyler picked us up, we loaded up, and drove. We went to a Mariner's game while we were there...
Taylor and I were waiting for Ben. He dropped us all off and parked the van. Taylor had some dipping dots while she waited for her daddy...
She even convinced him to buy her this...
It was a good game and Taylor did really well watching it...
Ooops...I'm getting ahead of myself. First, we stayed in Bellevue at an Embassy Suites/Hilton. This is looking down at where we enjoyed cocktails and Taylor and Kyler ran around. That little glass door leads to the pool where Melody and I took the kids swimming...
The glass elevator was a hit with Taylor and Kyler...
The pool...
They have a "Manager's Reception" in the evening and a cooked to order breakfast in the morning. The reception includes complimentary cocktails. It was wonderful! After we arrived, we had a glass of wine and let the kids run around a bit before our dinner reservations. Taylor had a lemonade...
There was a little stream, and waterfalls...
Taylor and Kyler enjoyed running around...following the stream...especially after the four hour drive.
I enjoyed a nice glass of wine...
We have a smoker we keep at Brad's house. The guys use it when they make sausage and we have also had many wonderful smoked meals. Our little vacation was much around having a wonderful steak dinner. Ben and I love Ruth's Chris, but we had some people recommend Daniel's and the Metropolitan Grill. We made reservations at Daniel's in Bellevue the first night. We were told they have wonderful steak.
The view from the 21st floor was amazing, the service was nice, but the steak was not as good as Ruth's Chris.
Taylor loved all the lights outside.
The hotel breakfast was more than what we expected. So many choices, including omelets cooked to order. After that, we headed off to the Woodland Park zoo. Taylor seems to really like snakes. It may be because her daddy does not.
This was Taylor's favorite bear. It's a sloth bear. It was pretty active. And, she may have recognized it from an episode of Go Diego Go. And, who doesn't love watching the monkeys...
She loves flowers!
It rained on and off the entire time we were at the zoo, so we got through it rather quickly. We then went down to Pike Street so Brad could get some oysters and crab.
We were in a hurry, but I still found time to take some pictures. That's my girl, peaking over her daddy's shoulder with a smile...
I love this picture of Melody, Brad and Kyler...
We donated money and got Taylor this balloon. She loves balloons too!
We had dinner reservations at the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle, before the Mariner's game. Again, the service and the atmosphere were very nice...but we still prefer Ruth's Chris in Bellevue for the best steak. We liked the Metropolitan better than Daniels, but our next visit will include Ruth's Chris.
Ken Griffey Jr! We were thrilled he was playing while we were there.
We always enjoy going to a Mariner's game!
We love to sit in the upper level on the third base side. I don't worry about foul balls, and it's quiet enough I can take Taylor for a little walk, if we need to. The views are nice from here too.
The Mariner's were winning, so Taylor was doing a happy dance...
It was a wonderful little get away!
