August 20th, 2008

Rob's childhood friend Jason Baker and his wife Emily drove up from Portland for a weekend visit. Rob and Jason met in boarding school when they were just 11 years old.

They brought Aubrey, their little weener dog. Elliot and Aubrey were instant friends.

The weather was HOT so we took advantage of the lake by swimming a lot.

Emily hadn't been to Seattle, so we decided to play "tourists" and check out the underground tour of the old city.

After listening to a long talk about the history of the city and the construction of the waterfront area, we were led through a huge metal door, down a long, crooked stone stairway, into the dark underworld of ooooold Seattle.

I had low expectations, since most touristy activities are either cheesy, or less than what you expect from the "photos". But this was really cool. We recommend it.

On Sunday we headed over to Peter and Paisley's for Cora's 4th birthday party.

All the kids were there, and we got to meet Peter's parents for the first time.

In other news, I started work at my new job, Bungie Studios in Kirkland!

-Rob and Nicole

Elliot and his mom head down to the lake (photo by Emily)

After swimming in the lake for a couple hours, Rob's core temperature can only be elevated by tightly hugging a small, warm child... (photo by Emily)

Jason cuddles with Aubrey, their cute weener-dog.

This was a street, and that brick wall was the side of a building.

The ceiling here is actually below the sidewalk at the new street level. The glass blocks in the sidewalk illuminate the underworld -and the ghosts!

At Cora's party, Liam is "caught" by her new butterfly net.

Cora pauses from present-opening for a bite of pizza.

Paisley and Cora decide which one to open next.

Suzy, Liam, and Haley

See that thing out there swimming through the lilly pads Elliot? That's your dad! (photo by Emily)

Jason and Emily pose beneath the Space Needle.

One of the old corridors of the underground.

Elliot keeps a lookout for ghosts, from the safety of his perch... (photo by Emily)

Another macabre relic from the past. If you listen closely you can hear the spirits washing the cobwebs from their withered hands...

Amelie and her grandpa share some home-made pizza.

"Who's this one from?"

"Look, I got my own gardening gloves!"