This past weekend, we spent some time in Bremerton with my cousin and her children. My kids loved it because they got to spend time with their cousins, Olivia and Alexander. We loved it because the kids loved it and we’re easy that way.
We drove up Saturday evening and arrived around 7:30-ish. For those who might be thinking about making the same trip, I strongly recommend not taking SR16 (which turns into SR3) at sunset. Driving into the sun? Not so much with the fun. Nothing like the tension building good times of not being able to see where you’re going because you are blinded by the light. Good song, bad experience.
Saturday evening was pretty much just a hang out and relax kind of time. The kids played with…everything. Oh my god, toys freaking every where. They had fun. The adults (yes, that includes me) played a game called Catch Phrase. Tara and I had never played before, but plan to pick up our own copy at the next opportunity. Ridiculously fun, that game. It’s kind of like a combination of Charades and Trivial Pursuit. Factor in some generous swearing on my part and you have a winner.
Sunday morning we got up early, scratch that. Sunday morning we were supposed to get up early, but we all slept in. Eventually we got up and took the ferry across to Seattle. That was was my first ride on a ferry, and I’d have to rate the experience as unfulfilling. Big boat. Lots of people. Floating takes place. I really wanted more fanfare.
The ferry dropped us along on the pier in Seattle (imagine that). We walked along the waterfront, easier said than done with three adults, four children, and one difficult to maneuver stroller. We stopped for whatever little thing took our fancy. There was a fabulous sculpture of a fisherman (the kind that looks like he belongs on a Gorton’s box) feeding the seagulls. Lily loved that because the birds were big enough to sit on.
Eventually we ended up at Pike Place Market. Some day, when I’m not worried about losing track of an overly adventurous 2 year old, I’d like to go back and explore. As it was, the experience was just overwhelming. Sensory overload combined with active parenting. It made my head hurt. Tara did pick up a jar of pickled asparagus one of her all time favorite treats, a couple of bunches of fresh grapes for the kids to munch on, and a gorgeous bouquet of dalias because she loves me.
The we went up the hill to the mall. We’d planned to take the monorail to the Children’s Museum, but never quite made it that far. On the way to the mall, however, there was a nifty water feature that had a water fall that started around 10 feet in the air and fell into a pool below street level. There was a walkway that started on one side, then went through the middle of it, running parallel to the falls, and came out the other side. Wyatt, Lily and I ran through once. Then Wyatt and I went through another two times just for good measure. We were soaked at the end.

As we were leaving the mall, I saw the best store ever called Lush. Well, I think it was the best store ever. I can’t actually confirm this since I didn’t get to go in. I pointed it out to Tara and said, “I’d love to spend some time in there when I’m not fighting with an over tired two year old.” Tara looked at the store and took off. “I’ll be right back.” She said it over her shoulder with Wyatt chasing along behind her trying like hell to keep up. Let me recap:
1) I wanted to go in.
2) I told Tara I wanted to go in.
3) Tara ditched my ass and went into the store I found and left me in the courtyard with a fussy Lily.
About 20 minutes later, Tara and Wyatt emerged from the store. Wyatt ran up to me, his hands held out, palms up. “Smell my hands.” Have to tell you, folks, my five year old son smelled like a pretty woman and was proud of it. “You smell great, son.” I glared at Tara over his head. Or I tried to. She looked just as happy as Wyatt did. “You should see this place, it’s wonderful.” I smiled, didn’t point out how much I wanted to see the place, and took her bag. We resumed our journey back to the pier.
Instead of the Children’s Museum, we opted to go to the aquarium. It was on the way back to the ferry and who doesn’t like to look at fish? If you are ever in Seattle and thinking about visiting the aquarium, I challenge you to think of this. Do you like looking at fish $16.00 worth? I’m not sure I do. Or did. But we went and looked at fish nonetheless. There were cool things there, but the website sums it up far better than I ever could, so look here if you are interested: Seattle Aquarium.
We stopped for ice cream when we finished there, a fabulous little street vendor that hand dips. I got an enormous waffle cone with butter pecan ice cream which I promptly dropped on the ground. I took that as a sign that fate thinks I’m fat enough and decided not to replace it. My cousin said to hell with fate and bought me another one anyway. It was delicious.
The ride back to Bremerton was as uneventful as the ride to Seattle, only this time factor in four restless and cranky children. The booth behind us remained basically empty the entire ride. Someone would sit in that seat, remain for about five minutes, then leave. I wanted to go with them each and every time.

Along the waterfront in Bremerton there is a series of fountains that are interconnected and do their thing in concert with one another. Tara let the kids sit on the edge and put their feet in the water. It wasn’t long until Lily was laying in the water pretending to swim and Wyatt was standing under the downpour of water, squealing like a good smelling girl. My cousin’s daughter, Olivia, sat on the edge like she was told. She’s the good cousin. Alexander is only one, so the jury is still out on him. Maybe he’ll be deviant like my kids, but I doubt it.
That about sums up our trip, leaving out the boring drive to Seattle from Portland and back again. Next time, I’m leaving the kids at home. Or, better yet, the rest of Seattle can stay home and that way I can enjoy the attractions without worrying about losing my babies.