Daniel's Birthday Trip to Washington

In honor of Daniel's big 4-0 (!!!), I planned a trip to Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula. We chose Seattle because our dear friend Dan Jewett and his lovely wife Jill live there. I also wanted to take Daniel to the familiar sea and mountain grandeur of his childhood in Vancouver. We flew to Seattle Friday night and crashed in Dan and Jill's adorable house, then woke up early for a very special gift from Dan and Jill: a whale-watching tour in the San Juan Islands!

Notice the bald eagle on the right?

Owen still wants to be a marine biologist. When he spotted the first orca, he screamed, "WHALE!" The people around us loved his enthusiasm, and one woman even came up to me and introduced herself. She said, "I couldn't help overhearing your son say he wants to be a marine biologist when he grows up. I am a marine biologist." She came over to talk to Owen about his favorite sea creatures and encouraged him not to give up on his dream. It was so sweet.











Orcas, sea lions, bald eagles: oh my!