Seattle Seafair

Last week the kids and I made a day trip to the pier to tour a Navy ship.  We had to get out the door before 10 am because the bridges across Lake Washington were going to be shut down for the Blue Angel practicing the airshow.  With Katelyn as my navigator, we headed out to find Pier 90, luckily once we got off the main roads it was clearly marked.  We parked in a lot near a wharehouse on the pier.  As we passed through security, soldiers were posted strategically with weapons ready.  Garrett asked, "are those real", with a doubtful voice. When I told him they were he was a bit surprised.  We got on a bus and we escorted to the shipyard.  Up front they had some amphibious vehichles.  Garrett and Savanah got up into them and tried on some gear.  I walked up into one and felt a little clostraphobic and promptly left and enjoyed the rest from the outside.  We spoke with a officer and the kids got to ask him about the different uniforms.  Cracker jacks are the enlisted men and they are wearing the traditional and commom naval uniform with black shoes.  Crew chiefs have an anchor on their hats, wear white dress whites, and white shoes, officers wear the same white uniform, white shoes, but have a spread eagle on their hats.  To my surprise the kids were engaged for a good 2 hours and it was a good day.  We even made it back across the bridge before rush hour.

There is no way on God's green earth, and over my dead body,

if you are EVER going to be needing combat equipment!!!!

Leave it to Savanah to make a quick phone call.

USS Princeton