Thursday, April 24, 2008

A Day Out With My Grandson

Saturday, April 19th, was my grandson's 17th birthday.  He had plans with his dad and I was at the Chevrolet Dealership reunion so, today Bob & I took him out.   We drove to Seattle and took him to lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe.  (We were seated right across from the gorilla's. They are noisy!) After that we came back to town and went to a Lego place (City Blocks) in a big building called Freighthouse Square. At 17, he still loves Lego's and builds all sorts of intricate & interesting things out of them.

Freighthouse Square always brings back lots of childhood memories for me.  At one time it was the Milwaukee Railroad Freight House and my dad worked as a train dispatcher up on the second floor of that building.  My dad retired back in the 1970's and the Milwaukee RR folded up in 1980.  The developers moved in and turned the Freighthouse into little shops, restaurants, etc.  There are still tracks running behind the building and they are now used for the Sounder commuter train that runs from Tacoma to points north.

After visiting the Lego place we walked across the street and took the light rail link that runs from a huge parking garage into downtown Tacoma.  It only runs about 2 miles but it's free and a great way for those working in buildings downtown to get to work.   We enjoyed the ride passing by the Washington State Museum of History, The Museum of Glass, the old Union Station ,now housing Federal Court Rooms and then onto the theater district of Tacoma.  I can still remember going to the Union Station as a child to catch the train to grandma's house in eastern Washington.

From there we went to a used book store nearby, at Harrison's request.  I'm glad he requested it because I found a book I've been looking for and they had a bunch of books for 25 cents each and off that rack I got the book "Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  I used to have that book years ago and started to read it at one time, but never finished it. 

All in all we had a great day and were able to take some pictures around town. Happy Birthday again...my dear grandson!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to your grandson.  Love the photo's (as always).  Sounds like you had a lovely day.  
Hugs, Joyce

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to you Grandson!!  

Joann

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful day to spend with your grandson! Happy birthday to him!! (belated of course)

I love the Rain Forest Cafe; didn't realize you had one up in your neck of the woods; always a favorite to eat at :)

betty

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday Harrison! It sounds like you all had a great day out. I used to love playing with my kids' Lego, I'd drive them mad by hogging it! I love how all your Union Stations are restored in the States. I went to the one in Washington DC, a beautiful place! I'm glad you found that book you wanted to finish, I've found a few books in old book stores that I read as a child, it was good to re-read them! Jeannette xx  

Anonymous said...

A very Happy belated Bithday to Harrison,It looks as though you all had a lovely day out ,your pictures are great ,Wells Fargo!  ,I can remember watching that programe on the TV  I have a camera shy Grandson too ,so well done getting the picture of him ...love Jan xx

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday to Harrison ~ sound like you had a great day out with him ~ loved all the pictures the Museum of Glass looks interesting ~ glad you got that book at least now you will be able to finish reading it :o) ~ Ally x

Anonymous said...

happy Birthday to your grandson!

~~~Make It A Great Day~~~
            Sharon
http://journals.aol.com/buggieboo1/ImASurvivor/


Anonymous said...

Looks like Harrison had a lovely day with you both!  How I wish my grandsons lived close enough that I could do these kind of things with them!  You rea so lucky!  I loved all your pictures.  You do this so well Linda, I always feel as if I have been right there with you!  My children (both the boys and the girls) all loved lego.  I think it's one of the best toys ever invented!
Marie
http://ayearatoakcottage.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a terrific day for all of you and I am sure Harrison had a wonderful birthday with you.  I love how you describe everything and your pictures are always so interesting to see.  
Lisa

Anonymous said...

sounds like a wonderful day! loved the pics, interesting old buildings, it's great that they have been restored, too often old building of interest are knocked down to make way for new modern structure, which will have their place in history, but it is good to be able to see history through buildings. take care mrs t xx