Sourtherns on the West Coast

One of the really interesting things about being in Seattle has been the change in time zones.  Working with several generations of Spiveys has made us all very conscious of what time it is and what time we are on.

For example, yesterday's flight left Atlanta at 11:30 and we arrived in Seattle at 1:45 - almost 5:00 EST.  With the changes in airlines - that means not food on a 5 hour flight.  I can count the amount of time it took for us to figure out how to navigate food for MJ and the rest of us.  We ended up getting some Chili's take out sandwiches for the plane ride.  We then finally got to eat an early supper at Amy's at 5:30 - around 8:30 EST.  We were starved, but we made it.

We all got back to the hotel about 7:30 pm.  All generations were asleep by 8:15 - even the teenager!

By 4:45 this morning, though, we were all awake.  Taking our time and willing ourselves for a little more sleep.  MJ was up, dressed, make-up on and looking for coffee by 6:00.  We were out the door looking for a hearty less expensive breakfast option by 7:45.  We walked about 1/2 a mile to a cafe/bar called 5 Points Cafe.  Great food!  But it was also a 24/7 bar.  So, while we ate breakfast the bar was open on the other side with several folks getting their daily alcohol intake at 8:00 am.

When we were done, we went looking for a cab and wound up walking to Pike's Market.  The streets were very quiet.  We met Amy, John, Julianne and Maxwell at the Market and enjoyed all of the unique and wonderful sounds and smells of the market.  By lunch, though, we were all exhausted and we ended up back at the hotel - taking a nap.  Hopefully, we can manage to stay up a little later tonight and see if can better manage the time frame.

Eric

Welcome to Seattle.

Outside pikes market.

First food

I had the bacon cakes - pancakes with bacon pieces. Eating at the breakfast happy hour of the 5 points cafe under the space needle. Favorite thing on menu - chicken fried bacon. Yep deep fried bacon.

Westin view and accent

As dad checks in the Westin,we stay outside in the 3 minute parking zone. Then the bell hop came up to our car and said if we were the family waiting to get our bags."well I don't know" mom says. The the bell hop,Brooks, says oh yes that you guys you have the same accent.then my mom burst out laughing. Well anyway as we get up to our room me and Sarah pick which room we wanted, Mama jean or Mom and dad of corse Sarah choose mama jean so she would have a week away from mom and dad but I was happy with that cause are room has a view of the Effie tower oh whoops I meant um I can't think of it but I'm sitting here looking at it. Wait. Dad reminded me the space needle. Well I have to go eat breakfast. Then a boat ride called ride the duck it's a car the floats so we ride
On land then in water

Sydney

Checking in ...

Welcome to Seattle from the top of the Westin. On the way to see our family.

The plane ride

We made it to Seattle. The adventure has truly begun. We had a wonderful trip. Sarah became friends with the kids traveling home by themselves. We all made lots of friends.

Eric

The ride to the airport

We had a great trip to airport this morning. It was made when we met Darrell our shuttle driver from Peachy Parking.

The best line was "Mama jean is on the scene!".

Our picture is posted below.

Nervous Jitters!

The Spivey girls in downtown Atlanta
just before we venture to Seattle.

It's the night before we travel to Seattle and all through the house ... it's finally quiet.  There has been a nervous energy about this trip.  I think it has to do with flying.

We have made many family trips, but this is the first time we have all flown together.  We took a few trips with the girls to visit family when they were infants and we could pay 1/2 price to bring their car seats.  Sydney was an infant the one and only time she flew.  Sarah on the other hand has become a frequent flyer.  She flew with me on a mission trip to Nicaragua in 2011 and just returned from a mission trip to CT on Saturday.  We had a great time welcoming her back to Georgia at the airport on Saturday.  Now, we head back to Atlanta for all of us to get on the plane.

Tomorrow comes quickly.  I have loaded the blogger app on my iphone and we hope to make several blog posts throughout the day.  

Eric

Hereeee we go. :)

I was awakened at 5:53 this morning to start an adventure with my family and grandma. Our flight leaves for Seattle, Washington at 11:20- and that is when the fun will begin! Now that I am a experienced flyer, seeing as I have flown to NYC and back in the past week, I am not as nervous about our flight. I am looking forward to a memorable week with my family, and some friends. From whale watching to coffee drinking, I have a feeling Seattle is going to have a special place in my heart after this week. I can't wait to experience Gods natural and hand crafted wonders. And I cant wait to see His love for my family. So, as I'm writing this on the way to the airport, I'm praying for safe travels and an exciting trip. As I've heard multiple times in the past three months from a certain family, "heree we go!" :)

A Time to Get Started ... A Time to Look Back

On Monday, July 30, the Spivey Family - Eric, Marcia, Sarah, Sydney and Mama Jean (Imogene Spivey, my mom) will set off on a cross country adventure to see my sister Amy and her family (we are bringing everyone except Lucy the dog, and Rigby, the female black snake that lives under the house somewhere and freaks us out!).  Rather than driving, we will all traipse through the Atlanta airport and board an Air Tran flight.  We will be looking for adventure. With Mama Jean in tow, we have now doubt we'll make it. 


Our plans are to keep this blog as a daily travel journey.  We hope to have the whole family blogging and journaling about the different adventures.  


In case you missed it, we did something similar in 2009 when we traveled to the Grand Canyon via car for 2 weeks.  Here's our blog from that trip:  http://thespiveysgrandcanyonblog.blogspot.com/.  If nothing else you can stand amazed as we are of our ever growing older family.  


Feel free to follow us on your blog reader and keep up with with Spiveys at Pike Market, the San Juan islands, on a duck tour, up the space needle and plenty of unforeseen adventures in between.  


Eric