In Seattle, we were the lucky first set of guests in the Yen's redwood-forest manor.  We had a great couples night dinner, savoring the fresh seafood.  We swam and paddle-boated in the lake on blindingly blue sky days.  The kids screwed up their courage to tackle the high dive.  Kyle, Keaton and Jack went on a 2 night camping trip, where the pitched and slept in their own tent.  They weathered through the 6 am solitude time by the lake and sloshing through the mud, and they enjoyed the group games and customized meals.  While Kyle and Keaton were at camp, Alan toured downtown Seattle, and sat on the Game of Thrones at Paul Allen's EMP Museum, which was showing a Sci Fi & Fantasy exhibit - perfect!  We also biked through the awesome trails of Seattle.  What a wonderful way to start my sabbatical!

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Off to Irvine to see my cousin Cheryl, and for Kyle to hand out with his cousins' Emme and Adan.  We played laser tag, goggled at the picture-perfect malls, and ate good ole American food.  We did improv at night.  Cheryl gave us tickets to a quintessential Irvine event, Festival of the Arts, Pageant of the Masters.