Goodbyes are never easy...

For the last few days of my 7 year, 4 month stint at Naughty Dog Inc,  we partied and celebrated many good times together. Long hugs and some teary eyes followed...then I walked out the door for the last time. I have to say it was the hardest goodbye of my career, because leaving so many good friends behind just plain sucks.

But two full days on the road with a four-month old baby boy can bring a person back to reality and make them forget the past pretty quick!

He survived, as did his parents. Luckily, we had Nicole's mom, Chris with us.

I followed them in the "new" Toyota pickup truck and we had walkie-talkies to keep in touch during cell phone blackouts. We spent the night Saturday in Redding, saving the Siskyou pass for Sunday morning. The drive usually takes 15 hours but with Elliot it was 25. This was a major reality check for all of us, except maybe Chris.

After arriving in Bellevue, we spent the first night with Jacqueline and Alex at their place downtown. Then we waited for the movers to come on Tuesday morning.

After a few attempts at reaching our house with their HUGE semi trailer truck, they had to back all the way down our street (about 1000 feet). They did an amazing job and nothing got damaged or lost. United Van Lines operated by "Suddath Relocations" was the company. Everything went perfectly and it was our best move ever.

Nicole's dad Ross came down from Surrey, BC to help us settle in to the new house. We went to Home Depot and picked up some needed items like ladders, caulking, tools, etc. Ross and I (well mostly Ross) installed hardwood laminate flooring in the office, replacing the carpet that was there. We also cleaned off the roof and cleared the rain gutters. Many of the electrical sockets in the house were out of date, so we put in GFIs and grounded 3-prongs. The place needs a lot of work still, but it's very live-able right now.

On Saturday the 27th Jacqueline, Ross, Chris, Elliot, Nicole and I rode the ferry  to San Juan Island and visited Suzy & Hawk at their new home. They've been working on it for a few years and are finally living there full-time. Paisley and Haley were there too, along with their kids.

Paisley and Peter's new baby girl, Amelie was also there!

The family-time was amazing and such a great experience. The best part is knowing that were living up here now, and can do this whenever we want, instead of once a year.

I even got to see my aunt Kit, whom I haven't seen in about 12 years. I'm trying to get a picture us us from Suzy (it will be posted here when I get it).

We're so glad to finally be up here and living this new stage of our lives.

 

-Rob

 

 

  

My last few days (and nights) at Naughty Dog were a lot of fun, but also sad.

 

 

The drive was loooong. After our first day, and 11 hours on the road, crammed into his car seat, Elliot crashed and burned on the bed -spread eagle, fast asleep.

 

 

 

Rob and Elliot watch "Knocked Up" over at Jacqueline and Alex's place in downtown Bellevue. Elliot critiques all the baby scenes.

 

 

 

On Saturday we all ride the ferry over to San Juan Island. Chris shows Elliot the bow of the boat, and the splashing waves.

 

 

 

Elliot decides it's a lot warmer and cozier to watch the ocean from inside the cabin.

 

 

 

 

Hawk reads the kids some spooky halloween bed-time stories.

 

 

Pumpkin carving! Haley shows us all how it's done with her amazing pumpkin skills.

 

 

 

Haley's finished pumpkin on the front porch.

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan ran up and down the path, carrying his giant leaf.

 

 

 

 

Cora pauses from runnin' around to smile for the camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner, Peter takes a moment to watch his new daughter, Amelie sleep in his arms.

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte pensively looks at the camera before heading inside to find the other kids.

 

  

 

Erica came by for hugs and "goodbyes" before we rolled out on Saturday morning, the 20th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She holds Elliot one last time before letting him go. She's hoping to visit us some time in the next six months.

 

 

 

 

 

The giant moving truck had to back all the way down our street, but they managed to do it somehow...

 

 

 

 

The movers did such a great job that Rob had to pose with them.

 

 

Inside the warm cabin of the ferry, Nicole and Jacqueline carefully mark exams for Jacqueline's high school chemistry class.

 

 

Elliot sports some new clothes at Suzy and Hawk's house.

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing quite beats having the family you love meeting other family you love and spending quality time together. Here's Ross and Suzy sharing a smile.

 

 

 

 

That night, Elliot and Rob take a bath in the big wood tub.

 

 

 

On Sunday morning we took a walk through the misty forest, and Rob shot this pic of Little Red Riding Hood.

 

 

 

 

 

Cora and Morgan test their wood gliders off the deck of Suzy and Hawk's house. Morgan's glider flew out across the property, over the cliffs, and out into the ocean. It landed past the kelp beds and Peter used the Kayak to retrieve it. In all, it probably flew about 150 feet.

 

 

Cora wrassles with Haley out on the patio near the sea.

 

 

 

Charlotte samples a bottle of Alaska Amber Ale. How she's holding that bottle is anyone's guess.

 

 

 

 

 

Elliot tries on the "hatching chick" costume.