.The day before Emily started school a few weeks ago, we hiked up to Rattlesnake Ridge. This little dude welcomed us to the top of the mountain:

Rattlesnake Ridge is about a half-hour from downtown Seattle, near North Bend (where Twin Peaks was set). You just take I-90 to the second North Bend exit, but instead of going left to go to Mt. Si, you go right and follow the signs.Just in case anyone wants to pay a visit to our friend.