Summer Fun -- July

July was fun and low-key -- as low-key as settling into a new-yet-not-quite-completely-finished home can be with all the other demands of everyday life!  We love being around our neighbor friends, and the kids have joined in all the day-to-day fun seamlessly.  The Fourth of July was a typically social neighborhood event, with decent weather this year, too.  Both kids managed to stay up for the fireworks.  Joseph really liked them, keeping his eyes peeled for all the sights in the sky for the entire show.  Jadyn wore the ear protection that Jeff wears when mowing the lawn, and that helped her enjoy the fireworks without worrying about the noise.

A few days later, we joined up with neighbors and watched the Wallingford Kids' Parade together.  There was quite a bit of candy and other free goodies that get handed out by some of the outfits in the parade, and these items entertained the kids for days.

Jadyn with Mila and Cleo

Joseph watching the parade

Enjoying the parade goodies

After the parade ended, there was a festival of sorts with booths, food, and various bouncy-house attractions.  Jadyn had a blast on the long slide.

Jadyn has started a weekly gymnastics class on Saturdays, with some of her other friends, and she loves the different class activities and playing on all the equipment.

Gymnastics class is FUN

Jenny taught a couple of classes on campus for summer quarter, which was a bit of a challenge when Joseph got sick.  The office staff was fantastic, playing with Joseph while Jenny was with students, and helping him eat some lunch and then take a snooze.  Here he is napping in the conference room one day when Jenny couldn't miss her classes, yet he had been asked to stay away from his classmates.

But mostly July was low-key fun activities around the house and at school.

Practicing tying laces on Mom's running shoes

Riding a bike at school

We went for gelato one afternoon at Tutta Bella, and Jadyn got creative with the Wiki-stix.

Wiki-stix eyeglasses

One of the lowest tides of the year fell on a gray Sunday morning in July, and we made the effort to get out and investigate the beach at Carkeek Park.  Joseph rode on Daddy's back for the explorations near the water, and while Jadyn started off curious (albeit with her nose closed -- she didn't like the smell), she got cold quickly and begged to go to play in the park instead.  She tried every piece of play equipment there, and Joseph tried so hard to keep up with her.  He fell asleep within minutes of returning to the car.

Another fun and new activity this summer has been running through the sprinkler.  Jadyn loves it, and Joseph enjoys it a lot, too, though he is not quite sure what to do when water drips down his face.

Another huge hit was a bit random, a play doctor kit we checked out as part of a "backpack" of fun activities from the kids' school.  Jadyn would call us for our appointments -- she'd stand in the doorway of the room where we were, and call, "Jenny!" or "Jeff!"  All appointments included injections of some sort, regardless of the symptoms described.  Once Joseph got the hang of being treated by Dr. Jadyn, he tried to administer some medicine on his own.  Here he is putting on the stethoscope, and then moments later deciding to pet the cat.  Maybe he was playing vet rather than doctor....

One Sunday while the family went for a walk/jog at a local park, Jadyn used her skuut bike to check out some of the ramps in the skate park.  Shortly after we arrived, a free skateboarding clinic for kids got set up (they supply all equipment and safety gear -- a fantastic deal for parents!), and Jadyn was totally interested.  She got up on a board and worked on a couple of very basic skills before becoming frustrated that she wasn't allowed yet to take the board into the skate park.  But she lasted through about an hour of group instruction, which we thought was pretty good for a 4 year old and her first skateboarding experience.

And Farmers' Markets in Seattle -- what would summer be without them?!?!  There are two that we visit pretty frequently, and we often see our friend Madi there.  Here are Madi and Jadyn swinging together at the park where one of these markets are held.  They've been friends for more than three years now, and it's been so fun to watch them grow up in parallel.

August adventures, you ask?  Yes, coming soon!