Hot Weekend in August

Still trying to catch up with posting pictures for you all to enjoy....

We had two hot spells this summer, the second one falling on a weekend in mid-August. For three days the temperature was over 90. On the hot Saturday, Jadyn had a playdate at Alexa's house, and they enjoyed some water play in Alexa's yard.



You may notice the tell-tale evidence of Jadyn's first chocolate chip cookie experience!

Jadyn also liked playing with Alexa's kitchen set-up.


Back at home later that afternoon, when it was topping out at about 95 outside and heating up to 85 in the house, Jadyn thought it was a perfect time to try on her winter hats and mittens. We couldn't decide if Jadyn was displaying a clever sense of humor or if she was truly oblivious to the heat.



Then the little storage crates became objects of play, too.



She decided to show off some of her signs for the camera: more,

bird,

and book.

The next day, still in the 90's, we went to the zoo for a bit in the morning. Lots of the zoo animals were laying low due to the heat. We got to see a bear take a swim! Here is Jadyn looking for otters,

and hanging with Mommy.

The following weekend, a family gathering at Grandpa Jim's and Granny Pat's brought us all to Michigan. Jadyn got to see a real live cow for the first time.


She was a little nervous to get THIS close to a horse -- they're so big and tall!

Per usual, she enjoyed wiping up near the sink, with Aunt Julie. Such a little helper!


Upon returning home, breakfast in a laundry basket was tons of fun,


as was trying on Daddy's flip-flops.

When Mommy was out giving her students their final exams, Jadyn began a climbing fascination with the "coffee cart". She knows this is where we make coffee in the mornings, and she wants to get in on the barista action. She climbs this cart multiple times a day now, and we're looking forward to her tiring of this game, as we are very tired of explaining how dangerous and unsafe it is.

The most-fun food we've introduced this summer has to be corn on the cob. Jadyn adores it! We'll all be sad when the markets no longer sell the yummy, super fresh ears of corn, but we know this is the sort of thing that makes summer so special.

At long last, another update!

Where has the summer gone??? Here are some photos from this mostly cooler, grayer, and wetter than usual summer. These were taken at the end of July and the very beginning of August.

Trying on some shades

Tempting Cosmo with his fishing pole toy



Hiding behind the couch is no longer "safe" for the cats!

Fastening stroller straps is a much-loved activity

Learning how to operate Daddy's mouse


Still working hard on putting on shoes herself


Enjoying the Taiko drumming at the "From Hiroshima to Hope" event at Green Lake
(you can see more pictures of the event, including the lanterns floating after dark, which was too late for us to stay for, at http://www.mygreenlake.com/2010/08/from-hiroshima-to-hope-3/ )

She loves the book "Dear Zoo" -- it has flaps to lift and lots of animals to see. Here she is roaring like a lion

and "sssss-ing" like a snake.

After drawing a picture and crinkling up the paper, it was time to put the pencil in her pocket

and then play "hide Jadyn in a grocery bag."


By about this point in August, Jadyn knew the names of all of her teachers and classmates, and she could identify which shoes and jackets belong to which of her classmates -- just in time for us to gear up for her transition from the young toddler room to the next toddler room (for kids about 18 months to about 2 and a half). The next post will include photos from a trip to MI later in August!

More Escapades in July

On a nice weekend after the 4th, we went to the fish ladder at the Ballard Locks to see if any fish were running. Sockeye, sockeye, everywhere! Jadyn was fascinated. "Fish, fish!" sounds more like "Fissss, fissss!" but she is clear about what she is seeing....




Here she noticed a plane overhead

We also spent a few days in Las Vegas last week for Uncle Jason's wedding. While Vegas is meant as a playground for people a little older than toddlers, Jadyn did her best to live it up. She found the big fish tank in the Mandalay Bay lobby as exciting as the fish ladder back at home.



She also liked looking out the window at the Mandalay Beach pools, and all the people having fun in the water. "Wa-wa! Wa-wa!"


And of course there was a lot of hugging

And dancing


'til she dropped!

We were also lucky to spend some time in the pool area, with the benefit of a cabana to rest a bit away from the burning hot rays of the desert sun in Vegas. It was 110+ degrees that day, which was brutal, but the water made it bearable. Jadyn enjoyed floating with both Mom and Dad in the Lazy River, and she even took a nap in the cabana when she couldn't take anymore fun.



Upon returning home, she loved being back in her usual environment with all her familiar toys around her. One afternoon, Jadyn emptied a dresser drawer of blankets and burp cloths as she put several of her stuffed animals down for a nap. She has been playing like this at school, tucking blankets around baby dolls on cots, but this was the first we enjoyed this new activity with her at home. You'll see how seriously she took this endeavor by looking at the expression on her face!




New words: up, down, hat, hot, elbow, tiger, apple, eggs, berries, banana, cracker, and some of her school playmates' names and names of neighbors. Her version of her own name sounds more like "Day-dhin" but we understand it -- same thing for her versions of yogurt, carrot, and blanket. She's really good at pointing out and saying about 10-12 body parts. We are going to have to get creative and try things like wrist, armpit and thigh, because she's got most of the obvious ones down. Oh, Jadyn, how are your parents ever going to keep up with you?!?!?!

Happy 4th of July!

Jadyn's latest all-consuming obsession is shoes. She has now managed to get her own socks and shoes on occasionally, so when the fancy strikes her, she'll take off the shoes she's wearing and try one from another pair. Or she'll put on her sassy purple boots for breakfast on the porch.

Or she'll line up Mom's and Dad's shoes, in pairs, on the living room floor.

Or she'll try on Mom's running shoes!

Her knowledge of body parts is expanding.... She correctly identifies elbow now, and we're working on heel. The other day we were explaining the lower part of her leg is called her shin, and she immediately pointed to her CHIN. We didn't know she knew chin. So we decided to work on cheek, too. You can never be too knowledgeable about your own body!

While Seattle's recent winter was mild and bright, this spring has been cooler and grayer than most. We have yet to see 80 degrees this summer, though we are forecasted for a "heat wave" (upper 80's) later this week. However, we aren't there yet, and the 4th of July was around 60, gray, with occasional light rain. We hosted a BBQ for neighbors that was spent mostly inside the house. Jadyn stayed up far later than usual but did not make it to witness the fireworks. We did catch her hanging out during the party, chillin' in her bunny chair with her Seattle Sounders shirt on (a gift from our soccer team),

sippin' some milk,

chattin' it up about her latest good read.

This is in stark contrast to out mid-80'd backyard BBQ last 4th of July. We marvel at how much Jadyn has changed in a year! One year ago.... No teeth!


We hope you had a good 4th of July weekend, too. Stay tuned for more adventures!