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!

Lots of Changes in June

June 2013 brought lots of big changes for us: Jadyn transitioned to pre-K at her school, we moved out of the condo and into our renovated home, and Joseph took his first steps -- and then kept on walking!  Once he decided it was time to walk, it was TIME.  He's been very steady on his feet ever since.  So here are some photos of all the fun of June....

Enjoying a swing together at a local park

Snoozing in Jenny's office on a day he was "excused" from class for a fever

The kiddos enjoying the Ballard Farmer's Market one Sunday

Joseph enjoying play time at a birthday party

Jadyn enjoying cupcakes at the same birthday party

She loved the party favors!

Decorating Daddy's Father's Day card

Joseph practicing with Daddy's Sonicare toothbrush

Playing with Dave at the coffeeshop

The kiddos playing on the couch at the condo -- the last photo of them together there!

Jadyn enjoying the art table again, in the new house

Joseph found a great book and Jadyn's new reading chair

Joseph explored every new cupboard

And was not afraid to crawl in to tight spaces!

And this video was taken the night he finally decided it was time to walk.  We had witnessed several instances of a step or two together over the previous week or two, but each of those cases were isolated and he did not repeat the steps later in the same day.  This evening, we walked a couple of blocks to a restaurant, and on the way there, he was assisted by parents' helping hands.  After eating, it was raining, so we carried him home.  As soon as we set him down inside, much to our surprise, he walked all the way down the hallway into the living room!  Mommy noticed when he started his trek and counted the steps -- 16 in a row before he stopped at the couch to hold on and rest.  This video was taken a few minutes later.  He still crawls occasionally, but from this evening on (June 20th, 14.5 months old), he has been primarily a walker.  Each child in his own time!

 

Memorial Day Weekend in MI

For Memorial Day weekend, we stretched it a day longer and flew to MI on Friday for a wedding weekend at Granny Pat and Grandpa Jim's.  They renewed their wedding vows in style and with a big party.  Everyone had such a good time!  The kids were pretty good with all the flying and driving, and it was so nice to see so much family all at once.

Squeezing into the trunk of the rental car -- for fun!

Saturday was the party day....

Jadyn is a dancing machine!

Enjoying some fun dress up party clothes 

We were sure (well, Mommy was sure) that Joseph would take his first steps without a helping hand on this trip, but it was not to be.  Too many people there to play with and to hold him and carry him!  Plus he is such a good crawler -- his incentive to change his mode of locomotion is low.

 

The kids stayed up late and didn't sleep in like they should, so they were pretty tired.  Joseph took a good nap each day.  But every chance he got, he lobbied for a ride in one of the Gators.  He loved it!

Snoozing on Mommy

A natural at the wheel!

Jadyn and Daddy also very much enjoyed tooling around in a Gator.  (Mommy prefers riding in them when it is NOT hayfever season.)

Jadyn found time to do some crafts in Granny Pat's craft room.  Auntie Julie was a great help with these crafting projects.

And just like that, we were back home for dinner and the usual bedtime routine on Monday night.

We are grateful for the loving family that makes these fun gatherings happen.  Maybe the next one will be in Seattle at our newly renovated home.  Wouldn't that be fun?!?!

Spring in Seattle

Honestly, we've been quite busy, pretty tired, and too often under the weather to have taken LOTS of pictures over the last couple of months.  But we have taken photos occasionally, and so we can share a few from this spring in Seattle.

Finding a seat in a storage container

Playing dress up as a Viking

Cool dude in sunglasses

Joseph loves to eat!

These were taken on Mother's Day, at a playground near Green Lake.   We walked all the way around the lake (about 3 miles) as a family -- a first in a very long time for all of us.  From the photos it might look like we were the only family at the playground, but that was definitely not the case.

Waiting to go down the slide

I'm such a good climber!

Still loving time on a swing

I can swing by myself now!

It's so hard to reach the chains
on these big bucket swings!

She's so good on her skuut bike
now that we need to get her
a pedal bike this summer!

Our next post will include photos from our Memorial Day weekend trip.  Stay tuned!