4th of July

We met Alex on Bainbridge Island after work on Friday. It was a jam packed day that started off with a bang. I started getting ready to leave the house around 1 for a 2 p.m. departure in order to catch a 3 p.m. ferry out of downtown. It's best to give myself A LOT of time when I really have to be someplace on schedule. We actually got out of the driveway at 2:06 (amazing) and headed into town to find a place to park and walk on the ferry. Thankfully there was no traffic but also no parking - cruise ship and baseball game. So we finally found a spot under the viaduct north of the Pike Place Market. I loaded up the kids in the double stroller and jogged to the terminal. I was sweating, red in the face and panting when I bought the tickets but we made it with 5 minutes to spare. I need to get to the gym more!

It was a perfect day and Bainbridge Island is a pretty place. We went to Hank and Chelle's for good food, mojitos, and fireworks. Both Hank and Chelle are two of the nicest people you could meet and they have a backhoe so fun was had by all. Cole is actually past his big machinery phase and onto his Star Wars / good vs. evil phase. I hope it's a phase. Cole introduced himself either as Anikan Vader, Han Solo or Luke Skywalker. When we first arrived he ran up to a group of people he didn't know, jumped into a fighting pose with arm raised, and yelled STAR WARS.

Drooling over the box of fireworks.



Throwing POP-ITS.



Audrey and Dad eating. Audrey liked the grilled salmon.



Audrey's always happy in Daddy's arms.



Here an older boy lights bottle rockets (there had to have been over 100 of these in the box) to the delight of Cole and his new pals. Unfortunately he decided to attach a lego man to the rocket. What is it with boys?! I hoped that Cole didn't notice and was satisfied to be amazed by the loud sounds and missiles flying up into treetops.



The boys would squeal "awesome" every time and ask for more.



We decided to head home before the big show. It was 8:30 and Audrey's usual bedtime is 7. Alex dropped Cole and I off at the market so we could catch the show over Elliot Bay. It was a long day and night. Cole fell asleep around 11 - possibly a record and he proceeded to wake up whiny and grumpy.

Building Things

We've been slowly opening and playing with gifts from Cole's buddies that he received at his pool birthday party.

We had fun building this lego motorcycle (actually I built the motorcycle while Cole played with the lego man and alien). This kit was labeled 7-14 years old but his little girlfriend that gave it to him was so pleased to see how much he liked it. She knew he would.





We built this Lincoln Log fort a couple days ago.



Cole ran off with Audrey's pj's on the other night. I've decided that pink just looks wrong on a man's dress shirt after having seen several examples recently but Cole looks ok in pink.

Cole in Audrey's pj's.



Audrey in Cole's (old) pj's.

Swimming Firsts

We've been up to a lot these last days of Alex's off week but I don't have too many pictures to show for it.

We all went swimming at Mounger Pool in Magnolia yesterday. It's an outdoor pool with one very shallow, very warm pool for little ones and another bigger pool for laps, pool slide, etc. Cole went down the slide by himself and I was at the bottom to catch him. He loved it and wanted "to do it again, and again, and again!" We also dove down to touch the bottom of the pool with our hands (4 feet deep). He had a great time and Audrey enjoyed bobbing around with dad.

Today at his swim lessons he jumped off the diving board into 12 feet of water with his instructor waiting to help him. This was a first yet he didn't flinch.

We drove up to Bellingham to look at a house and we may make an offer. We both liked the house.

Strawberries and the Car Show

It was predicted to be in the 90's this weekend so Alex thought we should get out of town and on the water. We spent the night in Port Townsend on Friday - Alex LOVES Port Townsend. I must admit I was taken by the charming houses and stunning scenery.

We spent the day at Fort Warden enjoying the cool breezes, views of Mt. Baker and Rainier, and playing on the beach.



As busy and industrious as Alex is at home, he is just as happy lounging on a beach. Although he is usually scheming on how he can build a sailboat.



Audrey.









Cole.





Building a sand castle with a moat.



Audrey and I after a walk up the beach. She took a small nap while I carried her.



Though Alex took many pictures at the vintage car show, this was my favorite car.



After checking out the cars we went to Sequim to pick strawberries, explored another beach near Port Townsend and then headed home.



This farm will soon have a field of lavander in bloom.



It was another hot day today. We enjoyed a day at a neighborhood park and bbq'ed at home. Cole wrote his name in chalk on the brick patio.





Cole and Audrey eating potato chips while Alex finishes dinner.





Big sister came home from Mexico today with lots of stories. She and Cole hung out and listened to Kenny Chesney while I blogged tonight.

Glasses and Keb' Mo'

We went to Cole's 4 year appointment recently and found out that he needs glasses. It was striking at his appt. when I helped him look at the eye chart. He did ok for the left eye then when I covered the left eye he couldn't even see the first item on the chart. He insisted on pulling my hand away from his left eye so he could see. He tested 70/20 in his right eye. So now we are stuck with nagging him about putting his glasses on - a formidable task!



Cole has been excited about going to a Zoo Tunes Concert recently - Keb' Mo' and Taj Mahal. We went last week on a stunning Northwest sunny day to meet friends Lisa B. and her kids Ava (Cole's best-friend) and Ian. Keb' Mo' and Taj Mahal were amazing and the family scene was equally vibrant.

Here is a picture of Cole sparring with the swamp creature from a local tideland preservation campaign called Mudup. If I've not mentioned it before, Cole is crazy for all things Star Wars. He is using his "force powers" here on the swamp creature and the swamp creature is playing along.



Dad and baby sister at the concert.



Audrey was a pretty easy going concert goer. She charmed the people around her with her smile.



Cole had a fun time hanging with the older boys (8 & 9) but also had time to get into and dance to the music. Wherever he goes he makes contact with people - dancing and saying howdy.



Cole's best friend Ava. They amuse themselves with seemingly nonsensical banter that only they find amusing. I guess the definition of a best friend.



Lisa and Ava, our good, good friends.



Taj.



A very tired Cole leaning against Dad toward the end of the concert.



Sweet, sweet Audrey.

And more parties

We gathered at Aunt Gabe's house to celebrate Christina's graduation. This was Daniel's first introduction to the family. He and Christina headed to Mexico the next day to visit his family's home town near Guadalajara.



Grandma Sharon, Christina and Aunt Gabe



Cole looking a bit like Sting from the Police because of the short hair and bumblebee shirt.



Jackie seasoning Cole's belly with some salt and pepper before taking a nibble. A fun game that never fails to cause howls of laughter.



On Saturday we threw a pool party for Cole's 4th birthday. I originally planned the party for May 11 not remembering that it was Mother's Day. So I had to reschedule and June 21 was the next available date. This will be a perennial problem since his birthday will frequently fall on Mother's Day weekend.

We filled the place up with 40 of Cole's buddies and their parents. We had berries, pizza and cake. Cole picked the cake out at Costco - chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and strawberry mousse filling. It was surprisingly good, in fact if you get a Costco cake you should get that combo for sure!



Audrey likes the pool too.



This slip and slide mat is out in the deeper end of the pool. Some of the kids put life jackets on and played out there with their parents. Here Audrey stands holding Alex's hands.



We came home and immediately set up one of Cole's gifts - this race track.

Golden Gardens Sunshine

I love Golden Gardens. We went today in the late afternoon because ... why not? We met Christina and her friends Lauren and Zane.

Lauren with Audrey. She is so great with the kids - like another older sister.





Christina being glamorous.



Cole and Zane starting a drip castle.



Continued work on the castle.



The island castle with Shilshole Marina in the background. The beach is the perfect place for kids of all ages. It is enough to build something with sand.



Audrey managed to eat probably a teaspoon of sand.











Cole is always at home on the beach.



Sisters. I'm going to really miss having Christina at the house when she has her own life at college. It's just starting to sink in that she's grown up and moving away soon. Of course she'll be back for breaks and some weekends but we will be seeing a whole lot less of her and worse for it.









Alex and the little ones in the wagon.