Donuts in the park

We try to go to a "new " or less visited park once a week with Jared and Lydia during the summer months. Its funny to me how I love breakfast foods but still want donuts on special occasions. Often when we go grocery shopping Jared will ask if we can get donuts. How I would love to get them each time but we have to keep them special! The weather cooled down nicely yesterday (thank goodness! Those fires and firefighters really need it) and we spent a lovely morning at the park, with our donuts.

I remember my family going over to Ellis Lake in Marysville Saturday mornings and having muffins (I think we had them more then donuts).  We would chase the (somewhat threatening) ducks and try to feed them then have a simple picnic breakfast.  I think going a picnic for breakfast would be a lot of fun. But first my kids have to learn how to do a "picnic". We always bring lunch and they eat like three bites then just want to play. I am sure this is a common occurrence among children.

Done!

Today I finished Lydia's baby book.  It is the same book as Jared's just the girl version.  It was super fun to look back on the first year of her life.  She is such a fun sweet, little girl. Its amazing to think of all the things babies learn in the first year. 

To go from this: days old

To this: 12 months old

To this: (today 16.5 months old)

 

 I am so lucky to be this little girls mom. She is my sweet baby girl and so fun to be around. I am glad I got her book finished and look forward to looking through it with her. She doesn't particularly love to stop and take a picture but anytime I do take one she always comes over and "asks" to see the picture so I think she will love her book.

Colorado

This week has been a rough week for Colorado.  3 wildfires broke out this week all within 24 hours of each other. One of them is about 10 miles away from us and we know a few people who are in evacuation areas. We are not in any danger but can easily see it from our home. The other night the smoke was so thick it woke me up and I thought the fire somehow got right by us. This is from our neighborhood the first day. It's been very hot and the winds have been really strong. The humidity levels are in the single digits so its basically the worst possible conditions.

 

From our backyard the night the smoke woke me up, this is like 4:30 in the morning.  I could not get back to sleep for the life of me.

It's strange because last year the Waldo Canyon Fire broke out on June 26th so really similar timing. People have been talking about wildfire season and I didn't know it was a "known" or recurring time here.  I do not remember any big fires the first two years we lived here (2009-2010) but maybe I am just forgetting.  This fire, the Black Forest Fire is the most devastating fire in state history as far as property damage. 360 Homes have been destroyed and more could still be lost. 38,000 people have been evacuated! Last I read there are around 750 firefighters working on controlling the fire. We are perfectly safe but it is really close. Its so hard to go on living our normal lives when 10 miles away people are going through this and firefighters are working so hard. Colorado desperatly needs some rain and the wind to stop!

Water Baby

Jared finished his first set of swim lessons today.  There is a splash pad right next to the pool where he had his lessons so while Jared's teachers tried to convince him to do a "bob" (put his head all the way under the water) Lydia ran around the splash pad.  This little girl loves water!  Jared likes it fine but Lydia LOVES it. She has no fear about getting in the water and blowing bubbles and doing all kinds of tricks. Both kids loved running around the different water features. We are trying to switch Jared from M-F lessons to just Saturday lessons.  There is an aqua tots class on Saturday's that Lydia would LOVE! Then we could just go down there one day a week. We will see if there are any openings.  It would be so fun.

 

Growing up

Mark and I decided Jared was old enough for us to start taking him out to do little things one on one with us.  We have done this before but we are now going to really make an effort to take him out once a week during the summer and once a month (for each of us) after summer. So last week Mark took Jared bowling for the first time. He has played at miniature indoor ones like you find at fun centers but this was the first time he went to an authentic bowling alley. He had a great time.  They had bumpers on the lane and the ball ramp. Each time he got up to bowl he would say "On your mark, get ready set, GO!" He pulled out a 70 (which is about what I would have got without bumpers) and was so happy to go out with Mark. I can't wait to take him out this week.

Jared also started swim lessons this week. His first day was pretty confusing for him. He really hasn't spent a lot of time in swimming pools. I think he has been in a pool 8-10 times in the last 3 years.  His second day was much better.  He is such a happy kid. I am sure as the swim teachers it was frustrating that he didn't listen but I just think he didn't know what they were talking about.  They would say "Listen to the fishes" (Put your ear in the water) and "talk to the fish" (blow bubbles in the water) "Do a bob" (go all the way under the water) and he just sort of looked at them like they were crazy and smiled politely.  I am glad that even though he didn't know what to do he waited nicely and stayed happy. I really like the teachers too. There are 7 kids in the class with two teachers. They are nice and patient. Day 2 and 3 have been easier although he cannot do "big arm circles" for the life of him.  We did practice some at home but we will need to practice a lot more.  It is fun to see him in a new environment. This is his first organized class ever.  He will be attending preschool 2 days a week when school starts again and is just growing up so fast! He just brings us so much happiness.

 And how could you not smile when you see this:

Watermelon Girl

 

I put this picture on facebook and had a relative of mine commented how much she looks like me. I totally agree. It's the pig tails that does it! I think I looked just like this when I was 2 or so.