Whew!

What a weekend!  We need another weekend to recover.

Yesterday we took our first trip to Jetty Island.  It's a man-made island, and a failed attempt to create a harbor for the Port of Everett.  Anyway, you jump on the ferry and take a maybe 5-minute ride over, and there you are!  Sandy beach, warm shallow water...I'm not sure if we were in Washington or Florida!  You're really roughing it over there...no paved walkways, one pit toilet, a first aid station, some volleyball nets and a few fire pits...that's it.

It was a blast!

After we claimed our patch of sand, Blake got down to business.

Oh hello there.

Side note - Walking is not far off!  All at once, in the past few days or so, she has been stringing together more than the usual 2 to 3 steps.  Try 9 to 10 steps.  Well, they go something like: step-wobble-step-wobble-step-wobble...  She's still crawling primarily, but when the mood strikes she can wobble-step her way across a room (in a few minutes!).  

So, we played in the sand for a while, and then went down to check out the water.  Hollie put her toes in and admitted that it was warm but didn't want to go any farther.  I was ready to jump right in, so I convinced her to let me carry her out.  We waded out until I was in up to my waist, and then the water started getting  a little cold, so we went back.  Daniel was standing a watching us, and Blake was holding onto his legs and watching too, and it was so cute that I told him to wait there while I went to find the camera.  Then I remembered...

...it was in my pocket.

Along with my phone.

So, they're pretty much useless.  We tried the bowl of rice trick overnight, and it hasn't helped either of them.  We think the salt water must have corroded them, so just drying them out doesn't help.  Somehow I still got the beach pictures from the memory card.  I'm really glad I spent a little extra on a warranty for the camera!

We will definitely be going back.

Today, Daniel had to finish up a presentation for work on Monday, so I took the girls to the Mill Creek Festival.  We went specifically the watch the dogs dock-jumping competition.  Daniel and I had seen it once a long time ago on TV (a slow day on ESPN, maybe) and were intrigued, and this was our first chance to see it in person (and Daniel missed it).  One at a time, the dogs get a running start and leap off the end of a platform to retrieve a lure at the end of a 20-foot pool, and are judged on their time or distance, depending on the competition.  The winner of the time competition was about 5 and a half seconds, and the longest distance was 7 feet, if I remember right.  After the competition, they allowed any of the spectators who had brought a dog to try it out.  One dog refused to jump, and just ran back and forth across the platform, evading his owner!  Most would run down, screech to a halt at the edge, and fall timidly into the water.  Hollie and a bunch of other kids were lining the edge of the above-ground pool, waiting to be splashed after every jump.  So much fun!

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So, here's something I've been meaning to do for a while.  I've taken some great video over the last few weeks.  Enjoy...

July 1st - Blake's birthday party!

There were so many little kids and adults (big kids) running around that I decided not to try my luck at getting everyone together (and quiet) so I could take video.  I knew we'd be doing this again on her real birthday anyway.    

PS - I keep all the videos and pictures that Hollie takes when it's her turn with the camera.  Really should post them sometime.  :)

July 5th - Blake's ACTUAL birthday!  

Skyping with Pepere...

and birthday cookies...

Yesterday - Miss Blake has a little fever.  :(  I think she's teething again - four isn't enough, she wants more! 

 

She started making this silly noise, and we all agreed...she's loopy!  Poor girl.  She's been sleeping a lot, and cool baths are really helping.  Despite feeling bad for her, I could watch this video all day long.  :)

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I don't think I ever mentioned...

Hollie's first week of school went great!  On the last day, I went to observe her class.  She still hadn't been telling me much of what she was doing.  She had fun, she played...that was all I was getting.  Everyday when I picked her up, the teacher would tell me, she's so sweet, she did great!  but I still wondered, and I realized that my underlying concern was: yes, she's sweet and doing great, but she's three, and she's new at this school thing...so I think what you mean is that she struggling just the way a new student is supposed to struggle...and I want to know just exactly what she's struggling with!  Not because I'm going to fix it at home, but just because I want to know!  

It was really nice.  She went right in and passed the spot by the door where she needed to leave her backpack, so I reminded her.  After that, she knew just where to take off her shoes and put on her slippers. She hung with me a little bit, hung with the kids a little bit, then wandered by herself for a minute before getting out a beading thing.  She took it to a table, used it for a minute, then got up and put it back.  

Then, the teacher, Miss Cindy, showed her how to pour water into a little three-dimensional land form to create a bay (there were other forms for rivers, lakes, etc.), and place a few small objects in it (some animals, a train, a boat) based on whether they belong in the water or on land.  Hollie put the giraffe in the water and when her teacher questioned it, Hollie said he was taking a bath.  Miss Cindy got up to help another student, and Hollie moved the pieces around for a while before cleaning up.  She asked me if she could do another one, and I said yes, but she still went to ask Miss Cindy if it was okay!  

She needed some reminding from me about where to put everything away, and a reminder (on a few occasions) from Miss Cindy to push in her chair (before you pick up the thing you're putting away!).  

Next she had a snack.  There was a bowl of goldfish crackers (Hollie's crazy about these) with a cup for scooping and a little paper with a number "1" and a single line (for the kids who don't know numbers yet), indicating everyone is allowed one scoop.  Hollie apparently hadn't been taught about this yet, and wasn't willing to take my word for it, so she had two scoops.  She needed some guidance from me to wash her dish, and I could tell she was losing focus quickly so I didn't even mention pushing the chair in.  

Next she caught sight of a whole cup-full of kid scissors.  Irresistible.  Miss Cindy showed her where to find strips of paper that were just wide enough to cut with one snip.  Hollie took it to a table and got right to work.  Her teacher commented on how good at it she was...I didn't mention that I never let her use scissors at home (I'm kind of paranoid about it).  Maybe it's time to start.  She put all the tiny snips of paper into an envelope and gave them to me to send to Grandma.  I'm sorry Mom, I was really going to send them to you but I lost the envelope!  :(

After this (and another reminder to push in her chair), she began wandering again, so I decided it was time to leave (just enough time to run one quick errand...).  She's just the same Hollie that she is at home.  I should have known.  Feels good to have seen it though. 

Birthday girl

Last Sunday we invited friends into our home for the first time, for Blake's early birthday celebration.  There was plenty of food (brought by our guests instead of gifts), strawberry cupcakes made from fresh strawberries picked on a rainy day by yours truly...and with two three-year olds, THREE one-year olds (counting the almost one-year old), and one six-month old...lots of noise and craziness!  And not much picture taking, unfortunately.

I made a strawberry frosting for the cupcakes, and planned to let the older kids decorate theirs.  However, I put the frosting in the fridge before the party and it turned into...not frosting.  I have no idea what happened!  I improvised by putting peanut butter on the kids' cupcakes so the sprinkles would stick, but the kids weren't impressed, and of course, just ate the sprinkles.  Everyone else, including Blake, had their cupcakes plain and were very happy with the way they turned out.  

So, for Blake's actual birthday, the girls and I went to the library for story-time, then while Hollie was at school the birthday girl and I ran errands and enjoyed some sunshine, then picked up Hollie and Daddy, and visited the pediatrician...

22lbs 1oz (75th percentile)

28 and 1/4 inches (25th percentile)

Healthy as a horse, of course!

...and went to our new favorite sushi place for dinner.  Of course.  :)

Back at home, we Skyped with Pepere, and I made a few cookies (just to have something to put the candle in), and we sang to her probably pretty close to the minute she was born one year ago today (I realized later).

Whew, busy day.  Happy Birthday, Blake!

Is it just me...

...or should I say, is it just my computer, or do you all see a lot of text highlighted in white and really hard to read?  I don't know why that keeps happening.  If any of you know, I would love to hear your theories.  I will mess with things and see if I can't fix it.  In the meantime you can highlight that text with your cursor to make it easier on your eyes.

Firsts

Monday was Hollie's highly anticipated first day of school.  Last week we had gone in for a second classroom visit, and when another little girl asked me why I was there, and I explained, Hollie told me she didn't want me to come next time!  She was ecstatic to learn that she would soon be attending every day.  


This school has an awesome, very flexible summer school schedule.  Each week has a theme, and you sign up for as many weeks as you want.  For example, Hollie's first week is woodworking.  We decided that we would ease her in by taking a few weeks off after that, and then doing two consecutive weeks (puppetry and frogs/amphibians), and taking a few more weeks off before the school year starts in September.  Throughout the summer and fall,she will be attending only in the afternoons.  This school is has a looong waiting list for the mornings, and we knew that by choosing afternoons we'd have the best chance of getting her in (and we still spent a number of months on the waiting list anyway!).  Lately Hollie's been taking an afternoon nap maybe once every couple of days, so I think we're just going to be a little more aware of the time and making sure she's getting to bed earlier.  

take one

take two

take three

priceless!!!

That first day was tough for me!  I was just on edge, and I tried and tried but just couldn't put a finger on what was stressing me out.  I wasn't worried that she wouldn't do well.  She has a quiet, respectful nature especially around people she doesn't know well (yeeeeah, the wild child comes out when she gets to know you!).  I thought maybe it was a control thing.  I have always had control over those three hours of her day, and now I don't.  But I have such great faith in the Montessori philosophy that I knew without a doubt that those three hours would be well spent.  


Drop-off went fine.  We got inside and she made a bee-line for the classroom, and I was afraid I was going to have to chase her down for a good-bye, but before I had even said anything she turned around for a quick hug...and then she was off!  I tell ya, this girl had a brief fling with separation anxiety once at about 18-months of age, but has not known it since.


It wasn't until I picked Hollie up that first day that I realized what had been bugging me.  


I wasn't going to know what she had done in those three hours.


Without asking her teachers every day.  Because I have one very very imaginative, tall-tale-telling girl here.  She can't tell me accurately what she had for breakfast without including a story, much less what she did for three hours at school.  Case in point - When I picked her up that first day, her teacher only told me that she had been "happy and bubbly" the whole time, which in itself was great to hear.  As I buckled Hollie in, I asked her what she had done, and here are her answers:


"We had a tree night."  Huh?????  Never got any further explanation on that one.

"We learned a song about trees."
All she could remember was:
"I am a tree
Here I am
I begin a seed."

That's all I got.  I'm fairly certain that there is some at least partial truth, because of the woodworking theme, but for all I know, she made up the song herself.  I asked if she'd had a snack.  She had - just grapes, no pretzels (they have a snack table where the kids can get their own snacks at any time, and they wash and dry their dishes afterward - I love this.)  She'd also had some water to drink.  I asked if she had gone outside.  She said yes, just to sit down (they also paint, play with water, and water plants outside.  I have a feeling she just sat because someone else was painting - she painted twice during our classroom visit and loved it).

Oh well.  I hope to find out more from her teachers exactly what she is doing.  I didn't ask on Tuesday because I was too busy apologizing for being late (first and last time, I promise!).  Maybe at some point I won't think about it so much.  


For the record, Blake and I browsed Hobby Lobby during school that first day, and on the second day we went home and I unpacked boxes like a madwoman.  I thought I would have nothing to do while she was at school, but now I have an ever-lengthening list!


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We all enjoyed our day off for the Fourth.  We relaxed most of the day, which is a very difficult thing to do around here.  Mom and Dad would love to just sit back and chill, but kids get antsy quickly, and today we toed the narrow line between with better success than ever...mostly chill, with periodic interjections of, "Hey Hollie, come help me with this [fun task]!"

Then, we packed up and drove to a nearby farm town that was having their parade in the afternoon (we had missed all the morning parades closer to our neighborhood), and which consisted of:

50% tractors\
25% politicians running for office
22% vintage cars
1% community marching band
1% very good mariachi band
1% retired clown walking her last parade along with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren (also in clown gear).

Hands down, the highlight was when a young firefighter jumped off the truck and proposed to his girlfriend - now fiancee - right on the curb.

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My Blakey turns ONE YEAR OLD today!  This warranted an open letter.  I need to do these more often.


Dear Blake,

My chunky monkey.  You are ADORABLE.  I am in love with so so so many little things…

You slap the tray with both hands when you finish your food.  Need a refill, Momma, and hurry!

You also happily slap your belly when just can’t contain your excitement.  You have done this ever since you gained control of your arms.  We joke that you are flapping your wings and trying to fly, especially these days, when you do it while standing on your own!

You work so hard on new things, and you are so proud of yourself.  When you took your first little unassisted steps in Mesa, you shrieked with pride.  You are still working on it, not quite walking yet, but you sure are persistent.  I watched you stand up, fall forward, and stand up again about ten times the other day, moving a grand total of two inches across the floor!  Not to poke fun, but it really was comical.

You pull any kind of cloth - towels, blankets, jackets, scarves - over your head and just sit there laughing and laughing before you peek out again.  We can’t decide if you are imitating us putting shirts on, or playing peek-a-boo!

Your laugh…oh goodness…in this respect you could not be more different from your sister.  At this age Hollie did that infamous “dolphin laugh”, but you’ve adopted the deep chuckle.  The belly laugh.   Less earsplitting, more infectious.  :)

On the other hand, exactly like your sister, you say dada when you’re happy and mama when you need something.  Figures.

Also just like your sister: provided you have a full belly, clean diaper, and are well rested, you can sit and play quietly by yourself until any one of these three changes.  When Hollie was small I didn’t think much of it, but seeing it again feels like lightening striking twice in one spot.  This is astounding and I am one lucky momma.  Okay, comparisons - over.

You love to splash in the bath, and look so surprised when your face gets wet.  But then, you have developed a taste for bathwater, and drink by putting your face right in.  Again, surprise!

Your newest face: duck lips (as seen in take two, above).

Here’s to Year Two, Blakester!

Lasts

Hollie attended her last ballet class last weekend, and the teacher had pulled all the chairs from the viewing area out into the room, so we really had front row seats!  It was a great opportunity to take some pictures up close.

Blake's face says it all: "I've been working on this sock for twenty minutes...GOT IT!" 

When class was over, Blake headed straight for that mirror...

My two cuties.

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Another "last" -- probably our last strawberry picking trip of the summer!  I had gone with friends a few weeks ago, as you saw in a previous post, but Daniel had still not gone.  He really wanted to, so even though the forecast showed a chance of rain, we went for it, with our friends and their baby boy, Cian.  Aaaand, we got soaked!  No pictures, except this gem, taken at the car afterward.

A brief face-to-face moment, since they had both been covered up in carriers the whole time!

Allow me to present...

...our 10-day weather forecast.

If anyone needs us, we'll be at the beach!