This may be remembered as, "The summer of firsts."
Carnivals, circuses, cotton candy, pony rides, river floats, back-yard campouts, tree climbing, and out door concerts. All firsts. Check em off our bucket lists!
We have seized this summer with gusto, becoming avid sun chasers and following that mysterious orb that so eludes the pacific northwest to far-reaching dry corners of Utah and Montana. In those lovely places with friends and family, did we find the warm, dry days of summer. Finally!
And while tracking the temperaments of a couple of 3 1/2 year olds is like trying to track the rise and fall of the tides, I can tell you that we have had some pretty good times this summer. What I am loving so much about these two is their sense of humors: wry and sneaky sometimes, and exploding sillies at others. They bound from one activity to the other. Tireless, funny, interesting, and energetic little people!
Jonas is the master of "Calvin Ball" inventing his own sports that combine badminton racquets and stones, nerf arrows and tennis balls, soccer balls and large sticks. His pile of tools is growing and he is always "fixing" something with his drills, hammer or screwdrivers. He has become a master artist, extending his medium to long rolls of butcher paper. He fills his canvas with shapes, mountains, waves, zig zags, ripples and patterns of circles. He loves taking pictures and filming little movies on our computer. And in down moments, he climbs on the computer, accesses PBS Kids, and plays endless games. He maneuvers around better then I do on the computer. His Leggo, and Tinker Toy sculptures are a blast. He loves spending long stretches of time building these configurations.
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| Jonas in the sandbox....(and the sandbox on Jonas!!) |
Jember has discovered her inner princess. She loves playing dress up. Imagination stuff. Playing in her twirly dresses, flowy hats, play purses, and play jewelry are her favorite pastime. And once in her "costumes" she loves singing and dancing around the floor. Whether belting out "Your Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" (Annie) in one of her getups or spinning around the floor with Raggedy Andy her favorite dance partner she is constantly in some dream world of imagination or seemingly preparing for her big stage number. A play "kitchen" is her favorite item, the girl gets giddy if she can "whip you up a little something." But let me tell you, she is more then just fluff and stuff. Jember Mae is fearless. She plunges in bravely to whatever new adventure we are approaching: Roller coasters, swimming pools, pony rides, or tornado slides, she is the first to run for it and to give it a try. She has a confidence that is dizzying. She has never met a stranger. Any park or outdoor event that we attend, she makes friends. Easily. Quickly. Amazing.
First Circus
Pony rides at the circus. The ponies were little, but so were the riders..
First Cotton Candy...mmmmm.
First Carnival
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| First Ride. The roller coaster and the ferris wheel were next... |
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| 4th of July. Hangin in our mismatched jammies with sparklers... |
First Tree Climbin'
Adventures in Montana
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| Block party in Missoula, MT. Auntie Tracy was painting faces. Purple butterfly for my girl... |
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| Walking in the Rattlesnake woods. |
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| Jember loved the wildflowers |
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| Tracy, Jember and I. Lovely day for a picnic! |
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| Playing at Seeley Lake, Montana with Larry and Linda (not pictured) |
And of course, time up in Maple Falls,WA with Sue and Shirley.
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| Our Aunties - Shirley and Sue (Jonas took this picture. Nice thumb...) |
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| He took this picture too...catching me exploring my blonde phase. (Yeah...not bad for summer I guess) |
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| Sue and Shirley's view. Paradise... |
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| Picking fresh berries. Oh yeah! |
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| 2 glamor girls: Jember and Shirley |
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| Ross trying to catch an impish Jonas to apply more sun screen. |
Visiting with friends at home
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| Greeting our friend, Addison in the farmers market. Such joy! |
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| Jember, Jonas and dear friend Maiya on our backyard hammock... |
All in all, a really great summer with friends and family. Sorry that our camera/phone died (along with a lot of other summer pics with family!) Such good adventures to share! Not enough pictures to tell of every great moment.
Pony rides at the circus. The ponies were little, but so were the riders..
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