Audrey and Kate got a rare treat today: a chance to ride their bikes in the street, which had been closed off for a block party. They also got to swim at Grant Pool one last time before it shuts down for the season, after which they each had a snow cone to cool down before the hot bike ride home.
Audrey and Kate enjoyed their stay at the Oregon coast. On the way home today we stopped at Aunt Jan and Uncle Dennis' place. We got to see some of Aunt Jan's cracker-making operation, as well as the huge garden of a neighbor, Mary, who let the girls pick out a flower they could have. Audrey picked a purple dahlia called "Rip City." Kate didn't feel like picking, so Mary selected for her a red dahlia that was just about as big as Kate's head (as demonstrated by Kate in the photo).
It was a gorgeous day today at the Oregon Coast. We went to Nehalem Bay State Park, where Audrey flew her first kite and found her first sand dollar. The girls cooled off in the waves, slid down sand hills, and blew some bubbles.
Audrey and Kate on the beach in Manzanita with Neahkahnie Mountain in the background. They had just come from the Manzanita Farmers Market, where they got to see Aunt Jan working at her table selling her crackers and got their face or arm (Kate) painted (hence the blotches on Audrey's face). They are staying at Honey and Honey Grandpa's trailer near Nehalem.
Hanging out in the 'Couv with Uncle Keith and Allison, who both just got back from a trip to Puerto Vallarta. The girls had some fun in the alleyway behind Allison's house looking for alley cats and having races up to a little garden with some pumpkins and huge zucchini ("zupeenee", as Kate called them).
The girls don't have to travel far for aquatic recreation: we sometimes turn our hot tub down to 98 degrees or so and let them splash around in it.
Audrey and Kate enjoying a tire swing at the Rose City Park School (with Kate sporting a big shiner on her forehead from a couple of faceplants on the sidewalk). Swinging is one of Kate's favorite things to do at parks. In addition to tire swings, she likes getting "underdogs" from Mama or Dada on the toddler swings and getting pushed (gently and carefully) on the regular, big-kid swings. If there are multiple swings on a swingset, she'll insist on trying them all out, even if they are exactly the same.
Audrey and Kate riding in style in the kids' parade during the annual Fremont Fest. The girls noshed on lots of yummy food, danced to live music, got their face (Audrey) and arm (Kate) painted, and made capes and crowns to wear. Audrey also got to play with preschool friend Charley in a bouncy house. They saw other friends and neighbors there, including Elliot and Julian, Olivia, and one of the Bens from preschool.
Kate used the potty for the first time today! It was quite a "draining" experience, so to speak, for Honey as well: she had to keep an eye on Kate for a long time because Kate insisted on staying on the potty until she went, which she finally did, after 30 minutes.
Toys and animal crackers in the nursery, plus catchy vacation Bible school songs to sing along to with big sister. Church is great!
The girls enjoyed plenty of sun, music, and time with family this past weekend. On Friday evening they joined GG, Aunt Jill, cousin Lily, Grandpa Dave, and Judy to dance to country music and make masks at the free Portland Parks concert at Fernhill Park in Northeast Portland. Saturday morning they met up again with Jill, Lily, GG, and Grandpa Dave at Peninsula Park in North Portland. Unfortunately, the water feature they were looking forward to splashing in was shut down, but there were still plenty of roses to enjoy in the rose garden and Audrey ran into a friend (one of two Bens) from preschool. Saturday evening they biked to Rose City Park to have a picnic with Honey and Honey Grandpa and listen to some Latin jazz.
Audrey's first swim lesson of the summer started this evening at Grant Pool. She's a Penguin, a beginner level one step up from Goldfish. Today's highlight was her retrieving a diving ring from the bottom of the pool by putting her face in the water (usually she would use her feet or do whatever it takes to keep her face out of the water). It's quite an improvement, which was probably helped along by some good practice she got in the kiddie pool at Sunriver last week.
