The Sprayground with friends

We went to the Sprayground at Jefferson Park in Tacoma with 'friends' today. I took Andrew here last week and he wanted to come back and bring 'friends.' Ethan and Abby met us today. I didn't get too many good pictures, I was holding Eliana, Ethan's baby sister, and I forgot to take pictures much too.

Here's Andrew

He was so funny, he kept going and sitting next to this other mom, even when she moved and sat somewhere else. She was wearing pretty much the exact same outfit as Kim, Abby's mom, and I think he thought it was her.

There's Ethan across the way, I couldn't get a very good picture of him either. Ethan wouldn't go in at first but then he went in more than Andrew.

They got to eat a sack lunch and run around in the grass after each other. This was at the start of our big heat wave, but it wasn't too bad and it was really comfortable in the shade.

The Scottish Highland Games

On Saturday Andrew and I met 'Grumpa' at the King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw for the 2009 Scottish Highland Games and Clan Gathering.

This is a family tradition every year.

The day was a bit long for me and it was hot but we had a lot of fun! We got to see bagpiping, dancing, Scottish sports, dogs; we got to shop and eat Scottish Meat pies, fair scones, and British candy. All in all, a good day. Andrew loved it!

"Cheese!"

Waiting for the opening ceremony

The little Scotsman in his kilt and hat! So adorable!

The massed pipes and drums

Dueling knights

Bagpiper practice

He was dancing to the bagpipes :)

Grumpa and Andrew

Mommy and Andrew on St. Andrew's Court

Mommy and her boy :)

The two Scotsman in their kilts!

Andrew slept ALL night in his big boy bed without getting up and we didn't have to stay in his room when he went to sleep!! We found the solution: leave his door open and ours. And today we had a huge success at naptime even though he didn't sleep. He stayed in his bed for over an hour without getting up. Mostly he just talked to himself and then at the end I found him playing with his stuffed animals. :)

***As of today (Monday, July 27th), he slept Thursday and Friday night in his big boy bed without getting up once and then Saturday night he got up twice and then last night he got up once early this morning from a bad dream. Pretty good since he usually gets up 3 or more times a night instead of 3 times in 4 nights.

Jefferson Park Sprayground

On Tuesday we went to Jefferson Park in Tacoma where they have this cool sprayground. They also have activities for the kids through the summer. They have activities from 10-6 and they serve lunch from 12-1 and snacks later in the afternoon. Andrew got a sandwich, broccoli & dip, fruit cup, and chocolate milk.

We had a lot of fun! It was pretty hot though. He didn't want to go in the water at first so I went in a little ways with him. He started splashing in one of the smaller fountains of water. He said he wants to bring friends with him next time....Ethan and Abby.

Stomping on the fountain of water

Splashing in the water

Look at that cute face!

He even stuck his head in by the end

Soppin' wet but had a blast!

Vacation Bible School

Andrew went to Vacation Bible School at our church in Sumner the week of July 13th-17th. He had a blast!!!! He calls it preschool, he's going to love preschool in the fall. He didn't know the songs, but he would dance and wave his arms to the music. He would bring home crafts he made and tell me he made them for me. He made a 'necklace' that says Jesus Loves You and he has been wearing it ever since and has to have it on his pillow next to him. He even got to see a real kangaroo, their theme was Outlook Express.

On Thursday night they had a barbecue with a bouncy house and a dunk tank. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have gone in the bouncy house with him, made me not feel very good. Here are pictures of him eating his very drippy popsicle at the barbecue and dancing to the music.

I had a hard time getting him to take off that shirt, he was supposed to wear it every day so they can recognize which class the kids are in by which color they are wearing. I would change his shirt when he got home so he wouldn't get it too dirty but that day he wouldn't take it off.

Dancin'

Only one hitch in the whole thing. By Friday he was pretty worn out, it was the fifth day from 8:45-12:00. Daddy went to take him in and he started crying and saying he didn't want to go, daddy stood in the back for a while but he kept insisting he wanted to go home so they left. They said it happens to at least one of the preschoolers by the end of the week every year. He'll do well with preschool though, it's only 2 days a week from 9:30-12:00.

Mommy's 30 birthday party

My 30th birthday was on July 11th. We had a party at Round Table Pizza in University Place. There were a lot of people invited, but I'm very greatful for the small group of family and friends that came. (Summertime and people had a lot of other committments)

Andrew was so cute! He'd been planning it for days, and spilled some of the beans. At naptime he would lay in his playpen planning the party and practicing singing Happy Birthday to mommy. He kept wanting it to be my birthday days ahead of time, when it finally came he was very anxious to go. He was not happy when I told him it would be at dinner, after naptime. He said, "No! Today!" He thinks it's a new day when he wakes up from a nap. In the afternoon he'll tell me he did things yesterday that he did just that morning.

Andrew watching very intently as daddy lights ALL the candles




Andrew helped mommy blow out the candles....but it still took a second blow.




Andrew couldn't wait to have me open his present

Andrew knew my sunglasses were broken and he came up with the idea all by himself that I needed a new pair for my birthday. So he told daddy at the store and when he saw these pink ones he insisted he had to get them for me. So sweet!!

Ethan and Andrew played cars while the rest of us visited.

Our friends Katie and Jason and my parents

Kelley at the far end of the table holding Eliana and Dana on the right

Matt, Donivan, and Kelley

Angie

My friend Debbie (in the light purple)

We had a very good time, complete with triple chocolate cake and ice cream.

Our new nephew/cousin

My sister-in-law was due July 13th, but was supposed to have her c-section on the 8th, my first day back from vacation. Well, Ian had a mind of his own, her water broke on 4th of July. So we went to see him as soon as we got back into town on Monday night before we went home (7/6)

Getting to hold Ian for the first time

Big Brother Sam, Aunt Jana (me), Andrew, and Ian

Andrew was helping me hold Ian and Aunt Ali asked him if he was going to have a baby like that at his house soon. He said very seriously, "No, baby sister." He's determined, about 3 more weeks and we'll see if he's right

Uncle Matt and Ian

What a cute, sweet baby!!

Grammy and Grampy

This was our last day in Spokane. We went to see Great-Grammy and Great-Grampy before we left. Here are a few pictures of Andrew with them.

Great-Grampy and Andrew

Great-Grammy and Andrew


We also drove around Whitworth University, my alma-mater, so we could see all the new buildings and my brother's new tree. My brother died 15 years ago while attending Whitworth (College) and his dormmates planted a tree behind the dorm for him. But it had to be dug up last winter because of water pipe problems. They planted a new tree in front of the dorm.

Andrew in front of Uncle Jason's tree

Last, but not least, we made another stop at one of our favorite places, Didier's, for frozen yogurt before heading down to Mandi's house in Kennewick.

This is on our way down to Kennewick. It was HOT, HOT, HOT in our car without air conditioning. We broiled!!