Since I’m so behind on my blogging, here’s a special weekend post!
Crossroads Splash Park is perfect for these kids on a hot summer day. With blue skies and 80 degree temperatures, there’s no fear of drowning here. The ground is soft (foamy material), the fountains spray a cool mist, and it’s just interesting/colorful enough to be fun for the kids. The only fear is losing your kid because it is pretty popular and crowded.
Lauren, Remy, Cameron and Tilden had a playdate here. It was a mixed bag as far as how receptive the kids were (Tilden didn’t touch the water until the last 10 minutes or so), but I think they all had fun. I know their moms did.
Our church has an annual car show. It’s one of their small groups and a program they put on. Just local contributors/enthusiasts. The day was overcast, so it wasn’t particularly well attended. Or, we were early. But there were about 50 cars and not too many people. The drive aisles were closed off to traffic. It was perfect for Tilden.
And was he excited.
He was running from car to car, with his finger out. “Vrrrm. Vrrrmm!!” Heaven for this toddler.
We told him that he couldn’t touch the cars, so in response, he started walking around like this…
Tilden is obsessed with cars. We have Hot Wheels all over the house. Every dark SUV, mini van or truck is pointed out at “Daddy vrrm!”. Buses and trucks that can be labeled “big” get that much more glee. And the simple act of walking through a parking lot is an exciting outing for the little man.
Lucky for us, all of those car magazines that Billy has been subscribing to over the years are coming in handy. The wrestling match to get in the carseat is no more with the promise of a magazine. This is what our journeys look like in the back seat these days. He just flips through the pages one by one (with the occasional ripping and crinkling sound).
I’m hoping that Tilden tips the scale in the firework-loving department. So far, it doesn’t look good.
Not quite interesting enough to keep him awake through the whole show.
Also, a side note to the planners for this event. One, ONE?!, kettle korn stand for an event that is supposed to have however many tens of thousand people in attendance? Next year I’m going to hire cute kids to purchase kettle korn bags by the dozen and sell them for a considerable mark up. Lucy, Greyson and Ellis, are you hearing this?
If you are connected with me on Facebook, you might know that we had to be rescued on this particular evening. BTW, event coordinators, you are definitely not helping me build my case with this one either.
We parked at Bellevue Square to attend the fireworks show in the adjacent downtown Bellevue Park. We sat on the close side of the park, had a great patch of grass with nice neighbors from which to watch the show. When it ended we immediately made our way to the car. Where we sat. For 20 minutes. Low on gas to boot. NO cars were moving.
Since we live about 2 miles from the mall, it was around the 21st minute that we decided we’d get home sooner if we just hoofed it. But Billy one-upped it, and called our friends and nieghbors the Suns to come and pick us up. So we walked 3 short blocks and to the pick up point, pulled a Britney Spears and were driven home. We retrieved the car this morning.
I still love fireworks.
And I might stand a chance since Tilden woke up talking about the “big booom.”
Last year at this time, we did a Walla Walla wine trip with some great friends. 3 little kids were in the picture. Time was spent pool side in the heat, visiting a few wineries since the kids would nap in their strollers and generally, we had a memorable weekend.
Here were the kids then.
And this was taken this year.
As you can see, our brood has expanded by 2 (same 4 families), with another on the way. No worries, not in the HsuCasa. I haven’t conveniently managed to forget to tell you all something.
Nicole had us over to for a pre-fireworks show get together. Delicious food, margaritas that were definitely worth the effort, kids tearing up the backyard and great friends. Love the laughter. Good fun.
And because I love this video and I don’t think I’ve shared it from last year. Make sure you watch until the end, when the fireworks get going.
I am a victim of “wanting to make the most of every holiday/situation/opportunity.” So something like the 4th comes around, and it’s a long weekend, and I have a kid, and I tend to go a little nuts trying to jam everything in. Even the next day, I think both of my boys are exhausted from what I’ve dragged them around doing.
Activity number 1 for the day (to say nothing of the early morning waking by Tilden which threatened to throw off all of the day’s plans) was attending the Yarrow Point Independence Day Celebration. We didn’t get there in time to be a part of the kid’s parade, where kids on decorated bikes, trikes, wagons and strollers make their way down to the tip of Yarrow Point where the center of the festivities take place. But we did join in on the fun at the end.
It’s a little slice of Americana. More Mercedes Benz than Ford (the houses there are of a high median price range), but none-the-less.
The firetruck comes out and the kids get to check it out. Leaving with an invitation to come and visit them at the station.
It’s a parking lot of dirt bikes and strollers on the side of the road so the kids can check out the clown on stilts and grab some strawberry shortcake.
It’s multi-generational, communitycentric, family oriented, well attended, patriotic and festive. In otherwords, it was fun.
I’m pretty sure I’ve said this at each monthly update for the past 6 months. But words…and talking…Tilden is making noises all of the time. He’s started to string together a couple of words at a time. As mentioned, his favorite adjective is “big.” And his favorite color, in English, is blue. If you ask him the same question in Chinese, his favorite color is white.
Tilden’s obsession with cars continues. He’ll point to the tv and make driving noises. And even if you turn on the speed channel for him, he’ll get upset when they go to commercial or have commentary on, rather than cars. The nerve! Don’t the producers know that there is at least one toddler amongst their audience?!
This kid’s got a memory that will surely drive us crazy in the future. Last Sunday, my uncle (my dad’s brother) showed Tilden a car video on you tube. The following Sunday, at my parents’ house for Sunday dinner, when uncle Terry sat down in front of the computer, Tilden came along side him and started pointing to the screen making car noises. He wanted more of the video!
We’ve managed to get Tilden to eat some meat. Carrie introduced us to some chicken nuggets. At first I thought Tilden was confused and mistook them for tator tots. Next thing I knew, had gobbled up 3 of the nuggets. This is a kid who will manage to spit out the most minute bit of ground beef in his porridge. He won’t even eat McDonald’s nuggets. Thanks for the introduction, Carrie!
I’ve got a few additional stories about little man T, but they deserve their own blog posts. More to come, of course!
Tilden’s only ever seen chickens or sheep in books. I guess we could have snuck into Sophia’s neighbor’s backyard to see some chickens right in our own neighborhood, but we haven’t fit that into the schedule quite yet. If you can imagine the alarm (some might call it fear) that registered through Tilden when the rooster stood up and did his cockle-doodle-doing, you might be laughing about it still too. And sheep, much bigger in real life than on those book pages. Even the pages of the big books (”big” is Tilden’s current favorite adjective).
Our superhero flies to see what this “farm” thing is all about.
Tractor? Tractor!
That’s a cow?!
Is that thing going to come over here? I don’t care if it goes “baaa.”
Leila’s not afraid. But guess who was…
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Leila gives Tilden a hand, or a lift, in the amphitheater. She wanted to show him the baby goats up above. They never made it. Guess I should have pointed out the stairs to their right?
Bye bye, baa.
And this concludes our Kelsey Creek Farm adventure.
This was my first trip to Kelsey Creek Farm. Ever.
Yes, I realize how long I’ve lived here and how many things I haven’t done. Judge if you must, but I’m making up for lost time now.
The park is made up of 2 areas. There’s a playground (this post) and a farm (tomorrow’s post).
The kids loved the play area. Except for Braden and Bridge who were too young to really experience it. And maybe Greyson who kept running off. And Leila who was too big for some of the toys. Okay, maybe only Tilden enjoyed it.
As is often the case with our playdates, we overran the schedule and were encroaching into nap time. Specifically, Greyson’s nap time. This is how he let mom know he was ready to go. I am still laughing about this.
Seriously, I took so many photos from our trip to Kelsey Creek Farm, I just couldn’t choose a few. So you’ll get a few doses over the next couple of days.
The cast of characters:
Tilden “the old hat” H. A photo excursion disguised as a playdate. I know what this is all about.
Greyson “mind of his own” K. I’ll be doing what I want, when I want. I am Greyson.
Bridge “all smiles” G. Glance my way and I’ll getcha with my grin (and adorably chubby cheeks)!
Leila “the big sister” G. Runaway toddler? Have no fear, Leila is here (and will go and round him up)!
Braden “I’m watching you” T. As you can see, he’s keeping an eye on you.
Our only attempt at a group shot. You can see why.
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