Growing up



Nana & Papa were both here for a long weekend & then Nana extended her visit for another week or so. While Dad was here, he helped Mike with several projects around the house that we have been dreading, but we also spent plenty of time just hanging out and took a trip to the beach on Lake Sammamish to play in the water. In addition to Nana helping out with some of our projects in the yard and entertaining the kids, we headed to the State Fair where the kids loved checking out all of the 4H farm animals, especially the pigs and their babies, sheep, cows, and bunnies. And...Isaac was absolutely THRILLED to show off his new bike while they were here. Because he upgraded, his little sister naturally wanted to take over his old bike & helmet and is making them her own! She is his little shadow, always wanting to "ride" her bike when he does (although she can't really pedal yet or get on/off herself) and even hangs her helmet on the handle bar like he does!

 

Brooke is 20 months old now (35 inches & 27 lbs) & is really getting to be a fiesty little lady with a definite stubborn streak. She has started to talk more and her new favorite word is "no"! She also says "uh oh", mi (milk), mo (morris), and after this week, "nana" and "papa"! She wants to take her shoes on and off by herself, which she manages occasionally with her crocs. She wants to color if Isaac is and painted her 1st painting this week! She brushes her teeth with Isaac every night and wants to sit in bed with him to read a book before going to bed herself. Also, she's just recently started to really get into her baby dolls and says "baby" so clearly. She is making it a habit to bring her "ba" (bear), panda, and 3 "baby's" to bed with her. She wants to be covered up with her blanket and then give a kiss before saying good-night with a little wave ("bye"). Then in the morning, all of these special little things need to come back downstairs with her. She is super loveable and loves to give kisses and hugs.

 

The 1st couple times on her "new" bike



Don't worry, we have adjusted her helmet!

Look at Isaac (and Daddy) go! He is getting better everyday, but still needs help to balance especially when he isn't paying attention to where he is going! We have since purchased a "balance buddy" which sticks up behind his seat and saves our back! Best $$$ spent!

 

Isaac proudly posing with his new bike!

 

Feeding the ducks at the lake

As usual, Brooke ate more bread than she shared with the ducks...and enjoyed squatting to play in the water, as is evident by her back side! This is prior to her actually falling completely in the water and getting absolutely soaked! Oops...of course I didn't have a change of clothes! Good thing it was warm outside!

 Isaac had his official 1st day of pre-school on Tuesday this week! He has been going all summer, but when the school year starts, it becomes much more structured. Isaac is one of the older kids this year!

Love these pictures of Isaac with his little sister who wanted to get into his pre-school pics...and love the way she is looking up to him! 

  Nana & her kiddos after Isaac's swim lessons
Isaac really wanted a picture in front of the car...don't ask me why!
 

Swim lessons have been a bit of a struggle so far...Isaac is really hesitant to get into the water (I have had to peel him off of me) but he really seems to have a good time one he gets in & afterwards he talks about how much fun he had. I'm hoping it gets easier:) He is getting more daring in other ways, but he also continues to be a sensitive little guy, he really likes his routines, and is very detail oriented. He still has a yogurt EVERY morning when he gets up & has to wave good-bye following a kiss, hug, and high-five. When we are driving, he frequently asks me, "are we going to get on the highway?" and wants to know "what minute will we be there"? If we turn down a road he doesn't recognize, he'll say "we haven't been here before" or "we haven't been here in a long time". The other day Mike & I went out for a date night and he said "don't forget to lock the car"! It's really funny & he surprises us each and every day.