June 22 Berrypicking + Random June

Last week, we met Jack and Ollie for breakfast and then went back to Berry Patch Farms, where we picked strawberries last summer. Of everything we did, I think Isaac was most excited about riding in the hay wagon, pulled by a tractor, that deposits the pickers in the strawberry fields. Here is Isaac waiting to get on:



And Jonah just wanted to get down:



And once on the hayride, he just wanted to eat the hay...by the handful...


The farm has a beautiful Rocky Mountain view.


It was a different experience this year.

Last year: Isaac ate the strawberries almost as fast as I picked them, so that we only left with about a quarter of a pint. I had to insist on paying for the full pint, as I knew we'd picked that many! Isaac, with his amazing memory, reminded me for the next 10 months that it was so hot at the farm and mama left his water in the car.

This year: It was the kind heat of June, not the parched August heat. I remembered water and sunblock for both boys. Isaac helped pick this year! And he only ate one strawberry, after I offered it to him, and then he thanked me for it. What a difference a year makes.

Jonah was content for a while to play in the grass as we picked berries.






Why is there always something hanging out of his mouth...?


Isaac did a great job picking - taking only the red ones, and not taking too much plant with them - until he got tired and decided it was time to ride the hay wagon again.




Back home, the boys devoured the strawberries. They really are the best - so sweet, so much flavor.

Isaac did not want his picture taken, but this is just to show that I tried...You can at least see the empty strawberry container and the pile of stems.

Isaac was tired, but Jonah was ready to party. He loves strawberries.

And the outfit needed to be changed after lunch, as always:


Here are a few extras of Jonah from June - getting stronger on his legs


and hanging out in his high chair.

June 21 - First pool day of the year!

I LOVE THIS PHOTO! Jonah hanging out while I put sunblock on Isaac...

*******

It takes a long time to get three people ready for the water. We had to pack lunches, bathing suits, swim diapers, sunblock, hats. Then we had to change clothes and apply the sunblock once we were there. I'd been worried too about managing two non-swimmers by myself...and so though the pool opened about a month ago, we hadn't been until yesterday.

As it turned out, it so SO MUCH FUN. Jonah was able to sit in the shallow water and play with cups, and Isaac was so independent compared to last year. I sat next to Jonah while he zipped around us, giggling and splashing. The sun was intense, but when we'd had enough, we retreated to the shade of grass and trees for a picnic lunch with friends.






Jonah started crying when I left him with a friend while I ran back for the camera.


But a smile broke through when he saw I'd returned.


And he went back to studying the activity around him again...I think he was already exhausted by this point. But I love this shot.


Meanwhile, Isaac discovered the slide that was too big for him last year. The first time, I had to hold his hand at the top, and Colleen caught him at the bottom. But soon he was going down with no help and loving it.




Once again, turn off the camera, MA-MA. This was the best I could do to capture my big boy without his cooperation...








We were all exhausted by naptime. There's nothing like sun, water, and a busy morning to make you sleep well - and they did.

May 20 - Kid hike at Welchester Park

This was a beautiful little park tucked away next to an older subdivision in Golden. We had to nurse in the car when we first arrived, so Isaac "drove" the car and waited patiently. But once on the trail, as we approached Ollie and Jack, Isaac took off running and giggling down the hill to meet them. We walked on the trail, stopped to watch the creek from a little footbridge, and then hung out in the trees, so lush and green in May that I felt like we could have been back in the east.











Before leaving for lunch, the boys were distracted by the lush grass. The other boys left for lunch, but we decided to hang out barefoot for a few minutes first and feel the luxury of soft grass between our toes. Isaac's idea; he loves going barefoot.


Thanks Megan for this picture and Leanne for all the others.

Jonah - a few more pics

Here, Jonah and Tiger are giving each other kisses. Isaac was mildly interested in the animals as a baby, but Jonah has been crazy over them since he was just a few months old. As a five-month-old, he would see one walk into the room and squeal with delight. Now he tries to leap out of my arms to grab handfuls of fur and give them big kisses (which I try to discourage).

Tiger mostly runs and hides when he sees Isaac coming (with good reason), but he seems to think Jonah is okay so far.



Walking with Jonah to our local, Colorado-grown, organic market, In Season...Jonah cries every time we set foot in that place. I don't know why. So when he started crying pre-emptively as we approached it, I took him out of the stroller to play in the grass. Smiles.

A few more forgotten pics from April

April 12 (above) - When we got to the playground, Isaac ran straight to the map, jumped exactly on Colorado, and said "We live here!"
I was amazed, although he had pointed out our location on a world map in a book before even turning two. Of course, 10 minutes later, here in the playground, he had us living in northern Wyoming, so maybe he's just had two lucky guesses.

April 20 (below) - I love this picture of Jonah on his first ride in a toy car. Our neighbors kindly let Isaac borrow it overnight, and Jonah and I returned it the next morning. I thought he'd be too little, but he loved it.



April 21 - Isaac and friends at a playgroup by Sloans Lake. All the kids in the picture are with our group. Lots of fun except that poor Jonah cried himself to sleep while I walked around and around on that sidewalk.



April 27 - Jonah working on sitting up.




Isaac made this house for me (he said), and I thought it was really cool. And he worked that puzzle behind it by himself (thanks Tobey). He loves puzzles now.

Walking to the river - a few forgotten shots

With two kids, it's hard to find time to exercise. The easiest way is to take them with me, and they do add some good resistance to my workout. Soon after Jonah was born, I began walking everywhere I could - specifically, everywhere within 12 blocks or 20 minutes. Our neighborhood is on a hill overlooking downtown, and it's about 15 minutes downhill to get to the river, a beautiful, rushing stream through this sometimes-parched city.

We almost always walk to the grocery store, but throughout the winter, on days when we didn't need any groceries, we liked to head down to the river. I got my exercise, especially on the trip back up, and Isaac loves the water so much. He stands on one side of the footbridge and stares down, runs to the other side and stares down, repeat, repeat. I don't think it's ever been his idea to leave; he could stay there all day. Meanwhile, little Jonah would take his morning nap in the stroller, still riding in the infant carrier and the cover all closed up to keep out the wind.




Isaac could really stay here all day, I think...



These pictures are from Feb 11 2010 (sorry - a little late). It wasn't a particularly warm day, but you can see that Isaac doesn't feel the cold. At least it was warm enough for the sun to melt the ice.

May 21 - Jonah at Isaac's preschool party

Isaac's preschools are both over for the summer now. On the last day, Isaac's Friday class met at his teacher's house for a potluck party. You'd think I would have photos of Isaac, the party, etc.; however, the camera battery died after just 4 shots. But here's a glimpse of Jonah, sitting up in the sunroom while Isaac played in the backyard with some friends.