Summer in Redmond

Summer has come to a close here in the PNW and what a wonderful one it was!  We've had a really great first few months here weather-wise.  I think I can count on my hand the number of days where we could have really used AC but other than that, the weather has been beautiful.  We're now in Fall mode - crisp weather, pumpkins, changing/falling leaves.  Here are some pictures from Labor Day to this weekend.

Olivia has dance class on Saturdays at 9:30am.  The studio is right around the corner from Whole Foods so we stop in afterwards to say hi to Daddy and have a Saturday morning treat.  Olivia can pick anything she wants from the pastry cabinet and Mommy has a coffee.  It's a fun little ritual that I enjoy and have missed the last couple of weeks because we've had social commitments.   This particular week Olivia chose a chocolate donut with chocolate icing.  Hey, I said she could have anything . . .

They don't do splash pads here like they do at home.  In Texas there is a lot more splash.  I found this place close to our house two days before it closed for the season so we went two days in a row!  It calls itself a "spray" park so at least there isn't an issue of misrepresentation.  Olivia still had fun and that's what's important.

Saturday morning stop at Whole Foods - she chose a pretzel this time . . . that was as big as her face.  Olivia and I talk frequently about how her belly feels.  Portions are SO big these days and I remind her to think about how her belly feels while she eats.  We don't obsess over it but I think kids need to be conscious of how they feel and not how much food is left in front of them.  She didn't eat all of it by the way.

She placed the hair bow herself and I have no idea where the pose came from but she's so cute!

The Sammamish River trail is right next to the apartment we were in for temporary housing.  We still go over there so Olivia can ride her bike and throw rocks in the water - no ducks were harmed in the taking of this picture. 

It's hard to tell but Olivia is throwing leaves in the air in this picture.  She was thrilled when she saw all the leaves in the park a few weeks ago.  We need to find her a real leaf pile soon!

We found this beautiful leaf at the park.  You don't see leaves this color in Texas!

Saturday morning post-dance outing - Cinnamon roll this time.

So Olivia gets the concept of playing goalie - don't let the ball get into the next, but her tactics are questionable. 

You can't see her face here but I think this is just the sweetest picture.  Olivia is picking flowers (weeds) from the backyard and putting them in the earth box.  Just having fun spending time outside.

We went to Remlinger Farms a couple of weeks ago.  They had a barn full of hay that the kids ran around in.  Who knew hay was so fun?

Pony ride on Peaches.  Because Olivia is under 5 I had to walk next to them and Peaches was not happy to do it so I spend most of the time walking in the bushes because she wouldn't share the walkway.  Jerk.  Haha. 

Obligatory "kid with pumpkins" picture.

Silly girl.

There is lots of skating up here whether it's figure skating or for hockey.  Olivia has been asking to go ice skating since we got here and she finally got her wish last weekend.  One of my co-workers plays hockey and met us at a rink for Olivia's first time on the ice.  She brought Olivia knee and elbow pads (thank goodness!) and off they went.

 

Olivia spent a hour ice skating without incident but we'd been sitting down for 5 minutes at the ice cream place and Olivia fell and scraped her elbow.  She fell asleep on our way home from Seattle holding the paper towel on her elbow.

Just today at a pumpkin farm with her friend, Sophie,

Granny would be so proud!

 

Ok, Redmond, thanks for the amazing summer.  We're here to stay so bring on Fall!