Downtown Waterfront Park, Bainbridge Island

More slides than they have ever seen before. Most were really fun and easy to ride.

How cute is this little one? Always a fashion statement -- just like her mother!

This is the biggest slide of all that Carson insisted on climbing up. Kristin went right behind him to watch him. Once he got up there he was scared of the height and started to get panicked. With her helping and me being at the bottom he went down fine and was happy, climbing right back up again. However, the second time was a different story. He really panicked and wanted down -- NOW! Kristin couldn't carry him back down the steps, so it seemed safer to force him down the slide -- screaming all the way down, until the bottom, when he wanted to go right back up again! Crazy kid........

Carson actually hung on long enough for me to grab my camera and snap a few shots. Ruby didn't hold on long enough for me to do that. Carson was so proud of himself for holding on. This little guy is really strong!

Fun Around The House

Where did this little man's leg go??? Guess it will take a few more years before he can fill Grandpa Bill's boots!

"Wow, these are the biggest boots I have ever seen. Wonder how far I can put my arm into it?"

Carson tossed some toys into the boots that we found the next day.

LUNCH ALFRESCO!

(Quick, before it starts to rain again!)

Cousin Megan started learning Rummikub, probably from the day she was born. Ruby wants to get an early start on it as well.

(she was completely entertained with these tiles for about 30 minutes, practicing her colors and numbers)

Wet Beach Walk

The weather was not great for much of the weekend, but that didn't stop them from going to the beach for a walk. After telling the kids they were going and getting them all ready, it actually started to rain on them as they went down. But it stopped by time they returned.

Kid's Discovery Museum - Bainbridge Island

Upstairs in the museum is the "physics room". There are all kinds of things that move for various reasons. Here Carson is putting golf balls on a ramp and watching them fly down into a collection area. In the second picture you can actually see the ball flying off the ramp into the container. I think he could have spent all day in this area.

Outside at the museum was a water-play area. There was a bubble table and a table with lots of things to scoop water up and out. Carson was playing with the big boys at this table, and fit right in! (little guy in red shirt!)

Carson loved this little "smart car" so much. He didn't want to leave it, until he saw the play area with dump trucks and the hard hat. He kept say "hard hat Pete", which is a book Kristin bought for him. Unfortunately, there was only one hat and he thought it was HIS hat. We had to keep an eye on him, in case one of the other children got the same idea!

The bark-looking stuff was actually recycled rubber. The kids loved shoveling it up and they were not dirty when they were done. The painted murals were lovely and seemed to be a page from a picture book that came to life for Carson, especially.

The store was fully stocked with all kinds of very real looking fruits, vegetables, canned goods, bread (that Ruby tried to take a bite out), fish, and milk. They both enjoyed filling up the little carts and pushing them all over

Ruby got a kick out of this giant mouth and toothbrush. She brushed those pearly-whites, just like at home. (This area was doctor's offices)

If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see that Ruby's tongue is out as she works. I have often noticed then when she is concentrating, her tongue is out --

I realize that many of the pictures are of Carson because Kristin and I split up kids and I had the camera and I had Carson most of the time! Ruby truly had a great time as well, but not many photos to prove it.

http://www.kidimu.org/

4th of July Weekend!

Kristin, Casey and the twins were at our house July 1-5th and it was such fun. Here is a bit of verbiage before I post all the fun photos. Fourth of July on Bainbridge Island can be very exciting, especially with our view of all the many fireworks, including our neighbor's. We have a parade with a fair afterwards downtown by the waterfront. The official fireworks in Seattle start at 10PM (because we are so much further north from where I grew up in S. Calif where our fireworks started at 9PM.) I wasn't sure how the twins would handle everything, including sleeping arrangements. In the past we have put Ruby in the master closet, with their parents sleeping in that room and Carson in Kat's room. This time Casey and Kristin decided to put them together in Kat's room because both Kristin and Casey had been sick and were coughing a lot at night. The twins haven't slept in the same room since they were 6 months old (or younger). Because it stays light so long and gets light so early in the AM, Casey hung blankets over the blinds to ensure darkness for the kiddos. (It was dark as a cave -- a red cave since one blanket was red!) For the past few weeks Carson has been putting up a fuss when it is bedtime. This time was not an exception. We got both of them in their pack and play cribs, binkies, softie and glow worm all in place -- and Carson started his crying. We had a monitor downstairs to listen for them. Carson cried and Ruby laughed. She was chuckling to herself and singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". Finally we heard her say "Carson sit down!" "Carson sit down!" She was obviously tired and wanted it quiet so she could get to sleep. (neither had napped on the 4 hour car ride to Grammy's house). In just a few moments, Carson must have laid back down and quieted himself and all was well! Each of the 4 nights went very well, and that is a huge plus when they are not in their own cribs and rooms. We did have to separate them at nap times, since they couldn't quiet down enough to sleep. As soon as we put Ruby in the other room, both slept for 3 hours! Kristin and I took the kids to the brand new children's museum on Bainbridge Island that opened a few weeks ago. Wow, someone must of had deep pockets to fund that! It was so much fun with all the interactive children's things. I have lots of photos from that day to post. On the 4th we all went to my church, but Kristin ended up staying in the nursery because Carson was too upset. Ruby goes into any new situation and has such fun playing and enjoying new toys and friends. Carson, on the other hand, doesn't! Instead of going to the parade (they had not brought the stroller because the car was too packed), we took the kids to one of the parks on the island that is made just for kids. We wore the kids out there for several hours and there are lots of pictures from that time to view. Our weather wasn't real good for most of the 4 days. Kristin and Casey took the twins to the beach, even when it was raining. But one day it warmed up enough and we all sat on the beach while the kids tossed rocks in the water and generally had a wonderful time. I think they will truly enjoy the beach in years to come. Hours of fun for all! Katharine and Greg came over to enjoy a bar-b-que on the 4th. They took a walk on the beach even though it was sprinkling. Kat, Greg and I bundled up in blankets and sat on the deck to enjoy the fireworks. Kristin was concerned that the noise would awaken the kids, but they slept right through it all -- and many of the neighbor's fireworks were so loud, I put my hands over my ears. We were so surprised they slept the entire night! Next year they will be old enough to stay up and see the display in the sky! I hope we can make a tradition of having the family for the 4th because it is real special time for families and lots of fun.

Carson's First Professional Soccer Game

Kristin and Carson had a fun date to the Portland Timbers soccer game with her BFF, Stacie and her son Chase. Carson was so enamored with all the sights, sounds and smells. He kept saying "soccer ball game, soccer ball game!"

Auntie Kat's Slippers

Ruby found Auntie Kat's slippers and came walking into the kitchen, very proud of herself. So cute!