training the new chef in the family

have helmet, let's ride

Yesterday Samuel and I rode on my bike to Auntie Lottie's house to celebrate Brendan's 6th birthday, while Steve and Shira traveled by car. It has been quite some time since Samuel and I rode together, and we discovered that his bike helmet was in disrepair. We made it a priority to go to REI today to exchange our broken helmet for a new one, and were sucked into the REI vortex. Naturally, we were unable to leave without making a purchase. In this case, it was a backpack for Samuel. My hope is that he will now carry his essentials (and possibly even Shira's diapers) and leave me footloose and fancy free once again. Ok, that is probably too much to ask, but as anyone who sees these pictures can attest, he looks pretty adorable with his backpack on.

Once the helmet was on, Samuel refused to take it off. We did manage to convince him that he couldn't actually get in his carseat with the backpack on. Luckily he accepted our solution - he could hold it instead, rather than simply refusing to get in the carseat. I kind of like the idea of him wearing his helmet in the car. This way, I can't whack his head when putting him in.

Shira is a good sport, always coming along for the ride.

First spin with the new helmet.

Our triumphant return, backpack still on.

Saved by Bubbie

From the day we left the hospital with Shira, I have been going strong, not cutting back on our usual daily activities, and even adding some old ones back in that I hadn't done since before I got pregnant, like rock climbing and running. Well, it has all caught up with me, and when we got back from our most recent trip to Minnesota, I found myself waking up in tears in the morning and feeling unable to leave the house. My mom came to save the day. And hurray for husbands who know when it's time to call Mom.

Bubbie is excellent at creating new games out of everything she finds. Here she and Samuel are using our CSA boxes as a ramp to roll marbles into the back of this pick up truck. Pickup truck and marbles are "estate sale" specials - Bubbies favorite place to find toys for Samuel.
No visit would be complete without a little bike riding.

Not even the trees get neglected when Bubbie comes. Our loquat tree has looked sad for some time now as part of it was diseased. But the true reason for the drastic haircut was that Samuel requested that Bubbie make him another teepee from the loquat limbs. Steve has his work cut out for him come yard pick up day.

how many times would you ride the carousel if it were free?

Our friends Amy Peter and Lucy discovered that there is a carousel that is free all day long once a month. Unfortunately for us, we never managed to go to the carousel with AP&L while they still lived here, but this Tuesday we did manage to make it and enjoyed more than a few spins with Efsun and Alara. Apparently, the operators of the carousel have created a few rules of their own that I did not find posted anywhere, either on their website or anywhere around the carousel. This did not prevent the teenage girl who stood guard at the entrance from enforcing the rules however. She curtly informed me when I arrived with Samuel that I could not stand next to him on the horse since I was holding a baby (even though said baby was in a wrap and couldn't even be seen).

"That's fine, I'll just ride one of the horses," said I.

No dice, I wasn't allowed to do that either.

She plaintively asked if there wasn't someone else who could ride with him. When pressed she reluctantly told me I could ride on the bench on the carousel. So I scooped Samuel onto a horse, belted him in, and went to sit on the bench one row back. Insolent teenage girl returned to inform me he was too little to ride alone. Huh? Why didn't she tell me that when she told me I could ride on the bench?

It all came out in the wash anyway - several other moms who overheard the conversation offered to stand next to Samuel who then decided he was too scared and wanted to sit with me on the bench anyway. After 3 or 4 spins Efsun showed up and Alara impressed Samuel with her bravery such that he was willing to sit on any of the animals as long as those two joined him.

More Adventures when Grandma comes to town

When Steve went back to work, Grandma Susan arrived and spent ten days with us, bonding with Samuel and providing me with the opportunity to rest a bit. Samuel and Grandma had many adventures together, but the hands down favorite for both was the pool.

Grandma's stay

A typical early morning - Samuel would make a beeline for Grandma's room at about 6am and they would cuddle and read books together.

And what visit from Grandma would be complete without following early morning book reading with a trip to Pete's Coffee for steamed milk and croissant?

Next up: the adventure of the day - in this case it was off to storytime at the library, followed by our usual Friday ladies and toddler lunch which Grandma helped me host. Rather than having it at our house, Grandma and I brought a picnic to the park - saving us from cleaning up the disaster 7 toddlers create in a house, and providing some relief from the heat by enjoying the water feature at the park.
Late Afternoon often found Grandma and Samuel at the sand and water table in the backyard


And the day's activities frequently ended with Grandma and Samuel cooking up something wonderful for dinner

I know Grandma would prefer not to be seen in her nightgown, but I had to include this one of the three of them

life is good when Daddy stays home

Steve stayed home for two weeks after Shira was born, and we made sure to use that special time to the best of our ability. My apologies to Shira, though she is the reason we had the opportunity to take some extra adventures, you won't see many pics as she was too small to participate in most of them. I guarantee that she was there, though!

Brotherly love - if it doesn't kill her, it will make her stronger

A sleepy morning

4 Generations

Cousin Jayme's Wedding - Shira, Steve, Lisa, Bubbie, Popsie and Great Grandma and Grandpa


Steve and Samuel at the aquarium - where the highlight for Samuel was riding the escalator multiple times and watching a guy in scuba gear scrape algae off the window of one of the fish tanks

Pool Play

Steve and Samuel at the library music hour

Shira and I at the beach

Rock Climbing

Fourth of July celebration in the park. Samuel is a big fan of corn on the cob.