Summer Adventures with Audrey (coming to an end...)
We've had a really fun summer! Here are the highlights from my two Facebook Albums:
Summer Daze (Part 1)
Miss. Independent
Summer Daze (Part 2)
Since my personal laptop was stolen, this is now the best way to access past pictures. Anyway, here's a recap of the summer in words!
- Memorial Day: Golden Springs Park in Chino Hills. Audrey loved going on the playground, watching the turtles swim, and comparing the white ducks to her favorite Sophie swan from the book Ballerina Swan by ballerina Allegra Kent.
- June 2nd: Gramsy passes away. I spend about a week in Encinitas with my Dad and brother. Audrey joins us Friday followed by Jeff on Saturday. Cassie and Jackson join us Sunday. Memorial services are held on Monday. Back to Pomona Monday night.
- Higginbotham Park with Miles! The kids loved running around and playing on the train play structure!
- Discovery Science Center ("the cube")! We get in for free since I'm a teacher and Audrey is under 2 (steal!). Audrey enjoyed playing with the big LEGO's, dancing in the colors in the Di Vinci exhibit, and touching anything that could be touched in the science museum!
- Father's Day weekend in Encinitas with Gramps! I loved that Jeff wore a shirt Audrey made him at daycare - so sweet! Audrey loved going to San Dieguito Park and playing on the "Goonie bridges!" She also enjoyed riding in a car shopping cart at Vons, playing with the water table in Gramps' backyard, and playing in the tent. This was also the weekend she was first introduced to "The Lorax" (thanks Dad!).
- Audrey goes to Chuck E. Cheese with her friend Emilie! Her favorite thing was the carousel ride! She also really liked eating pizza and apparently remembers "two guys dancing" in the animatronics show!
- Kidspace Museum in Pasadena with Gramma & Papa! Audrey had so much fun exploring! She still talks about the big blue structure we climbed together. This was also the first time she tried out a tricycle (we have some learning to go!).
- Metrolink train ride to Olvera Street! Audrey still talks about going to L.A. (although sometimes she called it "ballet") with Megan and having lunch with Mark and Megan. We'll have to go back again some time!
- WATER PLAY! I loved taking Audrey to the fountains in Chino Hills and two different splash pads - one in Montclair and one in Chino. She is such a water baby and it took some coercing to get her to come out of the water :) What fun!
- Evelyn's Birthday Pool Party! Audrey had a great time with her cousin! She loved playing with their baby princess dolls, swimming in the pool, and playing in the their table tent! Audrey also enjoyed our play date with Evelyn in which we rode the carousel. She still remembers that Audrey rode an elephant and Evelyn rode a horse.
- 4th of July was a lot more eventful this year! Pancake breakfast and play time at the park in the morning with Mommy, mini-carnival with a bounce house at the Engdahls' around lunch time, poppers after nap, Claremont parade in the afternoon, and dinner at Norm's with Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Becca in the evening! Audrey had a great day!
- Weekend to Gramps' house and San Diego! We visited Cabrillo National Park (Audrey's 1st National Park!) - Audrey went up in a lighthouse, which she still talks about any time she sees a picture of a lighthouse. VG's donuts at a park in Cardiff - Audrey still talks about seeing a "lady playing with little ball" (a woman was hitting a tennis ball against the wall). Balboa Park and Seaport Village - Audrey loved walking the prado at Balboa and riding the carousel at Seaport Village!
- BEACH TRIP! I don't care how crappy the second half of that day was, going to the beach with Audrey was *perfect*! We had perfect weather, despite hearing that there may be drizzle at the beaches in the morning. Audrey had no fear about going in the water - in fact, she kept tugging Mommy & Daddy to go out farther! What a brave girl! I told her she would have made her Gramsy and Great-Grandmama and Great-Grandpapa proud! :) Having lunch at Ruby's was also a real treat.
My Favorite Picture from the Beach - reminds me of pictures I've seen of me as a baby with my mom, Grandmama, or Papa...
- Aquarium of the Pacific with the Culvers! Audrey loved the aquarium and hanging out with Roy, Sara, and Miles, whom she can all name and identify! I think her favorite parts were splashing in the shark petting pool, looking at the deep sea fish exhibit, and just doing whatever Miles was doing! We had a lovely dinner at the Culvers' afterwards too.
- Griffith Park with Sara & Miles and Yvonne & Charis! We rode a train and then had a picnic lunch followed by some play time on a big playground! The kids loved the train and had a great time chasing each other around the playground. It was a beautiful summer day in the park!
- Weekend trip to Lake Arrowhead! After recent events, Jeff and I just wanted to get away... So we went to the Johannsen cabin in Lake Arrowhead. Despite having sketchy electricity and a non-working fridge, we had a GREAT time! Audrey loved walking down by the lake and watching the motorboats ("motorboat motorboat go so slow... motorboat motorboat go so fast... motorboat motorboat pick up the gas!!!!). She also had fun in the village - especially riding a kiddie train, playing in Mr. G.'s toy store, and finding "barb-a-loot" bears! (these were big bear statues all around the village) Audrey was also introduced to Curious George on PBS kids. In fact, she loved him so much that we got her a little Curious George doll from Mr. G.'s - she plays with George every day. :) Audrey slept through a HUGE thunderstorm Saturday night/Sunday early morning. It woke up both Mommy & Daddy!
- Sensory play! This summer, we tried out "fluffy stuff," play dough, TONS of bubbles, and shaving cream! I think Audrey's favorite still stands as BUBBLES :)
Click to viewDespite the hard things that happened this summer (Mom's passing & the robbery), I think Audrey has had a really fun summer! I know *I* have had a really fun summer with her!
Next week, I'm back to work... whamp whamp...