Family Reunion

A week ago on Saturday we had a Granquist family reunion - that's my mom's side of the family. Many of the relatives were able to make it and we had a grand BBQ/potluck in my parent's back yard. The "entertainment" for the day was all of the kids playing together. They were all very careful with Izzy since she was the little one in the group ... at first - and then they realized she was just one of the gang. She had such a great time - they played with the ball and visited the "beach" on the side of the house, where my parents had set-up the pool and the sand table. In the video here, Lulu and Parker John helped to empty the kiddie pool by watering my mom's garden - it was pretty cute. They went back and forth over and over again - they were having a blast!

A few of the cousins(clockwise): Joe, Doug, Randy, Gary, Jeannette, Jessie & Kristi

A few more cousins, plus our kids

Kristi, Izzy & Jeannette

Gary, Lulu, and Rischel

Izzy says "yay!" as Lulu & she play with the pink ball

Sunday Swimming

Two weekends ago we went to Kristi's pool on Friday & Sunday! It was a hot weekend, so a little time in the pool was very refreshing - and Izzy's turning into a little fish. She just loves the water! Her new "trick" at the pool is that she wants to get "up" on the side of the pool and fall into Kristi or my arms. We tried to get a video of it, but she wasn't really interested in performing... however she found the ball and had a blast splashing around with it. Rosa and Jacob joined us at the pool on Sunday - they're also in the video. It was pretty fun for the kiddos to get a chance to meet...

BBQ with Ron

Sunday afternoon Ron & Al came over for an impromptu BBQ while Ron is in town from Washington D.C. It was another hot day, so Izzy enjoyed playing in the water from her ladybug sprinkler and with Uncle Ron at her water table - I think Ron is ready for daddy duty now ;-)

Roy & Kathleen's Wedding

Last Saturday we celebrated the long-awaited wedding of our friends Roy & Kathleen (lots of photos to follow - Norm & Eldon were snapping photos like crazy!). Izzy, Gerald & I attended the wedding ceremony and then Gerald headed down to Museum of Flight to set-up for the music at the reception. Between the ceremony & the reception, Steph, Eldon, Ron, Rhalene, Xavier, Sydney, Izzy & I headed to Bellevue Square to escape the heat for awhile. Syd & X smile for the camera at McDonald's. After our snack, I headed back to Lynnwood and my sister watched Izzy for the night so that Gerald & I could go to the reception on our own - thanks Sis!!

Swimming

Izzy's turning into a little fish! I'm going to try to find a fall swimming class for her - she just loves the water! Aunties Heather & Kristi love to get in on the Izzy pool fun!

Hi-Yu Parade

Izzy attended her 2nd Annual Hi-Yu Parade - part of the SeaFair festival in Seattle. This is W. Seattle's annual parade that we all attended as kids. It's fun to go again with Izzy now that we're adults. My Mom & Dad took Izzy last year while Gerald & I played in the Sellen Golf Tournament (see photos below) and this year more of us were able to join in on the fun - Heather, Kristi, Gerald, Grandpa & I all went with Izzy this year. She especially liked the motorcycles - she said "daddy" over and over again thinking that Gerald would be on one of those motorcycles. It was so cute!!

2008 Hi-Yu Parade (Izzy was 4 months old!) with neighbors Dan & Emily and Grandpa & Grandma:

2009 Hi-Yu Parade with Aunties Kristi & Heather, Grandpa, and Mom & Dad:

Izzy's New Table & Chairs

Thanks to Rhalene, Norm & Xavier for the Toys 'R Us Gift Card! We used it towards the purchase of a new table & chairs for Izzy. She's such a big girl now, she loves to sit at the table to play with puzzles, read books, do activities, etc.

Handy-man Gerald

Izzy patiently waiting for her new table & chairs - she had a popsicle while she waited.

Imagine Children's Museum

Gerald needed to work at home yesterday, so Izzy and I got out of his hair by heading North to the Everett Imagine Children's Museum. It was so cool! Izzy loved it and it was fun for me too. We ended up purchasing a membership because it will be great during rainy days this fall & winter - plus they have a cool rooftop playground that we'll need to return to when it's sunny. Izzy & I can't wait to take Gerald - he'll love it!

I got a few photos, but since Izzy was loving it so much, she was on the go and I couldn't capture very many good ones, but at least you can get a sense for all the fun things to do! Check-out the museum online at http://www.imaginecm.org/.

The fire station play area:

Izzy on the horse at the "farm":

Ferry boat water play area:

Italian Restaurant kitchen area:

Glow-in-the-Dark Room (didn't really photograph well!):

Under the tree house:

The light & control board at the Theatre:

Cheese

Hmmm ... I wonder where she gets her "cheese" face from? ;-)

West Seattle Summer Fest

Izzy & I spent the night in W. Seattle on Friday so that I could hit the beer garden with Kristi & Heather on Friday night and then go to the street fair on Saturday with Izzy, Mom & Dad. The beer garden was fun - but kind of a bust so we were home by 10:00. But that gave me a chance to catch-up on sleep.

On Saturday, we headed to the Junction and walked around a bit. The highlight for Izzy was face painting - a cool blue & green butterfly that matched her clothes. Mom, Izzy & I had lunch at Great Harvest Bread Company. It was a fun morning, but it was hot out there!

Swimming!

On Sunday it was hot & humid, so we spent the afternoon in the pool at Auntie Kristi's apartment:

Box

Further evidence that cats and kids like the same toys...

4th of July

We spent the evening of July 4th at a BBQ at Eldon & Steph's house. It was nice to see friends and the kids had a blast playing together and with Sydney's toys! Thanks for sharing, Syd.