One evening a few days ago I got a few pretty cute videos of North showing off his skills.
He loves dancing...
Really really loves dancing...
Also he loves to boss Ender around. Here he is telling her to "sit" (note she was already sitting and so is understandably a bit confused by his commands).
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The month (or so) in review
We've had a busy few weeks!
I had a slightly different post in mind but realized that our camera is already in DC with Alan and so I can only update with phone photos--but that's ok--I recall there weren't all that many on our camera and I can get to those later once we are all moved to DC.
In the meantime, here are photos from our recent weeks that had not yet been shared.
First up, a few weeks ago we took a trip out to DC to find a place and a daycare! North enjoyed the flight and the chance to get lots of time with us--even if it was bouncing from 1 place to the next. We saw a whole lot of places that we were definitely NOT interested in but also found some that we were. We settled on a townhouse for rent in Fairfax, VA and a daycare center in Vienna,VA that we feel we will be happy with. Neither is ideal and both will leave us missing lots of the things we are leaving behind in our move but we knew that would be the case and we are excited for our new adventures and hopeful that both will bring us lots of fun and warm memories.
One place we visited had a nice playground--unfortunately, that's all it had. Still North got to have a fun break as we toured rentals!
We found a restaurant that we will surely frequent often - Dogfish Head Alehouse
Alan discussing our lease while North colors--we were able to get the landlord to accept Petra but not Ender, so End will be staying the year with my parents. We will miss her sooo very much but are confident that she will have lots of fun while we are unable to be with her.
The townhouse we are renting! Alan is already there and North and I will be joining him early next month! Walking distance to a metro and we will have a guest room so, come and see us!
Before leaving Bloomington though, we're trying to cram in as many adventures as we can and have been loving every minute of our last little bit of time being so near our families and very best friends. Some things we've done this month (that I happened to take phone photos of) are:
Hosted a Monday night dinner. I have no good photos of this but did snap some random ones. We have loved the porch and backyard of the current house we are renting and will really miss them so we've been trying to enjoy them as much as possible while we are able.
Of course the trampoline won't be joining us. North has had lots and lots of fun on it this summer though. Here are North, Mila, and Jeremy having some fun.
Downtown Bloomington is fabulous and a place we have spent lots of time walking around while living here. One favorite stop as we walk around is always the downtown fire station (it's pretty close to our favorite Indian place and so we see it a lot). Out front is a cement dalmation that North loves. Here he is giving it some hugs.
He got a haircut after these photos (I didn't snap any pictures of that though)!
Another favorite place, that I've mentioned before is the dog park at Lake Griffy. What I'd never mentioned before though are the other things that you can do at Lake Griffy--including renting canoes. Recently we did just that with good friends Samantha, Max, and Ruby. We all had a wonderful time. North loved being on a "boat".
And when one thinks of Bloomington, you can't help but think of all the delicious and affordable restaurants that it has to offer! We've been taking advantage of those before we leave town and enjoying the warm weather and the opportunity for al fresco dining. At a recent dinner, North decided he wanted his own chopsticks to try out eating with them. We found him some chopstick kid clips and let him try to eat his rice crispy treat with them. It was a pretty funny sight.
We have also really loved Bloomington's parks. Our favorite had been Bryan Park for the longest time but recently we've developed a real love for Cascade Park. The playground is wonderful! North LOVES IT--especially the giant red and blue slides and red swings. We've gone here a TON the past couple of weeks and even got to show it off to Lincoln (although sadly I didn't get any pictures of that).
view from the swing
The weekend before leaving, Alan also played his last show with Black Cat and a small reunion set with Canterbury Effect--he's been playing with the guys from those 2 bands far more years than he's been in a relationship with either me or North (and that's saying something since Alan and I first started dating in HIGH SCHOOL) so it was a more significant milestone than I can even begin to understand. It was such a fun and bittersweet evening of great friends and music and such a perfect sendoff to him as he departed for DC.
Canterbury Effect
Black Cat
His last week here, we also attended a last Monday night dinner together at the Rose's, enjoying their beautiful backyard.
And headed to the Hook's gorgeous home for a farewell cook-out.
The boys REALLY loved their dog crates.
And we celebrated THREE of North's cohort's birthdays. First North, then Nathan who is 1 day younger, and finally Kian! Such sweet 2 year olds the 3 boys make and such fun North had with the opportunity to eat cake 3 times in 1 week!
Nathan LOVES Mickey--and had Mickey ears for his party which North wanted to keep on for about 2 days after.
Kian's party was in the rec room at Campus View and boy was it an adventure! Not only was there cake, and presents, and fun. There was also a piano (which the kids LOVED playing with) AND as a really grand finale one little guy pulled the fire alarm and so everyone got to see fire trucks AND police cars and Kian was wished happy birthday by firemen and policemen--pretty exciting stuff!
Max, Ruby, Kian, and North rocking out.
Then, last weekend we said goodbye to Alan for a few weeks and started a few weeks of North/mommy time as we wrap things up in Bloomington and prepare to head out ourselves. After Alan left town, we head to grandma and grandpa's as a pick-me-up.
We got some ice-cream..
And even got to visit with cousin Gary and his fiancee Christina (North will be in their wedding in the fall)! North thought it great fun to see Gary's semi-truck!
It tired North out..
Once we got back to Bloomington we headed to the Bryan Park pool with Nathan & Jenni.
The boys had an amazing time. While we were there, we also saw Max, Ruby, Mason, and Samantha and got to swim with them for a few hours as well. North was delighted.
This week we've had 2 pretty major thunderstorms which have consumed our evenings with tornado warnings. North is actually kind of excited about all the sirens and enjoyed our times hanging out in safe spaces while the tornadoes passed. Yesterday we got stranded at both the Psychology Building (where North participated in a language study) and Target during the warnings. It was quite an adventure. When we got home we had no power:
While holed up at home with the storms North has been working on new skills. Like:
His strange and persistent desire to write with his toes...
And the ability to put his own shoes on..
Pretty good for a first try. Unfortunately, they were on the wrong feet...
I had a slightly different post in mind but realized that our camera is already in DC with Alan and so I can only update with phone photos--but that's ok--I recall there weren't all that many on our camera and I can get to those later once we are all moved to DC.
In the meantime, here are photos from our recent weeks that had not yet been shared.
First up, a few weeks ago we took a trip out to DC to find a place and a daycare! North enjoyed the flight and the chance to get lots of time with us--even if it was bouncing from 1 place to the next. We saw a whole lot of places that we were definitely NOT interested in but also found some that we were. We settled on a townhouse for rent in Fairfax, VA and a daycare center in Vienna,VA that we feel we will be happy with. Neither is ideal and both will leave us missing lots of the things we are leaving behind in our move but we knew that would be the case and we are excited for our new adventures and hopeful that both will bring us lots of fun and warm memories.
One place we visited had a nice playground--unfortunately, that's all it had. Still North got to have a fun break as we toured rentals!
We found a restaurant that we will surely frequent often - Dogfish Head Alehouse
Alan discussing our lease while North colors--we were able to get the landlord to accept Petra but not Ender, so End will be staying the year with my parents. We will miss her sooo very much but are confident that she will have lots of fun while we are unable to be with her.
The townhouse we are renting! Alan is already there and North and I will be joining him early next month! Walking distance to a metro and we will have a guest room so, come and see us!Before leaving Bloomington though, we're trying to cram in as many adventures as we can and have been loving every minute of our last little bit of time being so near our families and very best friends. Some things we've done this month (that I happened to take phone photos of) are:
Hosted a Monday night dinner. I have no good photos of this but did snap some random ones. We have loved the porch and backyard of the current house we are renting and will really miss them so we've been trying to enjoy them as much as possible while we are able.
Of course the trampoline won't be joining us. North has had lots and lots of fun on it this summer though. Here are North, Mila, and Jeremy having some fun.
Downtown Bloomington is fabulous and a place we have spent lots of time walking around while living here. One favorite stop as we walk around is always the downtown fire station (it's pretty close to our favorite Indian place and so we see it a lot). Out front is a cement dalmation that North loves. Here he is giving it some hugs.
He got a haircut after these photos (I didn't snap any pictures of that though)!
Another favorite place, that I've mentioned before is the dog park at Lake Griffy. What I'd never mentioned before though are the other things that you can do at Lake Griffy--including renting canoes. Recently we did just that with good friends Samantha, Max, and Ruby. We all had a wonderful time. North loved being on a "boat".
And when one thinks of Bloomington, you can't help but think of all the delicious and affordable restaurants that it has to offer! We've been taking advantage of those before we leave town and enjoying the warm weather and the opportunity for al fresco dining. At a recent dinner, North decided he wanted his own chopsticks to try out eating with them. We found him some chopstick kid clips and let him try to eat his rice crispy treat with them. It was a pretty funny sight.
We have also really loved Bloomington's parks. Our favorite had been Bryan Park for the longest time but recently we've developed a real love for Cascade Park. The playground is wonderful! North LOVES IT--especially the giant red and blue slides and red swings. We've gone here a TON the past couple of weeks and even got to show it off to Lincoln (although sadly I didn't get any pictures of that).
view from the swing
The weekend before leaving, Alan also played his last show with Black Cat and a small reunion set with Canterbury Effect--he's been playing with the guys from those 2 bands far more years than he's been in a relationship with either me or North (and that's saying something since Alan and I first started dating in HIGH SCHOOL) so it was a more significant milestone than I can even begin to understand. It was such a fun and bittersweet evening of great friends and music and such a perfect sendoff to him as he departed for DC.
Canterbury Effect
Black Cat
His last week here, we also attended a last Monday night dinner together at the Rose's, enjoying their beautiful backyard.
And headed to the Hook's gorgeous home for a farewell cook-out.
The boys REALLY loved their dog crates.
And we celebrated THREE of North's cohort's birthdays. First North, then Nathan who is 1 day younger, and finally Kian! Such sweet 2 year olds the 3 boys make and such fun North had with the opportunity to eat cake 3 times in 1 week!
Nathan LOVES Mickey--and had Mickey ears for his party which North wanted to keep on for about 2 days after.
Kian's party was in the rec room at Campus View and boy was it an adventure! Not only was there cake, and presents, and fun. There was also a piano (which the kids LOVED playing with) AND as a really grand finale one little guy pulled the fire alarm and so everyone got to see fire trucks AND police cars and Kian was wished happy birthday by firemen and policemen--pretty exciting stuff!
Max, Ruby, Kian, and North rocking out.
Then, last weekend we said goodbye to Alan for a few weeks and started a few weeks of North/mommy time as we wrap things up in Bloomington and prepare to head out ourselves. After Alan left town, we head to grandma and grandpa's as a pick-me-up. 
We got some ice-cream..
And even got to visit with cousin Gary and his fiancee Christina (North will be in their wedding in the fall)! North thought it great fun to see Gary's semi-truck!
It tired North out..
Once we got back to Bloomington we headed to the Bryan Park pool with Nathan & Jenni.
The boys had an amazing time. While we were there, we also saw Max, Ruby, Mason, and Samantha and got to swim with them for a few hours as well. North was delighted.
This week we've had 2 pretty major thunderstorms which have consumed our evenings with tornado warnings. North is actually kind of excited about all the sirens and enjoyed our times hanging out in safe spaces while the tornadoes passed. Yesterday we got stranded at both the Psychology Building (where North participated in a language study) and Target during the warnings. It was quite an adventure. When we got home we had no power:
While holed up at home with the storms North has been working on new skills. Like:His strange and persistent desire to write with his toes...
And the ability to put his own shoes on..
Pretty good for a first try. Unfortunately, they were on the wrong feet...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
