Summer pool time

Best decision ever in getting a summer pass to the local swimming pools.  We are there at least four days a week, sometimes both before and after nap time.  The pool closest to us has a great kiddie pool with mini slides and an octopus that squirts water.
Brooklyn has swimming lessons in the evenings four times a week in the evenings and is learning lots of new skills.  She is great at blowing bubbles and has learned to dunk her own head under and bob back up.  She is getting really good at using "ice-cream scoop arms" and kicking her feet although hasn't quite mastered doing both at the same time.



And some after swimming refueling with peanut butter.

First time stand up paddleboarding

I crossed off a summer bucket list item this month when I went stand up paddle boarding with some Stroller Strides Mom's.  My SIL, Angie, was in town and came with me and it was her first time as well.
It was a perfect summer evening to paddle around Quinn's pond. Just paddling around is not difficult.  We had some challanges amongst ourselves to see if we could do burpees or certain yoga moves which usually resulted in a nice cool splash in the pond.
Next bucket list item is signing up for a SUP yoga class!

Ivywild with the Howell's

Our friends the Howell's are in town for over a month to visit and we are so excited! Lyndsay and I were friends in elementary school and connected again when Thomas and I moved to Boise.  We both found out we were pregnant with our firsts and experienced pregnancy together.  They moved for her husbands schooling shortly after our babies were born.
We got together with them at Ivywild pool and then went to the park afterwards for a picnic.
Brooklyn and Korbin just acted as if they remembered each other from way back when and had a blast playing together.
Can't wait to enjoy some more fun dates with them while they are here!

Jabbers

Just as we always do in the summers here in Boise, we have had some smoky days due to the wildfires nearbys that have made it necessary to stay inside. One particular day Brooklyn headed to an indoor play place called Jabbers. They have a big indoor slide, a house area, doll area, store, art room, car track, train track, and cafe. Brooklyn divides her time between the slide, cars, house, and store. Both times we have been we end up getting lunch there as well. It's a nice way to spend the first half of our day when weather/smoke keep us indoors. Right before I took this picture she was laying down in the lawn chair with the baby on her chest and her eyes closed. It was SO adorable.

Fit for Life Half Marathon 2014

This half I was determined to beat my PR that I set in June of 2011.  I have been running three days a week, working out with a personal training one day a week, taking a kettle bell class one day a week, and practicing yoga another day.
I felt nervous but confident going into the race.
The course was a flat, mainly shaded, paved greenbelt path. The first half I was running 8:30/mile which is actually faster than my fastest 10K.  There was a guy that was going about my pace and I trailed off of him until the turnaround point. Once I hit the turn around point I got some water and then fought a sideache that really slowed me down for the rest of the race.  Once I had a 5K left I knew I needed to pick it up if I wanted to beat my time.
I pushed through the sideache and as I entered the homestretch Thomas and my brother and sister in law (Michael and Angie) were there encouraging me to hurry.  Crossed the finish line out of breath but proud.  I beat my time by a little over a minute.  Finished in 1:53:30 about an 8:40/mile pace.
Thomas ran the 5K and came in first in his age group! We both agreed we wouldn't be sad to not run this particular race again.  Although it is cool finishing at the baseball stadium's home plate, the course is pretty boring, no fans to really cheer you on, not very well organized, the race swag is mininmal (shirts are all men's sizing), and the only post race food are hot dogs (not what I want to eat right after a long hard run).
My next half is in September and ideally I would like to do even better.  Next race is a couple weeks away and will be my first trail race!

4th of July 2014

The morning for the 4th our ward had a pancake breakfast at a nearby park.  For entertainment there was a blow up slide, the park play area, a volleyball net set up, and the nearby nature center.
All the kids (and maybe the parents too) got nice and sweaty climbing up and going down the inflatable slide.  Thomas and I got in on a little game of water balloon volleyball.  Brooklyn and her friend Trinelle played their own little version of volleyball.  We then took the girls over to the nature center to see the fish, a Brooklyn fave.
Later that day Thomas had to work but Brooklyn and I were invited over to our friends the Martin's house for a BBQ.  There were lots of other kids Brooklyn's age and their backyard was a kids paradies. There was a mini splash pad, a bounce house, a ball pit, and a pool.
Once all the other kids were in bed Cliff brought out some fireworks.  Brooklyn loved the snaps and really got the hang of throwing them on the ground hard enough so they actually would snap.  I was impressed.  She also liked the champagne poppers.  Once we brought out the sparklers she was hesitant and then a little spark landed on her bare foot, poor baby, and after that she wasn't having it.
So blessed to have good friends to celebrate our countries independence with.

June Photo Dump

After Thomas' triathlon we went to check out the pond he swam around. We bought some milkshakes and sat out on the dock and let Brooklyn feed the ducks. And eventually Brooklyn wanted to get in the water so we obliged. She wanted to take her cart and doll and doll carseat to the grocery store. Bad mistake on my part. We made it through the produce department until she needed to sit in the big cart and I ended up putting her cart in the cart with all the groceries. It was cute while it lasted. For awhile she always wanted to hold our hands while going down the slide. When she was around a year she would go down on her belly so she could catch herself with her legs better at the end of the slide. I love how she would say "Grab my hand mom. Mom, grab my hand!".
Friday night date at the park with my girl.
Brooklyn loves to do down dog with no hands. And she pronounces yoga "oga", it's adorable. If I ever try to practice when she is awake I usually get kicked off my mat so she can show me her moves.
The girl LOVES popsicles! She eats at least one a day. And it's pronounces "paw-kah-nah". Mini pool day in front of our apartment. Park ladder with Dad.
Thomas' sister, Kristin, and two of her boys came into town. One of the days we went to dinner at Big Judd's burger joint and then bowling at BSU. Brooklyn loved hanging with her cousin Adam and had him give her "rocket ship rides" over and over.
Sometimes after a long week of no Daddy home during the evenings we go to the nearby DQ for some ice cream to console ourselves.
I love it when she gives me snuggles.
So I tried to potty train by using the 3-day method. It was miserable staying confined to the house. Basically you have them naked and take them to the bathroom constantly. Totally backfired. Before officially potty training Brooklyn would tell me most of the time when she needed to pee. Now she rarely does. This morning she was pants free and wanting to color on the sidewalk and I got a cute little shot of her bum.
She saw me cleaning the kitchen and so wanted her own washcloth and spray bottle to clean HER kitchen.
She is becoming quite the poser.
In June they started a free lunch program at a nearby park for kids under 18. We went on the first day and got our picture in the newspaper. Kids eat free and parents can pay $1 for their sack lunch.
Used her learning tower to climb up on the counters. Little monkey.
Last time sharing snacks at church with her Hallie. Carting around her cabbage patch doll in her wagon (both from her birthday).
Thomas' parents live really close to a splash pad. Sometimes we aren't planning on going and do so I just let her run around in her regular clothes.