Getting outside

Gotta take a backpack outside - although if the backpack is bigger than you are, might be a bit difficult. It's been a very cool summer, so we've been getting outside when possible. Oddly, it's made the pool less good, since they don't heat the water and it can be pretty cold. Sometimes Isabella's come out with teeth chattering - still demanding to go back in again. She can officially "swim" with her new fishie ring. Actually kicks her feet off the ground and floats around. Of course, being swung around in the water is still the best thing. She's now brave enough to stick her head under the fountain and get her hair wet. And being splashed isn't quite so bad.

This is down at the botanical gardens - they have a mini set of locks with some wooden boats. She thought that was great - opened and closed the gates and let the water through. She also enjoyed throwing rocks into the water, but there weren't a lot of rocks to throw. The disadvantage of a fake creek.

She's getting braver and braver. She walked across this rope bridge without any problem. Her favorite thing to do in the basement these days is to jump from one big poofy pillow to the other, or stand on the top and roll herself down. Not to mention the hundred mile an hour runs at high speed through the house.

This is her getting ready for the grad student picnic. Where, of course, she ran around at high speed, sometimes chasing after the soccer ball, sometimes running back and forth between mom and dad. She tried to get in the volleyball game, but she's a bit short to spike.

She will now run away from us a fair distance - she's pretty good about coming back, but every now and then... Especially when she has her friends around. She likes to run across the grass and walk along narrow pathways. And be chased. She's now faster than me...