Leo and I flew to California for two weeks to spend time with our family, and attend my cousin's wedding. We spent a couple days at the beach in Santa Monica, where Leo waded into the water and spent hours playing in the sand. He loves the beach.
Then we drove up to my parents' house where we got to spend lots of time with the extended family. It was great! My sister and her son Bridger also flew in for the weekend, so Leo and Bridger got to play together again.
Leo had a great time in the garage with Grandpa. He followed him around for hours, and just loved checking out all that interesting stuff. Grandpa even gave him a hammer and a board with some nails he could hammer. He was in little boy heaven.
Leo's language skills really took off during our time there. He started saying "Pa" (for Grandpa), and about 20 other words for the first time: outside, down, eat, stuff, bath, chip, sock, drink, etc.
It was amazing.
Jessie's wedding was really nice. They had tents set up next to the lake, so the setting was beautiful. The weather even cooperated, and the rain held off until the following day. (whew!)
I spent a couple of days doing the flowers, which was really fun. (I really do enjoy it- especially now that I am not doing flowers every day) It was a fun day, and I enjoyed spending time with all my cousins who had come to town for the wedding.
The weather is cooling off now, and it's made me realize that Summer is drawing to a close. I have been reflecting on some of the fun things Leo and I have done together over the last few months.
We went to Utah to visit Nana and Papa. Leo had a great time rolling in the grass, sitting in the birdbath, and eating raspberries right off the bushes. He also had fun playing at the park and being silly with grandpa.
We've been meaning to take the kayaks out on the lake by our house since we moved here a year ago. Last summer we were busy painting, doing house projects, and getting unpacked. And of course, this summer Jack has been gone, so I decided we should just go, and see how we fared doing it on our own. This was our first time kayaking without Jack, so it was a little more complicated getting the boat in and out of the water, but Leo and I managed. 
Leo and I flew to California for two weeks to spend time with our family, and attend my cousin's wedding. We spent a couple days at the beach in Santa Monica, where Leo waded into the water and spent hours playing in the sand. He loves the beach.
Leo had a great time in the garage with Grandpa. He followed him around for hours, and just loved checking out all that interesting stuff. Grandpa even gave him a hammer and a board with some nails he could hammer. He was in little boy heaven.
Jessie's wedding was really nice. They had tents set up next to the lake, so the setting was beautiful. The weather even cooperated, and the rain held off until the following day. (whew!)
When I was at the store yesterday I saw them. A giant pallet bin-- filled to the top with the large green orbs. And I'm not going to lie- I felt a lump in my throat, and I had to choke back some tears. It made me sad to think that Jack won't be home for watermelon season this year. 
Tuesday: Mom was on the treadmill in the family room. Leo was playing in the same room, on the other side of the barrier mom made to keep him out. Leo decided to break through the barrier (which he has never done before), and in a split second was climbing onto the back of the moving treadmill. He planted one hand on it and was instantly spun backwards, doing a faceplant on the moving belt as we went down. Result: Raspberry on the end of his nose, and a big fat lip. 
This project is finally complete! I am so pleased with the results.
