Warmish Fun in the Summertime

Seattle: The Place to Be, Summer 2011

While everyone seems to be complaining about our "horrible" summer, let me be the first to suggest to them: "You can always move". Despite the fact that our summer has been less than stellar, I'd take 70s and overcast days over triple-digit temps AND humidity any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Seattlelites wouldn't know what to do with themselves if we had that kind of oppressive heat for weeks on end; the Summer of 2009 - when we hit 100 and I was pregnant - was a testament to that.

So, while the summer is not ideal, it's not *that* bad. We've still managed to have fun by meeting up with friends, taking pony rides, checking out farmer's markets, watching some (read: A LOT of) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, watching the Country Village train, eating gobs of ice cream and popsicles, smelling the beautiful flowers, hanging at the splash pad and much, much more.

And if you're new - welcome to our beautiful, overcast summer. The few times the sun has found it's way into our home, Benjamin has rubbed his eyes and said, "Ouchie!".

Day for a Picnic

It's Summer... finally!

Today we celebrated the joyous, though late arrival of our Seattle summer with a picnic on the deck. Dave's family came over and we dined on baked tortilla chips, trail mix, crudités, grilled steak, a green salad and fresh fruit.

While I was getting the spread prepared, Benjamin was helping by eating all of the chips. Well, not all of them, but seriously, that kid was downing the salty goodness with the voracity of a starving velociraptor. Note that he went for the far end of the table, rather than the closer end with the platter of veggies.

I didn't get pictures of the actual feast or feasters, but believe me when I say that all were well fed while enjoying a practically perfect Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Sun, Please Shine Down on Me

"Mommy, what is it?"

I came upstairs to find Benjamin fixated on the sun, as the light poured through the window, lighting up the carpet with sunshine-y goodness. "Oohs" & "Ahhs" were coming from his mouth as he ran his little fingers across the carpet fibers in a moment of pure childhood discovery.

When my son is perplexed by this weird thing that I called "The Sun", this is proof positive that we've had nothing but cloudy days for months here in Seattle.

Well... I should take that back about nothing but cloudy days. Yesterday on the radio, a news reporter said that we had exactly ONE SUNNY DAY - meterologically speaking - in the month of June. And even better? It's been about 280 days since we have seen a day that hit 80 degrees.

Wowsers.

No wonder he was so perplexed by this golden globe. Today's Benjamin Lesson: This "Sun Thing" is very bright and hurting his eyes. Hopefully we'll be getting more visits from Mr. Sun - we might just have to buy some little boy sunglasses, at this rate!