First Day of High School

Char started high school yesterday morning.  He tried to dodge the yearly "first of day of school picture", but I insisted.  He is "walk- pooling" with River, now that they live close enough to their school to not be "car- pooling".  I felt old all day telling everyone I had a child starting high school.  Then I got carded after work ~ It's normally irritating to get carded, but I was pleased on this particular occasion.  Woohoo!!

First Day of Preschool at Montessori

Lola started preschool at Montessori.  She picked out her own clothes and got dressed herself.  I attempted a pony tail, but she declined.  They apparently have too many "nappers" so she is going without.... will be an interesting few months for the girl who is used to a 2-3 hour nap!

Girls weekend in Seattle!

Lola and I took a quick "end of summer" trip to Seattle for some good girl time.  We left Friday night and arrived in Seattle around bedtime, then flew home Sunday very late.  We started Saturday morning at the Zoo, followed by the Children's Museum in city center ~ noshing along the way on yummy local food and coffee.  We walked around City Center and watched some street performers (Lo thinks they are mostly creepy) and checked out the Space Needle and Experience Music Project.  We topped off the afternoon with climbing at Seattle Boudering Project, where Charlie and I climbed last fall.  After dinner, we did Lola's highlight of the weekend, yes- that was swimming in the hotel pool.  I survived.  Sunday, we got up and went swimming again.  We headed to the Seattle Aquarium downtown and Lola really enjoyed it, especially the "daddy shark and 3 baby sharks".  She said mommy liked the "big grey eel with the grumpy face" best.  She experienced the tide pool and was able to touch sea urchins, a variety of anenomes and sea cucumbers.   We capped it off with a ferris wheel ride on the pier that just opened a couple of months ago and gave us great views of the city skyline on one side and Puget Sound on the other.  She enjoyed the airport and plane rides and didn't even puke this time!!  It was a great trip and I felt like I got to know her better-- she loves adventure, new places and doing activities or sports, as opposed to "seeing" things, even if they are things of interest to her!

I wasn't paying attention when I rented the car... it was a toddler sized economy car.  The good news was that it was cheap and Lola liked how "cute and little" it was.

Zoo

The Worms were her favorite part of the Zoo!

Children's Museum

Time for a nap...... at the Children's Museum.

Lola had a cookie, Mom had some coffee, outside the Space Needle.

City Center

Exterior of the Experience Music Project

Exterior of the Experience Music Project

We finished the day with climbing at Seattle Bouldering Project.  Lola loved the top out boulder with a slide back down.  I enjoyed the expansive rooms and ample "old lady" routes.  I actually crushed, for me!

At the Pier, Lola insisted on riding the new Ferris Wheel in the background that had just opened.

Fountain outside the Seattle Aquarium

She loved the touch tide pool.

Aquarium