Summer Days With the Little Ones

No politics today, just a photo and video set from the past month with the kiddos here in hot summer land in the Hudson Valley.

Local officials opened a swimming pool built right in the lake in Sojourner Truth State Park, and we managed to get there the week before everyone else heard about it. Here’s a shot of that amazing new addition to Kingston, NY!

If you’ve ever played Legend of Zelda (I haven’t but was told this), Ronan apparently looks like a little woodland creature from that video game with a leaf in his hair like this.

And Riley loves riding up top on Ba’s shoulders. My ears are her reins!

We had to clear out of our house and over to an AirBnB while they refinished our old floors (that was a PAIN but we’re back now and they look terrific!) At least the stay gave me a chance to introduce the concept of “hammock” and “swing” to the kids.

Riley recently discovered the joys of bubble wrap…

And loves to pretend to be my answering service.

Ronan loves belly farts…

And even has opinions on who is the greatest Pop Artist of All Time.

Reading to Riley is a joy, especially when there are surprise pop-ups in the book!

And I managed to put this play-set together in the yard (power tools and all!) It was a gift from my friend, known to the kids as “Aunt Jenny.” (Half of their clothes are from her own kids’ early years, so if you ever see them in cute outfits, chances are they are from the amazing Aunt Jenny!)

Riley has picked up on the fact that I have to go out of town for work a lot, so she has started saying that she’s headed to work in the mornings, too. With a work satchel and everything! (But I note, no pants on her way to the office…which sounds like an anxiety dream I still have lol.)

And here is her imitating a crab. Windsor is wary.

It’s an amazing thing to hear your kids develop language and cognitive skills in real time—sometimes quite rapidly! Here’s a story I posted on social media in case you missed it:

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Our nanny Jasmine recounted the following story, after I heard her cracking up uncontrollably in the other room, and warning me my daughter is way beyond a typical one-year old.

Jasmine: (in Mandarin) Riley, why are you lying on the ground? You know I don’t like it when you lie on the rug. There’s dust and dog hair.

Riley: [doesn’t get up]

Jasmine: Okay, if you won’t get up, I’m not going to pay you any attention.

Riley: [doesn’t get up]

Jasmine: I mean it. I’m just going to take care of your brother.

(Jasmine turns her back on Riley, starts changing Ronan’s diaper. Riley gets up, saunters over to Jasmine, looking up at her, head tilted, smiling broadly.)

Riley: [sighs] Jasssssmine. You’re so adorable.

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I just can’t! Hahahaha

I’ll see you back tomorrow with the latest on our trying times. Till then, I recommend we all disconnect, refresh and spend time with loved ones or even QT alone—which is something I get to experience for a glorious two hours on Sundays while the kids are at gym class!

Jay