Summer is Over???

I am psyched to say that summer may be coming to a close in Houston! That means we go from "hotter" to "hot". It's not fall and there are no changing of leaves, but I'll take it! We just returned from a whirlwind vacation, traveling from coast to coast! Emrey and I got to hang out in NH/Boston with the Hollo clan for a couple weeks and then we flew out to Portland to meet up with Ellis and to celebrate Jesse and Becky's wedding on Labor Day. Below are a few photos in and around Portland, as well on our way to the wedding. I was slightly distracted when at the wedding with a toddler, so no pictures from there...

Hanging out with Zorro before the wedding

Waiting with Aunt Alice for the train....

The wedding itself was amazing. It took place in a beutiful park, overlooking Portland and the surrounding mountains! They couldn't have asked for a nicer day! We got to ride the MAX, eat some great food at the "trucks" and spend some time with the west coast Downs family, as well as the Kings. After the wedding we loaded into the car and drove to Seattle, where we stayed with an old friend of Ellis', way back from his days in Germany. They were so gracious to host us and show us a bit of Seattle! How nice to wear fleece and jeans again, it's been a while! Here are a few shots of our time in Seattle.

Taking the ferry to downtown Seattle

Riding the Ferry

Buddies...born a week apart

When we returned to Houston, Emrey started attending a Mother's Day Out program two mornings a week. I was a little nervous about how she would do, but from day one, when Ellis dropped her off, she ran into the classroom and never looked back! She is extremely social these days and loves to meet and play with new kids. It probably also helped, that she has a special friend in her class, who she's known since being in utero!

August in New England

flying the kite with Pappo

Here are a few photos from our week here in New Hampshire. We are missing Ellis terribly, but also having a great time with family! Emrey has had a blast with her cousins, Josh and Anna (who is only two months older than her). It has given her an opportunity to practice sharing more frequently, which will be helpful when her younger brother or sister arrives!

So far, the weather has been gorgeous and we are really loving the cool days and hanging out at the lake. We've gotten to go to a farm nearby that has pick your own peaches and apples, as well as lots of other yummy treats. The last two days have been a little rainy, so we've taken advantage of some indoor activites up at the north end of the lake. There are a few shots of Emrey and Anna riding some of the Kiddie rides at fun spot, which is something like a chuckie cheese on steroids!

Cousin Anna loved the peaches

Eating fresh peaches off the tree

Exploring at the farm

Reading books with Pappo

And the infamous... "treats" from Pappo

Rainy day riding the choo choo at Fun Spot

Here is my most recent attempt to get out and use my SLR camera to take some shots of Emrey. We had a semi-nice evening last night and Emrey was out helping us remember to slow down long enough to "smell the flowers"! She loves watching Bailey catch the frisbee and going outside to blow bubbles. The bummer is that we usually have to wait until after 8 to go out these days, since it's so hot during the day. She's growing so quickly and definitely has a mind of her own. Her favorite phrase these days is either "I do it" or "No"...She is able to say her full name and tell you that she is "one and a half"!

Date with Dad!

Emrey got to go on a date with her dad this weekend, while I was working on saturday. Emrey is very interested in planes these days, so Ellis took her to the Johnson Space Center visitors area, which has a lot to see! According to Ellis, Emrey was very impressed by the "biiiiiig airplane" ( a replication of the space shuttle). She also loved climbing in the play area and playing in the ball pit. I'm looking forward to heading back there with them soon, but I'm glad they got some time to hang out together without me!

Austin

Last weekend we took a very spontaneous, very last minute trip to Austin to visit our friends Laura and Kyle. It turns out the summer is a slow time for mental health counseling...and so we took my lack of clients and went on the road for a quick visit. Austin is supposed to be a little bit of a "drier heat" than Houston...I don't believe it! We still had fun, driving around trying to get Emrey to sleep :) swimming in Barton Springs and of course eating BBQ. Before we left, they brought us to a fun store that was very Texas. Emrey really enjoyed trying on all the western wear and didn't want to take the boots off when we left!

I'll take this opportunity to mention just a few developmental notes...Emrey turns 19 months this week. She is talking a ton! Almost too much! No, she has a sweet little babble going on at ALL times! She is really enjoying using all the new words she learns every day "thunder, rain, walk, up-n-down, Emrey's home, big truck, choo-choo, etc". Sometimes I wish she didn't talk quite as much :) but am so glad that she is developing right on time and using all those skills! She has a total of 5 teeth and I think a few more on the way. She LOVES Bailey, chasing after her, feeding her, taking her for walks, and giving her "uggs" (hugs). Sometimes, I think Bailey would prefer if Emrey had a little less energy! We have been swimming a ton this summer, both at our community pool as well as a fun pool/beach down in Galveston. Emrey loves to kick, splash and jump off the side, but does not enjoy putting her head under or going very deep into the water for any length of time. I signed her up for swim lessons at the beginning of the summer, and decided to put it off for a bit...and just let her enjoy being in the water without too much structure, she's only 1.5!! Ok, that's it for now.

Saltlick's BBQ

Fourth of July

The Hollo Clan

Here are a few shots from our great family reunion/celebration in Alton Bay New Hampshire, over the fourth of July. It was momentous having all four Hollo "kids" there at the same time, not to mention the seven grandchildren. We had a blast, boating, swimming, and camping.. This year was Emrey's first time seeing fireworks and we weren't sure whether she would enjoy it or be frightened. Well, after getting over her nervousness during the first few minutes, she loved it! For days later, she would interrupt us talking or reading to her just to say "orange, purple, boom, boom"! It had a lasting impression on her :) She also had a great time with all her cousins, but especially cousin Anna, who is doing all the same things Emrey is!

swimming with Nanna

getting morning "treats" with Pappo

chilling with Aunt Sarah...what a good sport she was.

camping on Loon Island