Movie Night and Train Town x 2

In an attempt to catch up, I'm throwing all this into one post. One of the parks in Napa shows movies every so often on Saturday nights during the summer. We got there at 7 and the movie didn't start 'til 9. We didn't know if Isabella would make the two hour wait. One unit of her time was spent playing with exercise bands.
Another unit was spent being flown and tossed around by Mark.

some time was spent admiring the double rainbow that suddenly appeared in the sky.
and the rest of the time she attempted to socialize with any kid she could find sitting next to us.

By the time the movie started, she was folded over in shear exhaustion. Actually, she made it through the first hour of Shrek (and of that hour probably paid about 10 seconds of attention to the movie), then she could take no more.
Train Town. A fun little place to take the tots.
For $5, you get to go on a 20 minute train ride...
...through the woods and to a small scale old western town.

Isabella did not like the train ride,
but was totally in her element feeding the goats during our stop in town.
Posing for an old fashioned photo (not really, actually she was sitting on the counter top of the town saloon-- waiting for her drink)
Isabella and Mark in the old school house. A future teacher?
Or jailbird?
Maybe she'll be a train conductor.
Our first trip to Train Town was actually with Brooke and her kids, Daisha and Keontay, who were visiting from Sacramento. 'Sha Baby is warming up the car.
On the train.
In the church in town.

Behind bars.

Isabella trying to make herself smaller than she really is.
On the carousel.

Isabella doesn't like the carousel.
Except when it's stopped. And the music is playing.

How Isabella got her groove back.

The 4th of July - What a Difference a Year Makes!

Last year 4th of July. Isabella - 3 mos. July 4, 2009 Isabella - 15 mos.

Evidence for our pediatrician that the girl, although little, has indeed grown.

Then: Surviving the newborn stage.

Now: Enjoying Toddlerhood to its fullest.

The 4th for us this year was all about eating on the cheap. (How very patriotic, I know.) The local market in my parents' town was celebrating an anniversary, so they hosted a free BBQ. They provided hot dogs, burgers, tri tip sandwiches, chips, fruit, cupcakes, gelato...
And music from jazz trio with whom Isabella was enraptured. She danced like she had ants in her pants

while eating an entire nectarine.

Lunch and dinner were interrupted by some magnolia tree pruning in my parents' front yard.
We ate dinner at a local restaurant that also just so happened to be celebrating an anniversary. They rolled back their menu prices 15 years.
Isabella just couldn't take all the excitement of eating cheap(er) French food on the 4th of July.
She did, however, wake up in time for dessert. That's my girl!
We ended the night on our porch (in Napa) cuddled up in the big chair watching fireworks from a neighboring town.

Father's Day 2009

One of Mark's gifts was a book about trucks to read to Isabella. Both were in heaven.
We had lunch and root beer floats at my parents' place. Mom had to ask me how to make a rb float. It was then that I realized the depth of depravity of my childhood.
Two of the great ones.

Kathy Foulger Gets Married

Kathy Foulger, a former housemate of mine when we lived in Boston, got married in Portland OR. Other former housemates (Judy Pate and Ginger Frost) and friends from Boston were going to attend, so I made a very quick (solo) trip to be part of the fun.




Kathy and Bill got married on a beautiful lake outside of Portland.
Anja Davidson--Maid of Honor. A friend (not a former housemate of mine, but of Ginger's and Kathy's and ??) from Boston. Frankly, we pretty much couldn't remember who had lived with whom, or when or on what floor of which house--but we figured we all had lived with each other at least twice.

Ginger, who currently lives in London and commutes to Helsinki for work, won the Most Miles Traveled To Get To Kathy's Wedding award. Here she is showcasing the day-glo wear in her hair.
So I had my hair cut short and had my mom "highlight" it for me from a box, the day before the wedding. A risky move. In certain lights I was sure my hair was orange. My mom said it was Nicole Kidman-blond. Somehow that didn't comfort me.
The Cake.
Boston days.

Last Day of School Bliss

9am - Birthday cupcakes.
(Got to squeeze in one last birthday celebration before the school year's over.)

10:30am - Room Parents' treat for the teachers: Jumbo Jamba Juice
11:00 am - I made the kids a Thunder Cake, as in Patrica Pollaco's Thunder cake. They were grossed out that the recipe called for 1/3 cup of pureed tomatoes. I had a few takers.

11:45am - Dismissal. They surprised me with a book of letters they'd written to me. I surprised them by telling them that 'Accampo' was not my real last name. It's always fun to mess with 2nd graders.

Employment update: Despite my pink slip earlier this year, I was recently rehired by the district. Same school, same grade, same teaching partner for next year.

I am grateful.

Aunt Christa and Cousin Jack Visit Napa!

My sis-in-law Christa and nephew Jack came up from LA to visit!
We ate, took a walk, explored the property and visited The Oxbow Market.
Nana and her grandkiddies.
The Kortz's treehouse and zip line-swing. Jack was brave enough to try it out!
Isabella was brave enough to try dirt.

Cousins

Did someone say ice cream?
(Tastes better than dirt.)
Jack was fantastic with Isabella. They got along swimmingly well and are ready to star in their own sitcom.
Isabella plays with Daddy at the Oxbow.
Parting group shot.
I guess I was taking a nap.