Summer Fun

Various media outlets are saying this is NOT actually the coldest summer in 40 years - it's the unusually persistent fog that makes it feel that way. Or something. The entertainment value of watching tourists shiver in shorts and freshly purchased fleece pullovers doesn't last long, though. Just so we didn't forget what the sun looked like, we made a field trip over the Golden Gate to the Discovery Museum in Marin.Brennan had so much fun riding mice, running, splashing in water, running, playing music with Daddy, running, bouncing, and running some more that we rolled our tickets into a membership. We've been back a few times -
Bren really likes the splashing tidepools -
and the dumptrucks. Missing are the alarming images of him trying to play with some older boys who were pushing or riding the metal trucks down a ramp as fast as possible, with the apparent goal of wiping out in a bed of gravel or smashing into each other.

Another cure for the foggy, glacial summertime blues is to have an excuse to leave town for a few days. Luckily two of my colleagues thoughtfully arranged to get married at Lake Tahoe at the end of July. Mornings in Tahoe City were a good source for pancakes and entertainment -

We stopped at a bike rental spot to check out their baby seat options. We didn't necessarily mean to set out on a bike ride right then, but after we put Brennan in the seat, he more or less refused to get out. So we spent a couple of hours cruising along the Truckee River out to our rental in Squaw Valley & back.

The events were at Painted Rock Lodge, a really lovely spot on the river. Brennan was invited to the barbecue the night before the wedding. He particularly enjoyed the ceiling fans and the brownies. If we can ever sort out the video upload, his dad got some great footage of him shoving almost an entire brownie in his mouth.
Here are Kristen and David, getting hitched. The ceremony was very sweet, and included the passage from The Velveteen Rabbit where the Skin Horse explains how toys become real. With 40 fast approaching and my waistline expanding even faster (although I think that has more to do with Brennan's impending younger sibling than my eating habits), it was comforting to hear about still being loved even after all your fur is rubbed off. This is early morning on their first day of married life -
Anyway, they make a lovely couple and I'm very happy for them. (now come back from your honeymoon already, your clients are driving me nuts, especially that lady with the Tibetan terrier)