Fun in the Sun--or in the Dark

When you move to a new place and don't have very many friends, it can be hard to find things to do to entertain two little girls. While Mierae and Jolie usually play together pretty well...


...we have had "those days" when I'm ready to throw them both off the balcony. To keep my sanity intact, here are a few of the activities in the tri-cities that we've enjoyed.

SWIMMING: No matter where you live in the summertime, we HAVE to go swimming. I was so sad we'd be leaving our apartment in Ohio that has a pool just before the summer began, but there are so many wonderful parks here and places to swim! Our favorite is Howard Amon park where there is a playground (with a zip swing, bench swings, sandbox, and climbing statues) as well as a splash pool and lots and lots of big, shady trees. We have spent several days here!!




And they have some spray parks too! Here we are at one in Kennewick.





It is right next to the Playground of Dreams. A fun playground for sure, but way to hot to play on at lunch time!

We also got to go with Eric's cousins' families boating on the river. It was the first time either of the girls had been on a boat. Jolie loved it!


She even went for a ride on a tube with Dad.

Mierae didn't want to have anything to do with the boat at first. Only when she found out her cousin was getting on did she want to go out on it.


Her first attempt at tubing didn't go as well as we'd hoped!


Just as the boat was taking off, the tube dipped down and the three girls on the tube went under. The water was really cold, and Mierae had had enough of the boat, and the river, after those few precious minutes!

I got to enjoy a ride in the boat with Jolie on my lap. We had been out only a few minutes when Jolie got really heavy. I craned my neck to look at her, and she had fallen asleep peacefully on the head support of her life jacket.

One of the best things about the apartment we're in is the balcony. We live on the third floor, so I know my kids can't run away if I let them out, and they are "outside" without having to leave the apartment! They love to have picnics there, throw things through the bars :), watch the cars go by, and sit in their camp chairs to have a snack. What a fun unexpected perk!



When the girls are actually playing well together at home, one of their favorite past-times is putting on make-up. I love this shot of Mierae putting "chopstick" on Jolie.


Eric and I have even been able to enjoy some sites by ourselves. We got to go on a date last week, and we had a lovely quiet dinner in a restaurant right next to the river. I don't think we've EVER had a better time eating out.

And last, but not least, there are perks working for Battelle. Our family got to go to a special showing of "Up" in 3D yesterday morning for about a third of the regular price. We all had a great time, LOVED the movie, and then went to the splash pool that afternoon!


Thank you, tri-cities, for entertaining us for the summer!

P.S. The grocery store can be an adventure too!