Bellevue Children's Museum (Still in Seattle)

Pa Pa, Bella and I decided to visit one of the local Children's Museums one day while in Seattle. It was fabulous. They had a toddler only area. It was full of so many activities. We got there extra early, too, before it got busy so Bella enjoyed herself immensely.

Bella was passing time before the doors opened.......reading to us.

VERY animated!

Finally, we made it inside. There was a giant bird's nest. The pillows were "bird's eggs". Bella enjoyed moving them around. It ended up being a little like the WWF, the way she threw herself around in there.

Then, she started to line them up around the edge. Bella loves to line things up very particularly. Future OCD?

Nigh-Nigh!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the cutest of them all?

Bella plays her own rendition of twinkle, twinkle (which is her favorite song).

Bella saw the fish and immediately did her best impression. Playing at the farm table with PaPa.
Hmmm..walking up and down these stairs is pretty fun.

Teeter-totters rock.......literally!

Boing! Boing!

Bella begins Masterpiece Theater.

Peek-a-boo, Pa Pa!

There was a little slide that was shaped as a big leaf. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Choo-Choo! Train!

They had a water section that was fabulous. This particular part was inclined so you could build dams to try to stop the balls from coming down. Bella was at the bottome collecting balls.

"One, two, tree"

And of course she had to start covering herself with the water as she always does.

Call of the Wild- Seattle Woodland Park Zoo

We went to the Woodland Park Zoo while in Seattle, also. There was a brand new meerkat exhibition that we had to take Bella to. For those of you who don't know....Bella's first ever self selected stuffed animal was a meerkat whom we call Merky. She loves meerkats. Besides seeing the meerkats, the big highlight was feeding the giraffes. You had to pay $5.00 to walk up and feed them some leaves. She had no fear....just squeals of delight. The giraffe had just taken her leaves.

Bella loved it so much she got to feed it again

Here, Giraffey, Giraffey.

Giraffe kisseys.

When we first came to exhibit, the meerkats were at the vet. We were so disappoi nted. Luckily, when we came back through they were back. Bella loved seeing Merky's family.

Aunty Sissy and Bella share some zoo love.

Seattle Cont'd- Another Night with the Evans

One night we (The Evans, my mom, Jolie's friend Alexis and us) walked to a little hole in the wall Mexican Restaurant in Old Bellevue for dinner. It was another lovely evening together.

Kendal was proud of how she devoured her mexican meal so nice and neat. Daddy taught Kendal how to stop and smell the roses.

Kendal contemplated what it really meant to stop and smell the roses This next series of pictures tempted to capture the essence of Bella as we walked back to the car. She tends to get really silly and does this thing that can only be described as a cross between storytelling and interpretive dance. She'll take a few steps, do a move, stop, run, jump, stop, do another move, squat, run, spin, etc. all while jibber-jabbering/singing. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need a pocket camcorder at all times. However, even though she is a ham, any time I do pull out the camcorder, she will not continue her "performance"....so I guess I am stuck trying to capture her on still photos anyway. I guess there are worst things in life.

"Thank you, thank you"

Here comes Kendal

Every outing usually ends with daddy having to scoop Bella up for running around. Then, he gives her another chance.................... ..............and she'll be off again! Who needs the gym?

Stop #4- Seattle, Washington

The last stop of our summer tour was Seattle. It was another quick trip, although I had an extra special blessing at the beginning of our time there......my dearest friend Jolie brought her husband and beautiful daughter Kendal (who's 6 months younger than Bella) from Colorado to visit for a couple days. I hadn't seen her for about 4 years. It was sooooooooooooo nice to spend time with them and finally meet little Kendal whom I always want to kiss through Skype.

One of the highlights included taking our girls to a local park. My pics do not do it justice, but it had a big whale that spouted water and lots of other water fountains, a big area to play and playground equipment. We spent a few hours there before dinner one afternoon.

Kendal bought Bella this sweet shirt from her favorite farm back in Colorado so the girls wore them together.

Bella entered the park with purpose.

This was a cool giant rubber ball that was all wet. Kendal had no fear, but Bella would not go near. Unfortunately, my darling isn't a fan of water parks. The random spouting of water scare her. Po baby.

Bella stood back and watched Kendal feel the ball.
Running and Daddy.....two of Bella's favorite things.

One of Bella's favorite things lately is to see how high she can jump off the ground. She's getting pretty high these days.

Who colors on a beautiful day in the park????? Apparently my budding artist. Come to think of it I think she was showing Kendal how to sketch the treeline....yeah, that's it!

Kendal- "So, now that we've met and will be BFF's, how do you want to decorate our college dorm when we get older?"

Bella-" Don't know, but in the meantime, check out my shoes! Aren't they fab?"

The very best part of the park day were the BREAKDANCERS! There was a gazebo full of local young adults with a beat box dancing in a circle. We took the girls over and they wasted NO TIME getting started. Bella started with her signature hip shake from side to side.

Added the hands.

Jolie added her moves..........while Bella drops it down low.

Bella takes close note of Jolie's top notch moves.Kendal shakes it on over to Curt.

Synchronized bopping....The Kendal and Bella Show

The show goes on............. (I wish I brought my camcorder)

Bella decided to take it to another level and get up on the side so she could have a little stage. You can see the dancers in the back.

I love this pic because not only are daddy and Bella jiving but the kid in the back is busting a move. At this point the adults let the little kids come in the center and try. I thought Bella and Kendal would go but they were content jamming where they were.