Summer Adventures

We've had a great time this summer getting out and about.  During June, we made a few trips to the zoo and Victoria was SOO much more interested in the animals.  We had an annual membership last year but she would pay more attention to the other kids than the animals and we didn't end up going much.  But, as you can see, she is far more observant of the animals this year.

Watching dada's favorite: the penguins

And, when she was done walking,
we watched the tigers while she "roared" at the glass.

She liked them so much she wanted to become one!

We also recently discovered a nice miniature golf course near our house.  It has a beautiful stream running through the middle of it, has well-tended grounds, and give a military discount so we can get a round and an ice cream in.  Victoria likes to interrupt as often as possible so she can climb up the grass and put her ball in the hole.

We've also done a LOT of gardening.  It's a little-known fact that, despite the amazingly cold and snowy winters, Syracuse is a great place to garden during the summer months.  The weather has been mostly temperate and the longer days mean I get more time to be outdoors after I get home from work.  And, now that Victoria is getting older, she is more willing to spend time outside with us, too.  It also helps that she has FINALLY started walking!!  Exactly one week before turning 18 months old, Victoria gave up her scoot for good and walked on her own.  She had taken a few steps and even gone about 8 steps unassisted, but with all her stability and interest in getting up on the furniture, she still struggled to stand up directly from a seated position.  Then, one Thursday, she figured out that piece of the puzzle and off she went!  Now she doesn't get as dirty outside (until she demands to hold the hose) and she is getting more independent.  I didn't think she could get any more independent than she is already is, but she is.  She is also getting into a routine that, as soon as we get her home from our neighbor's house (aka daycare) she wants to get out and look at the flowers.  She also likes to pull the flowers off their stems....She sees mama dead-head the spent daylily blossoms and tries to help out, but ends up pulling off new blossoms instead.

Dave and I have gotten into collecting daylilies and have learned a LOT about them.  There is such an amazing variety and so many that thrive here in our tough climate that they are hard to resist.  It's really nice for me, too, because I grew up watching my mom tend her daylily collection.  I never had any land of my own to even think about planting flowers, but now that we  have our home and the time to work outside, it's become a new obsession.  Dave and I joined the American Hemerocallis Society (check them out at www.daylilies.org) which is dedicated to researching and promoting daylilies.  They also have the official registry of different varieties.  Here are some of our new additions:

Victorian Princess

Jungle Beauty

Siloam Bo Peep

Indian Giver

Last but not least, Dave and I built a raised bed on the East side of the house.  I planted a variety of veggies from carrots and broccoli I'd started from seed to cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumbers we bought starts of at a local nursery.  We had tried a veggie garden last year in the back yard but didn't get nearly enough sunlight to keep them growing.  Fingers crossed for this year's attempt!!


And, just because it's fun, here is my daredevil daughter being spun in our office chair.  Sorry the video is sideways...