July 2012

July 2012: July abounded with lots of opportunities to be outdoors. Aurora is a very active kid who loves playgrounds, carnival rides, riding her bike, and just running around in the backyard kicking a ball.

Early in July, we had an evaluation with a speech therapist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. This is because Aurora has a slight lisp when she talks. Her dentist diagnosed her with "tongue thrust" or an immature swallow (she pushes her tongue against the back of her front teeth when she swallows, instead of against the roof of her mouth). This is residual from breast or bottle feeding; most kids adjust to a mature swallow as they stop breast feeding. Aurora breast fed until she was 2 years old and is a big thumb sucker, both of which may contribute to her not adjusting her swallow on her own. Along with what we already knew, the speech therapist noted that Aurora makes many of her sounds in the front of her mouth ("foward speech") -- and she also noticed that Jon does the same thing. Hmmm...guess we know which side of the family Aurora gets this from! Aurora tested 95-99th percentile in vocabulary (the therapist was impressed at Aurora's ability to correctly use many different verb tenses) but about 35th percentile in the correct formation of sounds. The recommendation? To get her to stop sucking her thumb and then start on some speech therapy to correct the tongue thrust. As she gets older, they would also work on the formation of other sounds. Right now, we are on a waiting list at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. We don't feel too rushed because Aurora is not quite ready to give up her trusty (and tasty) right thumb, and she is very good at compensating to make the correct sounds.

July 1, 2012: Beach day! We drove down to Goddard State Beach in Rhode Island for a playdate with the Keenan family. Aurora loved playing with Andrew and William!

Just as we were getting ready to leave, a thunderstorm approached the area. After packing up the car and changing our clothes, we went to Andrew and William's house for some playtime and dinner.

Video: Accordian

July 4, 2012: Happy Fourth of July! Our family tradition is to go to the Newton Center Playground for the kids' activities. This year, Greer's family (new Newton residents) joined us. We start with Cabot's ice cream.

Then it is off to the playground areas.

There are official kids' races, which Aurora refused to participate in. Instead, she wanted to run the "course" after most people were already gone.

Video: Running

Video: Racing

Some of our lillies in full bloom.

After lunch and nap and a light dinner, we headed out to the evening festivities. We start at the carnival.

Then we found a spot on the field with Greer's family for the fireworks. Even with earplugs and Bose noise cancelling headphones on, the fireworks were still too loud for Aurora and we (once again) made a hasty retreat back home. We were able to see some of the fireworks from our street.

July 5, 2012: Aurora shows off the big balloon we got for her party in June.

Later that day, we met Baba at E Ink and then drove into Boston to see the tall ships.

While we were on the wharf, the Gloria (from Columbia) got ready to set sail.

On the way back to the car, Jon and Aurora got sidelined by the cupcake cart. Jon choose mocha and Aurora choose the Green Monster (chocolate mint).

July 7, 2012: We head down to Yorktown for the weekend. Wai Po and Wai Gong treat Aurora to a visit to the Bronx Zoo.

Inside the Gorilla House.

Back outside to check out the twigas.

I think there are lions in there!

Lunch break! Aurora discovers that NYC pigeons are not shy about approaching people for scraps of food. These lucky birds got all the extra bread from 4 sandwiches (Aurora, Mama, Wai Po, and Wai Gong).

Watching some change roll down into the hole.

On the Wild Asia monorail ride. Amongst other creatures, we saw miniature Mongolian horses, a red panda, elephants, and a tiger.

Then it was into the jungle house.

We take the tram back towards the entrance. Someone is getting t-i-r-e-d.

Wai Po tries out a bird's nest in the Children's Zoo.

Aurora and Jon look at the prairie dogs like prairie dogs.

Aurora becomes a spider.

A bullfrog can jump up to 6 feet. How far can you jump? (Aurora did 4.5 feet, Jon did 6 feet)

Sleeping porcupine and tortoises.

The petting zoo.

The bug carousel. Everyone went on once. Thanks to the magic of the "all-access" pass Wai Gong bought, Aurora then got to go on two more times.

Aurora loves to take baths in Wai Po's big bathtub!

July 8, 2012: Aurora gets a haircut the way Kathy did for the first half of her life.

Then we are off to the French Hill School playground.

Video: Swinging

Video: Airplanes

Video: Tree climbing

Our little helper carries the bags.

Balancing...

Two sticks make for a great concert!

Take a bow!

Back at Wai Po and Wai Gong's house, Aurora helps wash Baba's car. And Baba.

Video: Spraying 1

Video: Spraying 2

July 9, 2012: The next day, Aurora wants to do water play again.

Video: Racing 1

Video: Racing 2

Video: Spraying 3

Playing in Wai Po's garden before heading home.

Back at home, Aurora builds a castle.

July 10, 2012: We meet Greer at the Artesani Spray Park on the Charles River.

July 11, 2012: Another playdate with Greer. This time we try out the pool at their (temporary) home.

July 13, 2012: Free Fun Friday at the Danforth Museum.

That evening we head over to the St. Mary of Carmen Festival. Aurora did the bounce house, worm roller coaster, crazy bus, ferris wheel, giant slide, bumper cars, truck driving, and the fun house. Some more than once.

Video: Bumper cars

Video: Hi Mama!

We end the evening with a snack of gelato.

July 14, 2012: Aurora begins the day with some sprinkler time. In her dress.

Video: Sprinkler

After changing her dress, we go to the WGBH FunFest. After sampling tons of ice cream, Aurora and Jon enjoy listening to Steve (of Steve Songs). Of course she has to try out both bounce houses.

Video: Bounce 1

Video: Bounce 2

July 15, 2012: Heather is in town for work. Many of the old gang gather together for dinner. There are three new members now.

July 16, 2012: Aurora is so tired, she falls asleep on Mama and Baba's bed.

July 19, 2012: Kathy and Aurora are back in Yorktown for a final visit. One morning, they go for a short walk in Lasdon Park to check out the Chinese garden.

Checking out Wai Po's garden.

Aurora's final trip to her favorite restaurant - the local diner.

July 20, 2012: Bye-bye family house. Aurora can't understand why Wai Po and Wai Gong would want to sell their big house (with the big yard) and get a smaller one. She is also very sad that they are going to live much farther away. Hopefully she can use the swimming pool when we visit them at Leisure World!

July 24, 2012: Aurora became a Harvard lab rat this summer. Seriously. She participated in a couple of developmental studies there. After going to the lab, we usually spent the $5 she earned on lunch out. Here she is enjoying a pizza at Whole Foods.

July 25, 2012: Lazy day at the playground.

July 27, 2012: The circus comes to town! Well, the next town over (Waltham). Aurora and Ariana enjoy seeing the Circus Smirkus performance. This year, Aurora uses earplugs so she doesn't have to keep her hands over her ears the whole time.

During intermission, Jon and Aurora try out a few tricks.

July 28, 2012: Another beach playdate. This time it is at Morses Pond (in Wellesley) with Saavedra, Samantha, and Mimi from daycare. Using goggles, Aurora is able to swim with her face in the water.