Luisa took Lake to the airport on the Link train as her last official au pair duty. “It was really perfect,” she said. “When we got to the airport Lake saw Nana and he took off running toward her.” They made a great connection!

“The non-rev gods smiled on us,” uncle pilot Peter Jakin said of their lucky flight over to Spokane where it turned out that Lake got to sit right next to his uncle! Lake loves flying he told us. He much prefers it to driving to Spokane. What a kid!

Newman Lake beckons and as wise Baba says, “It’s one of life’s big pleasures, [having Lake here].”

Luisa brought Lake from 1 and 1/2 to 3 years old. They spent 45 hours a week together for the past 18 months. Quite a lot of growth in that timeframe. Baby to toddler to “big boy”. Today he said to us. “I’m thinking of taking an ambitious walk”. What does that mean, I asked for clarification. “Walk to get ice cream.” Wow. What a guy!

We wish you all the best on your future adventures and endeavors, Luisa! From Hawaii to Washington D.C. to Charleston to Denver to sky diving in San Diego, you’ll enjoy your travel month for sure. We look forward to hearing all about it and giving you a proper send off in August. Thank you for taking such great patient care of Lake, and organizing so many play dates, trips to the zoo, kayaking, tulips and baking muffins… making every day a perfect day. I’m glad Lake spent them with you!

Did you know? Free permits are available from the City if Seattle to block off your street to through traffic. As long as you’re not blocking an arterial, the city is very likely to approve your free permit which is good for weekly Play Street for six months! We were inspired by our neighbors on 17th and went ahead and applied for the permit allowing us to close our street for up to 12 hours per week. It was a soft opening on Saturday… a few neighbors stopped by to say hello. Lake and his friend Damien enjoyed cruising up and down the street on their balance bikes, even going in circles. Mr. Cat may have been the biggest fan, though. Nice having a reprieve from cars for a bit. The cats were owning the street. We’ll look forward to more Play Street ball playing bicycle riding neighborhood adventures to come!

We drove home from Portland last weekend $500 lighter and the Egg was loaded to the gills with plants. Auntie Jessica helped us pick out some solid additions while Lake played “train” with the carts and “saxophone” with the classic retro flamingo yard ornaments. After checking out we were a veritable nursery on wheels. Luckily for us it’s been a sprinkly rainy week since they’re not all planted yet. Bit by bit in the evenings Lake and Michael and I are getting them placed and in the ground. Roses and peonies and colorful shrubs abound! It’s fun and so pretty to give the garden a floral infusion. Perfect days for a garden lift… I’m glad I’m sharing it with you.

We picked up Michael at the “hostible” on our way to John Riley’s piano concert in Somerset, Bellevue earlier this month. He played Brahms and Rachmaninoff beautifully. He and his duet partner each introduced one of the pieces and then they played for an hour while the sun went low on the horizon. Lake sat for the first piece and went outside to explore the neighboring green belt for the second. Afterwards Lake took a turn at the piano. Jay stepped in to provide accompaniment. The crowd gathered and when he finished everyone clapped. Lake took a bow.

“You’re going to be famous someday, you know that?” They were saying to him. He had very nice form and style. He was pretending to read the music and would intermittently turn the page at appropriate intervals. His playing was surprisingly solid. Later that night at home in our pajama lounge Lake was introducing his dance performance antics.

“Goodnight. Sweet dreams. I will see you on the morning!”

On 6/19/19 yogi Lake masters the somersault!

He’s head over heels thrilled!

Sunday for Father’s Day we had an urban family adventure. We went on a bicycle adventure to Ballard and Fremont… both neighborhoods have a Sunday market! As a gift to me Michael pulled Lake in the Burley trailer up and over all the hills between here and there and back again. Our day surely included lots of presents and pie for Michael! Michael is a wonderful father! We all love him so much and he keeps things fresh and fun! A perfect day, I’m glad we celebrated with you!

Lake likes to name the city parks nearby, giving them new names. Cowen Park is Tom Park named after the day Tom took him there for some early memories on the swing set engaged in the mindblowing activities of swinging and under dogs. Then the Ravenna Park playground is called Kerry Park, not to be confused with the Kerry Park on Queen Anne which he probably hears the au pairs talking about for picture taking opportunities, like this one.

Last Sunday afternoon Tom Youderian, our family friend of aforementioned “Tom Park” fame came over with his wife Mandy to pay Lake a visit. After having some “chotlate” soy milk and refreshments on the back deck, we all went out for a walk.

Langley led us on a walk down into Ravenna Park… right down into the creek! It was a very hot day and the water was cool and refreshing.

That also looked like a swell idea to Lake, so off came the shoes and socks and a toe was dipped.

After that full-on live streaming commenced! That entailed throwing rocks while wading back and forth and upstream and downstream through the water. Tom Park Tom joined right in!

Live streaming is awesome! A perfect Sunday, I’m glad I spent it with you!

Such a special joyous day three years ago… a true celebration!

Three years later, still a day to celebrate! Now Lake shrieks and squeals and shouts “Happy Birthday!” He has a great time.

“I want to go on that jumpoline!” Lake says tonight as we walk by some neighbor’s yards. Yes, Lake that is so sweet! We do have some neighbors right across the street that have actually extended you an invitation to jump on their trampoline all summer long.

Sounds like a perfect summer day for a jumpoline!