on the Boardwalk

On Sunday we went to the Jersey Shore. This was Isabella's first trip to the beach. Given her propensity for water, there was little chance of her spending much chance in the sea. Mind you, it was pretty ferocious so there wasn't much chance of any of us going in. The weather however was beautiful (in a 94 degrees sort of way). We had a lovely (?) beach umbrella to shelter underneath. We walked along the boardwalk and had our photos done in a little booth.
Isabella is actually sick with a virus. You wouldn't believe it, but she has "foot, hand and mouth" virus. The daycare sent a note out at the start of last week indicating that one child had this virus (cocxackie). Of course we had visions of buring pyres, back home in the UK. However a little internet research indicates that it is a pretty common virus, and on the whole harmeless. Izzy was fine, until we got a call on Friday that she has a fever and I went to collect her to go to the doctors. She now has a rash, although the fever went in a day and she seems fine. Anyway I guess I'll be working from home tomorrow.

Ooooh look at my Daisy

Borrowing mummy's shoes...

Malcolm found a new way to make sure Isabella doesn't fall over whilst walking

Celebrating Independence in Washington

We were supposed to be going camping again for Independence Day Weekend. Unfortunately in the prior week there were torrential downpours so the campsites were all washed out. So we chilled out with friends at their pool, commiserating about the football on Saturday. Then on Sunday six of us plus Izzy headed off to Washington, to see a bit of the capital, our first visit. It was sweltering heat (check out the sweaty hair styles), but we managed to do some sight seeing. We went to the zoo, plus many of the downtown monuments. We even managed, after many attempts to get past the bureaucracy and Mr. Obey, to get in to the House of Representatives. After this we wandered the through the Capitol's grounds and come across a pre-4th concert practise, with Stevie Wonder singing. V cool indeed.

Isabella has started walking attempts, with up to 7 steps so far, before taking a nose dive. She also climbed all the way up the steps at the Capitol, holding my hands. I was so excited by this I failed to notice the bomb squad who were now circling the abandoned stroller at the bottom, on their walkie talkies... ooops.