Summer Days

Dear Aiston,

This summer was exceptional, as it always is. You remembered everything about our second home - why we were going there, who we would see, what was waiting for you and what we were lucky enough to look forward to.

In short, you zipped, zoomed, dove, hurtled, tumbled, splashed, stomped, laughed, heaved, peddled and paddled your way through the summer in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. You were a very active boy who played outside every day, even in the rain.

Some of our favorite memories from the summer include you:

- Manning the helm at the "Pirate Ship Park"

- Being mesmerized by Nate's magical powers as he found coins in your ears

- Playing for four hours straight at the Playdate Cafe while Great Grammie and Mommy looked on with coffees in hand

- Exploring the Seattle Children's Museum and pretending to be a performer, a veterinarian and a grocery store shopper

- Splashing in the puddles at a local school playground

- Riding your two-wheeler down the driveway and into the garage (major parental mishap as you had not yet mastered the breaking mechanisms; although your helmet was on, you crashed into the door and scuffed your leg; let's just say it could have been a whole lot worse)

- Visiting with GG Ray and GG Janet and running down the grassy hill in their backyard and squirting flowers with your new dino-squirter

- Shopping with Momma and Lola in Ballard (and popping some bubble wrap and getting some "nibbles")

- Checking out Carkeek Park

- Visiting with Great Uncle Kenny and Great Auntie Laura

- Watching the trains at Golden Gardens while taking our walks and watching the adults enjoy Happy Hour

- Sharing your toys and playing with Shayde; wrestling in the grass, climbing trees, whacking bushes, throwing rocks, dunking in the river, shoveling dirt

- Watching your reaction as you discovered a healed-up Trumpet in Momma's bedside table

- Running and jumping off the dock at Lake Cushman and into an inner tube

- Hiding in a box with a big stick

- Pretending, pretending, pretending (robot, pirate, dog, good guy/bad guy)

- Reconnecting with your stateside family

Something very special this summer was getting to spend some quality time with your GG Ray, GG Janet and Great Grammie.

Another very special thing was that you finally received the surprise from WWF after donating your birthday money to help protect the sea turtles.

And finally, Lola got to spend lots of time with you when Mommy and Daddy went away for their anniversary. You slept in her bed with all of your babies at night and talked her ears off during the day. When we were getting ready to return to Manila, she took you out for ice cream and to see the play Oliver so that Mommy and Daddy could finish packing.

Summers are always a time to spend all of our days together and that is when we notice so many new things that you can do. We were so proud of you for:

- Sharing/turn-taking

- Showing empathy

- Being understanding and maintaining your flexible attitude even when things got "boring" or tiring

- Sleeping in your room fort (ie. closet) on the floor with all of your babies

- Enjoying lots of treats like ice cream cones, cookies and lollipop cakes and using your manners to show gratitude

- Giving random hugs and kisses

- Appreciating nature

- Talking up a STORM: using full sentences, making kind requests, asking (too many) questions and making astute observations

We love you, Ace. Summers together are glorious and this one was no exception. Thank you for being the amazing little man that you are.

Mom & Dad