It's been gorgeous here, and we've been spending a lot of time in and around water.

the Beach Club

This is where we take swim lessons, I mean Rose takes swim lessons and David prefers not to. It's got a regular sized outdoor pool, a deep kiddie pool, and it's on the lake. We are trying to go a lot this summer.

Bitter Lake

I'd been going to jazzercise at Bitter Lake Community Center for over a year before I actually wandered over to the lake. There's a little break in the hedge where the kids can walk down to the water. There aren't any rocks there which was very disappointing to David, but the ducks made up for it. The other day we got to watch ducks do their upending thing up close and personal. A man walked by and without preamble started telling me about the book that revealed Bush's secret torture or maybe it was his firing of the whatever. Normally, I would feel compelled to say, "Oh, how interesting" to this random and unasked for information but as he was beginning his rant David started yelling "Ducks! Ducks!" So every time the man looked at me for some affirmation I yelled "Ducks! Ducks!" It was very liberating.

the wading pool at Lincoln Park

I love Seattle's wading pools. They are so ecumenical. Seattle is pretty stratified by race and class, but everyone shows up at the wading pool. David worried it might be a little cold, but he totally enjoyed it.

Gas Works Park

We went to a birthday party here the other day. Well, Rose went to the party and David, Miriam and I crashed it. I love going to a salt water beach—the shells, the seaweed, the waves jumping at your bucket. We dug for treasure and built sand castles.

Carkeek Park

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, at least without having to hike two hours. The views are panoramic. The trains exciting. There is all the play equipment and open lawn on the hill and down below, the beach. We hit it at low tide one day and took a long walk out to the water.

It's hard to pack the sunscreen, the towels, the extra clothes, the snacks, the ice pack for the snacks, the sand toys and more sand toys, but then I relax around water.