Beating the June Heat

I don't know if I mentioned before, but we don't have air conditioning in our apartment here in Oregon. In fact, most of the houses and apartments here don't have central air. When I realized that this was the case while we were still in Utah, I voiced my concern to one of the apartment employees I spoke with over the phone. She said, "Oh the weather up here is so mild anyway you really only need air conditioning for a week or so out of the year". Liar.

Both last summer and this summer have been scorchers, and we have most definitely needed an air conditioner. This year we've run three fans constantly and it has made it bearable. Luckily we don't get a lot of direct sunlight in our downstairs apartment and it helps it stay cool.

As the temperatures have soared, we have tried to stay busy. We visit the park early in the morning, or go to the town fountains (there are two within walking distance of our house), or we visit Target (or any other store with air conditioning for that matter). 

Nayeli with her other half, Audra, at the fountains.

We also took one Saturday morning and went berry picking at Ben's boss' house. We picked blueberries and raspberries and made our first batches of raspberry jam. We'll also been eating a healthy dose of blueberry pancakes.

Teddy ate a LOT of raspberries. He wasn't as keen on the blueberries.

Nayeli picked a large amount of berries on her own. She's getting so big and grown up.

She then took her stash under a tree and chowed down. 

I love Ben's smile in this picture. Those creases in his cheeks are part of the reason I fell for him. Really.

Later that same day we went to a picnic with free popsicles. It was over 100 degrees and Nayeli's face sure showed it. So did her popsicle.

We also transplanted the sunflowers that we've grown since they were seeds (Grandma Jane sent them) to the dirt in front of our apartment. We put a little fence and sign with them hoping that the landscape maintenance wouldn't chop them. So far they've avoided annihilation.

Ben took some candid shot of me while I held Teddy. I love them.

I nibble his face and he smiles. It's a good trade.

 I love how he holds my ponytail. This is my life, and I love it.

And just because I don't really have anywhere else to put it, here's a picture of Father's Day.

We made Ben a crepe breakfast in bed. I just love Nayeli's face in this picture.