BEACH!!!!!!

After a much needed break from reality -
I finally packed the kids up and headed down to see Aunt Fran and Marcia at the beach
Everyone was so super double excited! I told Anna, who was awake for the ENTIRE ride there - that we were off the parkway - and would be at the beach soon..
and she told me "Something is making Anna's mouth smile"
she was just so so thrilled to be at the beach!

So we showed up around 9 and the children we excited to be there...

well, not Luke - he slept the whole ride - so he was just rested.. and Anna was wired
After finally getting everyone to bed - Auntie Fran, my mummy and I stayed up a little bit and talked - and I went to bed way too late

But, true to his schedule - Luke was up at 6
and we didn't know what to do with ourselves - so I packed him up in the stroller and decided to take a walk to the beach

he didn't make it too far

Shortly after, Anna was awake
you can tell she was so happy & excited because she was being nice to Luke

As Forrest & Rebecca were warned -

Anna was warned too

You're not allowed on the beach without red toes

so - we had to fix the toes And because EVERYTHING at Aunt Fran's house is white -

the nannies took her for a quick cruise

More beach prepThen we went to see Lucy the Elephant

http://www.lucytheelephant.org/

Anna was MORE than pleased!

From Lucy - we walked onto the beach

Luke was SO SO happy to have a face full of wind

his little furry hairs are standing up

Anna couldn't get her paws in the sand fast enough

I know I should have taken a video -

but Luke was so excited to see the ocean

he was kicking and laughing

(until he felt the water - which was about 14 degrees..)

then Marcia and Anna went to feel...

and Anna was terrified of the water the rest of the trip

So we left Lucy and went home to get Aunt Fran & Nanny to head down to the beach beach..

not just the Lucy Beach..

and I kept warning Anna to take a nap -

because she didn't want to be too tired for the beach

alas, children never listen to their mothers...

but when everyone woke up - they were happy to be therewe were showing Anna the seagulls -

and how many show up when you throw cheeseballs on the ground

After the beach,

Luke dazzled us with his brand new standing skills

DAY 2

Anna was TOTALLY comfortable on the beach

Personally, there is nothing worse than being sandy

and if this didn't test my limits,

I don't know what did

she was just a rock star all day

...a little time out of the sun... We got home - and Anna and Marcia played with the chalk..

(which Nann repeatedly called Chocolate)

then Anna had a little quality naked time

and I'm happy to report that the kids didn't suffer in the sun for a second -

they came home as pale and pasty as the arrived

Aunt Frannie on the other hand...

The Playdate, The Party and The Park

First off - Luke has mastered crawling..

and instead of crawling into trouble

Luke scoots over to his toys - and plays like such a good kid

the party -

Nanny insists on a million annoying traditions for everyone's birthday

SO - for her birthday - we have to insist right back at her..

Here - is the infamous "How old are you picture"
with the very common Backwards Fingers predicament

Joan is 26

nice

JD has to be the most chill &
the most neglectable child in the world!
you can put him in the swing -
and leave him for an hour - and he just chills
could you just eat his toes!!!!!!

Here -Mary Frances (who will eternally be MFR to me..) - and I do a baby swap

this is also a memorial for the Gazillion Bubble Machine

2008 - 2008

RIP Gazillion Bubble Maker

you will soon be replaced by Gazillion Bubble Machine II

blanket of kids

Anna is totally smitten with JD

stunned x2

and then there was the park!

Luke was so hot he didn't know what to do with himself

my husband...

my husband is the best husband in the world
and he wears so many different hats...
in the last few years - he's gone from a son
to a boyfriend
to a fiancee

to an uncle

to a cook
to a student
to a husband

to a fix-it man
to a college graduate
to a farmer

to a laundry machine

to a spider killer
to a daddy

to a housekeeper
to a hunter
to a daddy again

to a trapper

to a gardener

but I have to say - I think this is my favorite transition for him
he is offically
a master baiter
whatever he is putting in those traps
every critter needs a taste ...

Weekend Festivities...

Well - the weekend was full of fullness

:) start with Sunday - end with Friday....

Auntie Denise gave us some food for the chickens

and Anna was sure to get her share...

Then we played some wiffleball

Anna's a pro - can't wait for Mr. Luke to be able to play too!

Daddy is VERY GOOD at aiming the ball directly at the bat

Look at this face -

is this a face you can trust??!!?!

well from now on - trust me when I tell you

"Luke just ate - don't shake him"

and now, maybe Poppy will listen

Poppy's favorite time of year is berry picking time..

there's a very small window of time when the berries are acceptable..

and when the birds & deer haven't gobbled them all

I think this weekend everything was prime

and we picked all the freak zucchini Sat afternoon & evening was Anthony's birthday party -

and Luke was having a day...

a Momma's-Boy-Day - where I'm the only one who is allowed to hold him

Until Uncle Tom Turkey got his hands on him...

and gook was happy

Notice all the hair!!

Sunday we went for burritos....

and Anna had some double-paci-action

Gave Luke a dolly - and he passed out

Get Anna in the sun - and she passes out

Friday's freak zucchini So Friday's first day of school was a success -

and I got

da-don-da-DUNNNN

MY FIRSRT ARTS & CRAFTS PROJECT!!!

I'm so pleased!