Perfect Summer Days

oh if every summer day could be like today.

It was pretty much perfect.

I got my exercise in this morning.

Made awesome pancakes.

Waited for the kids' piano teacher...

no show today. 

Ok..except for that it was perfect.

And then we packed the cooler and the car

and went to the beach.

We stayed right through Griffy's nap.

I have a feeling that'll happen a lot this summer.

It's so worth it.

So I bought the Zoku. 

It's wicked cute.

We've made all kinds of pops.

Yum!

And healthy!

Will has been drawing.

He found this website and I think he's drawn every animal.

I think we'll hit the library and find some books on drawing with kids.

We've used the Ed Emberley books and like those.

We're ready to try something new.

Any suggestions?

I'm wishing for more days like these.

Summer Weekending

Friday Field trip...

to the Cape with our friends.

Cupcakes

Shopping

Birthday parties

Golf

Swimming

Home made ice cream

Cookout with Dad and Roxie :)

Zoku

Reading

Drawing

Puddle jumping

Pink skies

Happy Summer!

We had a block party yesterday to celebrate the last day of school.

We used to do it in our old town so I thought it would be fun for us to start the tradition here.

It was a riot when the water balloons spilled and went rolling down the hill.

Griffy stood there crying.

We had tons of games planned and a bouncy house.

Pizza and a candy bar and ice cream lasagna. (total yum)

And almost as soon as the last kid got off the bus..

the rain came.

We moved everything to my porch in the back

and the kids played in the rain all day.

So no fun pictures.

But a day full of fun memories with our awesome neighbors!

Happy Summer!

Big Rolling Turd

Tomorrow is the last day of school!

I'm ready.

I think.

I didn't over- schedule the kids.

I don't think.

We basically follow the same rules

No tv/computer during the day.

And that has to include me.

I don't watch tv..except for Modern Family.

Did you see it last week...ok..seriously, Phil kills me.

Anyway, I'm going to have to get up before everyone or wait until night time for the computer.

Not going to be easy. 

So we still haven't put together our Summer List yet

But we've been talking about what we want on it.

I also talked to the kids about not having a schedule but more of a rhythm.

Lots of beach time.

Lots of down time.

That's what I want.

Ok so lately I've been on this RV kick.

Have  you ever seen the movie RV with Robin Williams?

I love that they call it "the big rolling turd."

Kristen Chenowith is my favorite...

After we watched that movie (like 2 years ago)..I told Steve and the kids we should rent an RV.

We've seen more of Europe than we have of our own country...

I've always wanted to see Montana and Colorado and Washington and Arizona and New Mexico and Idaho. 

Seriously..wouldn't that be fun?

Or not.

I don't know.

I could see it not going well.

Possibly someone hitchhiking home.

:)

Weekending

Birthday's (Griffy's 2!)

Buddy Baseball

Ballet recitals

Balloons  

Bruins

Beach

Burgers

Bellinis (Peach)

Bike Rides and Pancakes in 

Bed

Boats (toy)

Happy Father's Day Steve...

I love you and could not ask for a better dad for my kids.

And Happy 2nd Birthday Griffy!

You are such a joy to all of us.

:)

Today Around the House...

Playing with iphone apps...this one is free and it's from Harida. 

this one is from the Camerabag app..not free. It's called 1974. 

I can't remember whose blog this cute idea came from.

I pack these little gems in Hannah's lunchbox.

Aren't they cute?

Chickpea and edamame salad

with carrots, red peppers and dried cranberries.

My lunch.

Remember I was having dryer issues.

Well it's totally gone now.

And right before it died I was thinking how it would be nice to have a clothesline.

I was reminiscing about the old days in Kentucky when I would take Hannah's cloth diapers out to dry on the line.

I loved doing that.

Now, not so much. 

Steve said..."well now you're really like Ma from Little House on the Prairie."

Shut it Steve.

We need a dryer.

What I'm reading when I'm not hanging clothes out to dry.

I've never read him before.

He's hysterical.

I think I want to read his new one..At Home.

Has anyone?

One of my favorite things is a good book recommendation.

Happy Weekending and Father's Day

P.S....And thank you! All for the sweet comments on my last post!

I love that some of you have been here...were engaged here!...and plan on visiting around here.

I love where I live and can honestly tell you I appreciate it's beauty and am thankful everyday that we can live here.

If any of you are ever in my little town..please give me a ring.

Seriously...I'll jump off the bridge with you.

:)

If You Came to Visit Me....

We'd probably meet here.

I think it's a nice place to meet a friend.

Some people meet at the top of the Empire State building.

I would meet you here. 

To get there you have to walk or drive across the Powder Point bridge.

No jumping allowed! 

But you could fish off of it if you like.

If you drive you need a beach sticker.

Walking is much nicer anyway.

We could hang out at the beach for a while.

Watch the boats go by.

And if you were my husband..talk about how much you NEED a boat.

We could go for a walk and look at the pretty homes and push the babies in the stroller.

That's what I did this morning.

I hope people don't mind me snapping pictures of their homes.

Don't you love the flag?

We could jump off the Blue Fish River bridge.

Or you could.

Apparently, when you move here it's mandatory that everyone must jump in.

That's what my realtor said.

It's been 3 years and I still haven't jumped.

I'm a huge wimp about cold water...the water here is COLD.

I only go in if I have to pee. 

That house was just featured in this months Better Homes and Gardens...

check it out!

We could stop here for lunch.

Lobster rolls and clam chowder.

We could go next door to the French bakery for dessert.

We could do a little shopping.

Not a huge business district here.

Just a few quaint little stores.

Then you could come back to my house and I'll cook you dinner.

And then Farfars for ice cream.

Couldnt' get a picture of Farfars..

Griffin had had enough and was ready for a nap.

Wanna visit me?

:)

Weekending in the Kitchen

Cake pops

Fun

Messy

Yummy

Bakarella needs to come show me how she gets these so perfect. 

Ok so we forgot the styrofoam.

And maybe the cake balls were a bit ....big.

They were still a big hit.

Martha's Blue Belles..from the July issue.

So cute

So yummy.

Still using up those blueberries.

And of course we had

rain

rain

rain

cookouts

cranky babies

out with friends

family meetings

napping

reading

cleaning

And a lot of time at the sink.

We Got a Pool!

I have been super cranky lately.

Part of it is the heat we've been having.

I'd much rather be cold than hot.

So the kids and I thought it would be fun to have a pool.

Isn't it awesome?

Wanna come over and swim?

I'll serve some fun drinks.

Hannah got her new Jack Rogers with all her babysitting money.

This is the other reason I'm cranky.

I know.

I'm a horrible mom

I'm just ready for it to end.

My kids aren't even over scheduled kids.

Stephen and Will both play baseball

Hannah does ballet and violin.

And now that it's warmer...she has tennis.

That's it. 

Piano, golf, sailing, tennis for the summer.

But, Will's baseball schedule this past week was enough to put me over the edge.

It's all the way across town and they run from 5-7:45. 

He's playing in a kid pitch league this year...and boy is it painful.

I know...horrible mom.

Seriously, the kids get on base only if they walk or get hit.

I'm just ready for no schedule.

Just the slow pace of summer.

Loving all the blueberries right now.

I made Ina's Blueberry Crumb cake yesterday....so good with a glass of lemonade. 

We love playing Mancala. 

It's always out on the table.

There's not a lot to set up.

It's easy to learn.

It doesn't take forever to play.

Fun for all ages.

Week and a half left of school.

This weekend we are working on our Summer List !

Summa's, Sweets and Short Hair

Stephen received two Summa awards the other night.

Let me tell you..I could not be a more proud mom.

He received them in English and Music.

So proud of you Stephen.

Griffy and I made the Neiman Marcus cookies.

It's been too long.

Thanks Catie for the reminder. 

Love these cookies.

My friend Dawn just got this cookbook and I knew I needed it too.

I've always been a GP fan.

I'm loving this book...there are so many things I want to try. 

I think my love of Gwyneth started with a hairstyle.

Remember her short haircut?

I had it years ago and loved it.

Oh how I wish I could pull that off again.

This time of year I'm ready to chop off my hair.

I think I was about 27 here.

We were living in Germany and Steve went off to Bosnia.

So Stephen and I flew home to the Cape for the summer.

And I chopped off my hair.

Not so sure it'll look as cute 16 years later.

This Weekend...

we made Oreo pie. 

the kids lie in our bed and Steve throws the duvet over them. Cheap entertainment.

we threw a barn party. 

Kidding.

I wish.

I want a barn.

So I could throw barn parties just like this one.

we cleaned out some dresser drawers.

I found this newborn diaper way in the back of Griffy's changing table.

It just about sent me over the edge. 

I came running downstairs to show Hannah.

"Oooooh Mom! Let's have another baby!! PLEASE!!"

(she's over the dog and onto the baby...this week.)

Then I ran outside to show Steve.

"Steve PLEASE let's have another baby"

I can't seem to get rid of that diaper. 

It's been on my kitchen counter all weekend.