My Week in Photos

Friday 6:30 a.m

Monday 1:00

Tuesday 3:30

Thursday 10:00

Wednesday all day

Monday 8:00 a.m

Wednesday 4:00

Thursday 10:00

Friday 5:30 a.m

Wednesday 9:00

Being Content

After the last kid left for school this morning

Griffy, Ziggy and I went to the beach

and had it all to ourselves.

I'm kicking myself for not packing a lunch 

and camping out there for the day.

These days are numbered for sure

but I'm glad we were able to take advantage 

of the warm sun for a couple of hours at least.

I've found that 

the older I get

or maybe it's the growing 

with each child I've had..

I've become content.

I wasn't so much in the early years

of my mothering.

I seemed to be always wishing

away my days.

For a husband who was home more 

during our military days.

For a bigger house.

To live somewhere else.

And in those early years 

of mothering 

I was alone.

A lot.

We were always living somewhere

far away from home and relatives.

Steve was always in training

or in the field

or at war.

I wished so much for a friend.

Someone I could relate to and chat with

over tea or a glass of wine

about mothering.

Many moves

and children later

I had that.

Lots of friends and playgroups 

to fill my days.

Oh I wish (there's that wishing again)

that I could go back to my

young mothering days

and say to myself...

these days are numbered.

Stop wishing the day away.
And be content.

Thanksgiving Weekending on the Vineyard

My mom hosted Thanksgiving yesterday at her house on the Vineyard.

When the holidays are here it's hard for us all to get together.

We had a blast!

My sister Jen got a puppy too.

A week after we got Ziggy.

That's Hannah holding Tobi..their new yellow lab.

And my niece Sophie holding Ziggy.

The puppies had so much fun together!

Ziggy loved the ferry!

Turkey carve off between my brother and brother in law.

Steve was flying home from China

and couldn't be with us :(

It was so hot!

We couldn't all fit inside my mom's cozy house

We sat outside under a tent 

and it really felt like Thanksgiving.

Hannah and Sophie

toasting their Nana.

Nana's famous chocolate chip cookies

Nana's chocolate cake

Lots of laughs

as always

Cousins and new puppies

Ferry home

Such a beautiful night.

The sky was the same color as the ocean

my handsome boy

Another great day with family on the Vineyard..

My mom can put on quite the spread.

Not only did we eat incredibly well

but we were all sent home 

with turkey sandwiches.

Steve loved his mom!

Thanks mom.

For all that you do..

My Week in Photos

Friday 6:20 a.m

Monday 6:00 am

Tuesday 8:30 am

Wednesday 4:30

Tuesday 10:00 am

Wednesday afternoon

Thursday 3:00

Friday 6:30 am

Tuesday morning

Friday 8:15 am

Ziggy's Roses

My days and nights have changed drastically.

My days are spent staring at the puppy

waiting for him to pee/poop on the floor.

Man puppy poop stinks.

And Will has said that he'll throw up if he even hears the word poop

so we decided to change the word poop to roses.

"Did Ziggy do roses"

"Whose turn is it to pick up the roses?"

Sounds better than poop right?

My nights end pretty early now.

With Stephen's rowing schedule I'm up at 5:00

to drive him.

I really kind of like it.

Except I'm in bed every night by 9.

Last night it was 8:30.

Steve says he's really looking forward to retirement with me.

He thinks I act like I'm 80.

Anyway, thank GOD for DVR.

Cuz I missed Modern Family last night.

The one and only tv show I watch.

I couldn't even stay awake.

Maybe I'll watch it now

At 6:00 a.m.

Puppy Weekending

Hannah, Will and I drove to Maine

Thursday afternoon.

We spent the night in a hotel

and had ourselves a mini-vacation

before we went to get the puppy on Friday.

If you're ever looking for a Golden retriever

get one here !

If you were a puppy wouldn't you want to live here?

It's so beautiful up there.

After a 5 1/2 hour drive home

he met the rest of the family.

And the neighborhood!

We even brought him to the annual

Mass on the beach Sunday!

(which usually is on the beach, not the parking lot

but the tide was too high)

See if you can find him!

After Mass.

He is a total chick magnet.

He is my little buddy.

He follows me around and is right by my feet while 

I'm at my kitchen sink.

I'm trying not to over do the love for him

as Griffy was not feeling like the center of attention this weekend.

Yes he is cute.

And yes he kept me up ALL night the first night.

But, he's already started to settle into his crate and sleep better.

Ziggy is a part of our family now..

although, some people in our extended families are already

taking bets to see if he outlasts the last one.

He's Here...

And his name is Ziggy.

And he's just taken over our lives. 

:)

(and my sleep)

Home

Steve got home last night

after 10 days in Australia and Indonesia.

I'm used to his travel schedule

as are the kids

but this was a long one.

I shouldn't complain...

all the years we spent in the military

prepared me for him being gone.

Steve brings gifts for everyone 

when he returns.

Batik's for us from Jakarta...

A rugby ball for Will from Australia..

He's also started a doll collection for Hannah...

one from every country he visits.

He always smuggles kinder eggs home too.

When we lived in Germany

our landlord, or Oma as Stephen called her,

used to give these to him all the time.

Apparently they were banned here in the U.S.

because it contained a "non nutritive object imbedded in it"

Give me a break.

Anyway, the kids love them.

A chocolate egg with a toy inside.

We're glad you're home!!

Still Summer

It is still summer.

I was at the grocery store this morning

and could not bring myself to buy pumpkins.

I'm not there yet.

It's sunny and 80

and still summer on the calendar.

So Griffy and I went to the beach.

Today was the kind of day that I look forward to all summer long.

This is why.

See that?

Not a car or a person near me.

Except for the guy with his metal detector.

We had the beach to ourselves.

Thank goodness because Griff was C.R.A.N.K.Y.

And then he chilled for a while.

And then he fell in the water 

and could not recover.

So we left.

But, I am grateful for the few quiet hours on the beach today.

Because in a few days..

he arrives.

:)

I'm sad the U.S.Open is over.

If I can't play tennis

the next best thing is watching it.

Such a great match.

The kids and I had so much fun watching!

And Steve has started his journey home.

He's been in Australia for 9 days.

We are SO ready to have him home!!