Celebrating In The Cape

We planned a last minute trip to Cape Cod to celebrate Uncle Bill and Uncle Wil. We were thrilled to be invited and jumped at the opportunity. I do like being able to be so spontaneous in the summer......gotta love teaching. Our hotel was great. We were able to relax and play in the WAVE POOL! before we headed over the Wil's sister Kathleen's for all the celebrating. The kids had a fun night, a fun trip, and were SOOOO well behaved. Maybe all our hard work is paying off
All over Cape Cod there are the most beautiful hydrangea bushes. I loved seeing them. The make summer all the more beautiful!
Kathleen and Tony had a great hammock......a hit with the kids, once they got on! Look at those foolers.......would have been nice if the fell asleep!
I love this picture. While all the adults were listening to the ceremony, Elizabeth was just exploring, quietly.
Patrick and Elizabeth were so well behaved while the adults were talking. We are very proud of them.
Little Miss Explorer.........exploring so daintily.
Patrick liked putting his toes in the water and OF COURSE, throwing rocks. How else should a kid entertain himself during a grown-up ceremony.
The Louer clan.
After spying the water, Liz finally tried it out. And what a good girl, ahem, she didn't get her dress wet. That's Liz!
Goin' back for more......way too cute.
I LOVE this picture. It will be somewhere in my house soon. I am such a sucker for Liz being her Daddy's little girl.
After the beach we went back to Kathleen and Tony's house for a lobster bake. I think the kids are discussing the shrimp.
Yeah Uncle Bill and Uncle Wil! We love you and had a great time visiting Cape Cod. Thanks for the invite!

Happy Birthday America

We were invited to celebrate the Fourth of July at Aunt Robin and Uncle Bobby's house. Everyone was excited to hang out with family and swim in the pool.
Both kids were right in the water as soon as we got there. It was almost 90 degrees after all!
There was so much to do.......volleyball, a diving board, other kids, a huge yard. The kids were entertained all day. Great for mom and dad too!
So Uncle Bobby showed Pat how to make a water cannon out of a noodle and the pool return. How long before he transfers that to our pool??

Patrick was excited that he could stand in the shallow end, which was much bigger than Grandpa's. Patrick even ventured in the deep end, with a float, of course. We are amazed at the progress he has made in just a week!
Always, all smiles!
Aunt Di's two nephews were also there, Michael and Jacob. They are only a couple of months older than Pat. The three played so nicely together. Patrick very patiently explained to them how to shoot water out of a noodle, something we do do at home.
I was eves dropping on his tutorial and it was music to my ears. He explained what to do so slowly and showed examples. Future teacher??
Ciochi and I painstakingly filled up water balloons for the kids. Bri and Tim were great targets. :)
Elizabeth wasn't too keen on wearing a tube or life jacket. She was liking going "Up on shoulds" with Daddy though.
And then Daddy would go under the water and Elizabeth would LAUGH!

After swimming Elizabeth was giving away snuggles. Aunt Di was sure to cash in.
Patrick play Can Jam with his older cousins. Any thing to hang with the older guys.

Elizabeth and Sarah Jane palled around all day. The side deck made a nice "hopscotch" board.
And then there was the boys club. Boys only.
So the grown up's suggested this Girls Club. Girls only.
Girls club wasn't good enough. The can didn't work either......only room for one.......
so Miss Elizabeth crashed to Boys Club. It was great. She rammed her way right in. No prompting from adults. God I love that girl!
And then she brought in reinforcements. Thanks Aunt Buggy!
Elizabeth and Sarah Jane were trailing around behind Laura and Taylor, more teenagers. Laura and Taylor gave Elizabeth and Sarah Jane their cell phones to use. The two girls walked all over the party really talking to each other. It was a riot. And they loved it.
At the end of the night Uncle Bobby set off fireworks for us. It was a great show and an even better day. Thanks guys!

Fourth of July Celebrating

Today was Grandpa's annual Fourth of July clambake. We had a lot of fun hanging out with family and friends.
Our patriotic kids!

Patrick workin' hard to help Grandpa uncover the pool. It was a perfect day for swimming.
And of course, the first thing we do is check out the water.......where Pat stayed most of the day!
Patrick did GREAT in Grandpa's pool today. He put his tube on and was off, swimming all around the shallow end. What a change from last year when he wouldn't even go off the steps.

Patrick and Megan played so nicely in the pool all day. Sometimes their older cousins were added in the mix, and for a little while Sarah Jane and Will were in with them, and Liz too. But, for the most part, it was Pat and Meg swimming all day.

Elizabeth is all about Kelley. She loved that Kelley tooled her around the pool in a float and paid her so much attention.

Patrick and Megan were back in the water after dinner. Of course. Despite their chatting teeth and blue lips they had a blast having "races" back and forth.
Elizabeth didn't venture back in the pool for round one hundred fourty seven of swimming but was there to toss all the toys in for the older kids.
After a lot of teasing, and Liz giving it right back, she finally had a warm smile and friendly good-bye for Cousin Gerry.
When it was just about getting dark we left Grandpa's to head out to Rich and Pam's for the flairs and fireworks on the lake. Patrick and Megan played with sparklers. Once they figured out how hot they were and how to use them the kids had a blast. Thanks Uncle Rich and Aunt Pam!!
And her we are raining sparkler sparks on the roof of my CAR! Ugh.
Elizabeth really wasn't into the sparklers......she was pretty frightened of them actually.
What a patriotic picture. And Megan didn't light the flag on fire.......a concern of the evening with the kids.
Lizzie just loves to snuggle and cuddle with Kelley......until the fireworks got to loud and she came running to mommy with her ears covered.
Patrick and Megan enjoyed the fireworks a lot, especially the ones that were set off right next to us, literally above our heads. The flairs, fireworks and family make for fun, fun, fun on the Fourth! (like my alliteration??)

Snugglers, from sun up 'til sun down

What cuties we have.......
Patrick was up this morning, bright and early with me, as usual. It was super chilly so he cocooned himself on the floor and was too cute for words.
Elizabeth is always a great snuggler. The race was on this evening to read lots of library books. We read five and we get a coupon for a free ice cream and then ten more and we get a free book from Borders.

Chillin' at JazzFest

We went to Jazz Fest tonight, not to see any big names, but to enjoy the sights and sounds, people watch, and run up and down hills.Going to get ice cream with Grandpa.
Making a HUGE ice cream mess. Grandpa is out of ice cream/kid practice.
And getting utterly exhausted from running, rolling, and sliding down this hug hill. It was a fun Sunday.

Saturday Night Fun

The Daddies were out.........
This is what happens when the Mommies drink some wine.
This is what happens when the Daddies arrive from golf.