Saturday, September 01, 2007

Booth Bay Harbor

Monday was one of my favorites... and only because it was a day for lobstah and clams!

The bouys were as big as the boys!

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We tried to get the boys to try the lobster and clams, but they would much rather enjoy corn on the cob and grilled cheese. I don't think anyone ate as much as me... as usual at Booth Bay!

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After lunch, we enjoyed time in town. We had a great day...

we met bears...
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and a moose!
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Back at Salmon Pond... later that day

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Bon Voyage!

Steve surprised us all by renting a boat for the day on Sunday. A gorgeous day in the 70s, we arrived bundled up and ready. The boys had no troubles adapting to the boat ride, and were so excited to fish! (Though none were caught). The Pontoon was rented through Great Pond Marina, and we spent the day on Great Pond. Wesley and Carson learned about bouys--and what each color means. We were able to pull-up pretty close to loons out sunning.

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Our Captain:
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Here we go!
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A morning nap...
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We docked in the town of Belegrade for lunch. (you can pull up to the docks behind the Village Inn -- and leave your key in the boat. We were in Maine, ya'll!) Nana and Pop met up with us while we were exploring a good ol' Belegrade Lakes Farmers Market--complete with an "orchestra" and homemade foods. The cheeses were delish.

Wesley making his first purchase. (Yes, it was cold enough for a hood!)
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Welcome to Belegrade!
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After lunch, we headed back to the boat and gave Nana and Pop a tour of Great Pond.
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We were in Maine... the driving age is 4 right? or is it 2? So they had their permits!
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I even got to drive!
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And an afternoon nap...
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Our first night in Maine

An impromptu decision took us to Maine. We left home at 4:15, Friday afternoon and, as there were NO hotel rooms available from Kittery through Augusta (the first we found was in Waterville--and it being about 10 minutes north of the cabin, didn't make sense to stay there). So at 3:30 am, I knocked on Mom and Dad's window and Dad opened the door for us. We snuck up the steps and slept til morning. At which point we surprised Nanni and Pop-Pop.

The first evening we enjoyed a delish dinner at The Village Inn. Wesley slept through the entire dinner in his stroller, only to awaken as they were clearing the dishes. Luckily, I had yet to finish my Lobster-CrabCakes, which Wesley LOVED. He also loved Nanni's rice. Even for Wesley, we'd never seen an almost 2-year-old eat so much! We closed down the restaurant with a lot of attention on our little--err, big-- eater.
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Gotta love that if you bring your duck home, it comes wrapped in a swan.
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Mommy and Wesley cuddling before bedtime. Yes, those are winter pajamas!
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And just before bed...
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Saturday, August 18, 2007

Knoebels Grove

With Mommy in NY for work, it was a perfect day to have a lot of fun--boy style! Daddy and Pop-pop took the boys to Knoebels where there were rides and more rides.
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Yes, Pop-pop... this is fun!

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Okay... now its REALLY fun!

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Hmmm... maybe if we think, think, think.

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Just a couple of fish-heads

Obviously, a great time was had. And at the end of the day, thank goodness Pop-pop makes a good cushion for a sleepy Wesley!
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Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Squeaky Clean!

Shining Happy Brothers

Future Chef





Seriously, one of the greatest Christmas/Hannukah presents ever was the kitchen. Thanks Santa! The chef-gear is from Growingcooks.com and the table is a Jennifer DeLonge.

Happy Fourth of July!



Carson and Daddy went on the super huge slide! Then, Wesley joined Carson on a "roller coaster!" (You should see the other pictures... let's just say it wasn't Wesley's "thing."

Fun with Uncle David



Dave came over for dinner, and brought the boys these great t-shirts! Thanks Uncle David!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!


The boys threw Daddy a surprise breakfast party--so that when Steve came home from the gym, there were streamers, homemade cupcakes and more.

Since that day, Wesley hasn't stopped singing "Happy Birthday."

New computer, new camera... time for an update!

I hate that its already August! Where has our summer gone?

Some general updates...

SWIMMING When I last blogged, I was showing off about our super swimmers. Well, I have even more to share. Both boys are now considered "advanced beginners." Carson and Wesley both jump in and swim under water, coming back up to the top. And they're both excelling at turning over onto their backs when they come up. Carson has started using 'big arms', though he's working to make them much bigger. In fact, on Tuesday, he promised Coach Paul that he would practice using his arms, and there he was, later, in the play pool, practicing! We could seriously stay at the pool all day long!

CAMPThe past 3 weeks, we've had a break from camp. Carson had a wonderful time in Miss Gina's bunk for 3 weeks, and was awarded "Best Entertainer" on his last day. That afternoon at pick-up, he said "does summer start now?" And it did. Next week, he'll be back at camp--this time its Mad Science. He recieved a letter today that he'll be in Miss Amy's bunk with Miss Lauren as his assistant. VERY excited to go.

POTTY Wesley's so proud of going to the potty, most of the time. He's spending afternoons (post-nap until bedtime) in underpants, and keeping them dry. Most mornings he's in a pull-up because he's at the gym in KidZone. But he's often dry then, too. I wasn't putting him in a swim diaper, until the recent parasite scare (the boys don't have it, we were worried.) Now, just to be safe, he's back in a swim diaper, but we're still running for the potty, often. Of course, just like Carson, Wesley has to go to the potty about 10 times before he goes to sleep each night.

Speaking of sleeping, we've had some bedroom changes. Wesley is now in his official big boy bed. 2 Saturdays ago, we took the bunk beds apart and Wesley moved into a bed. He's done a great job. He was quiet a roller with the mattress on the floor, but since moving into the bed, we haven't had any problems of rolling off the bed. We also re-arranged Carson's room, to make it his "big boy room." He has much more play space, a night table with a lamp next to his bed and its brighter in the new arrangement. And I will never have to make a bunk bed again!

Activities. Carson's new gymnastics coach has commented she loves his energy. Of course, with so much energy, its no wonder I have the boys enrolled in so many classes this summer. Wesley loves swimming, and he also enjoyed playgroup and Arts and Crafts (Mommy and Me). This month, he graduates from playgroup and moves into a sports class, and in September he'll join a 2 year old playgroup, Alphabet Soup, where we'll play with the letters. In addition to gymnastics, Carson is enjoying soccer, cooking and swimming. In August, he'll also take Spanish again (he was enrolled in June) and an introduction to Music class.

As always, we keep busy. We're preparing for the boys' birthdays party at the end of the month. And have finally chosen a date to visit North Carolina (in September.)

As always, I'm going to promise to be better about updating this blog. I love doing it, but I don't know where the time goes. enjoy the new pictures!

Thursday, June 07, 2007

The last day of school

When Carson awoke yesterday, I asked him how he was feeling.

"Sad... no angry," he replied.
"Why do you feel angry?"
"Because its my last day of school."

After dressing, we made pictures for the teachers and went to school. Rather than jumping into the classroom as usual, he held back and want to go home with me. This is very unlike him. But he stayed and, of course, had a wonderful last day in the 3's--and in Rohna's class.

Carson was so fortunate, as were we, to have had Rohna as a teacher. She provided a safe and comfortable environment for him to grow and develop.

Of course, as with all good teachers, she's also prepared him to move on. He'll have a different teacher in a few weeks when he begins camp.

As for Rohna, she'll still be blessed with a Pron, as Wesley begins Rohna's 2s in the fall. We will find out who Carson's 4 teacher will be in August. So curious!

We have WATERBABIES

Carson and Wesley are following in the footsteps of family members--they LOVE swimming, and are SO good at it, too!

2 weeks ago, Wesley started floating on his back, unassisted. This is HUGE for a 21 month old!! He "qualifies" for semi-private lessons in the fall (once he is 2). Which RARELY happens, as these classes are usually available only for 3 and up. We have been enrolled in a weekly Parent and Me class since February. Not sure why I'm there any more, he's getting so good.

Carson, who has been taking semi-private classes since February, enrolled in an intense class at WCU that started on Monday. It meets every day for an hour for 2 weeks. Yesterday, only the 3rd day, Carson passed from beginner to advance beginner. To do so, he had to do the following:

-float on his back unassisted for the width of the competition pool
-roll from back to front and front to back, unassisted
-jump in on his own, come up and rotate to his back, all unassisted!

As a reward, Carson jumped off the diving board (not the high dive, but about 4 feet--a regular collegiate diving board) and came back up to the top, again, unassisted!

When it rains, it pours... and its pouring

New camera in hand, I was picture happy all weekend--and so excited to share our recent shots. Alas, the computer died. D-I-E-D. As in, the hard drive, and everything on it are gone.

So, if you don't hear from me for a while, its because I don't have your contact info. Biggest lesson... stop what you are doing. Stop reading our blog. Right now! and back up your files!!!

I'm really fortunate that our best pictures over the past few years are here and in my snapfish account. So pictures weren't really lost. And my financial records are all at the bank and on paypal. I lost all of my documents (yikes! That includes articles written, the outline for my first book that I was getting ready to submit and financials, contact info and ordering information for Precious Personalities) and all of my Outlook files--my calendar, address book, e-mails, etc.

Why are you still reading this? Back up, back up, back up!!