Yesterday

Well, it will be a while before I get my camera back...because I have to mention to you all that I haven't sent it in yet. Oopppssss. My excuse is that when I went to print out the information my printer died--yes, I know, what horrible luck I have--I have been checking into printers for days now. We were going to have the other one repaired but with the prices being kinda low we decided it would probably cost less to just buy a new one. So, I ordered one yesterday and paid for one day shipping. This morning I realized that I was never notified that my order shipped so I went to check it out and realized that they don't have any in stock until Sept 6th...BLAH. So, hopefully today I will go online to find the same product at a different place.

Yesterday we babysat Sophia again and the girls had so much fun. We went to the library to pick out some new book on tape....the girls listen to them while we drive and they just love it, they will listen to the same book over and over and over again. The only problem has been that I get into it as well and I will be sitting at a set of lights and the tape will make the *BING* sound indicating to turn the page, but when it does it I step on the gas thinking that is my indication to go. Kinda dangerous. So anyway, we also went to the 'castle park' for a hike....4 little girls with big imaginations= a fun time.

We then came home for mac and cheese and watermelon. We all gave the dog a bath, which was quite an adventure...my losing weight and the dog gaining weight makes that all very difficult to keep him under control. Then we watched Cinderella. Then went back out to play in the sprinkler and then the girls played dolls.

Today was going to be another beach day but the temps look a bit cool. I think we are going to stay around here and have a quiet day---yeah, right, we will see about that.

Dirt Fun?

Yes, of course it is fun....don't we all remember those days? Well, actually I don't but I know being a kid this has to be fun. My mom sent these pictures of my brother, Chris, burying his two kids in dirt and they just loved it. Well, I am babysitting today and we will soon be off to the beach for another fun day. I just love that the beach is only a 25 min drive...so, I could be there all the time. We will also be on a check hunt. Last night I had b-study and took some checks of Kevin's with me to deposit...I had to rush out to foodshop last night before they closed and didn't have time to hit the bank so I went to my purse this morning to get them and they were gone. They were very large checks so I am a bit scared. So, off on a search....

Here are some more pictures from others that show a bit of what we have been doing. Last week we went to the beach all day Friday and all day Saturday. We met my cousin, Melissa, and her little girl, Sophia, over there. The girls had a blast playing and the tide schedule was just perfect as well as the very HOT temps. As you all know...New England water can only be enjoyed when it is at least over 90 and that is only for a small number of us. We have also been at my brothers house to swim in the lake a few times.



at the lake
Girls coloring at Ya-Ya's house

Emma and Sophia playing animals

Emma and a crab

Dan and Khaki's shower

So, I still don't have my camera...these pictures are from others. Here are some from Khaki's shower....Danny came at the end.



The happy couple (below)
Emma
Emma and Arielle playing
Here I am trying to cheat on the crossword puzzle.

Feels like fall....

So it feels like fall and I love it. I really didn't think I would be ready for fall because I just didn't feel like I have experienced a summer yet. Part of that may be that for over a month everyone was sick and we were stuck in the house, but it is also that we just didn't have that many HOT days. I was wrong though....the romantic that I am, I have just enjoyed every bit of what the weather has been like. The smells just intoxicate me---I don't have many memories of being young but different smells spark pictures in my mind. Yesterday, while taking out the trash, there was a wonderful breeze in the air and I remembered 2nd grade...sitting at my desk, filling out my milk card and smelling the fresh air coming in from the window. Not much of memory but it was at least one. I love sweaters and not just to wear them but to hold them as if I were 5 again holding onto my stuffed animal. I love being under big blankets, with a hot cup of tea, and a good book.

Anyway, I could go on and on....but I know everyone who reads this blog comes to read about the 3 little princesses that I live with. So....

I can't remember at all what we did on Saturday--sorry. Sunday during church Emma and I left to go to my brother Danny and Khaki's bridal shower. We had fun. Emma just loves to to big girl stuff and she will be one of the flower girls in the wedding--her dress is just beautiful. I went out that night with a friend and the girls had a 'daddy night' which they love to have. Monday we did chores and went food shopping and to the library. That night I took Emma and Hannah with me to a friends house where I met up with girls that I graduated with from high school. (It has been 10 years!!!). We were there late and had marshmallows over a campfire. Nora went with daddy on a daddy date, which she loved. Tuesday we met up with my cousin, Melissa, and her daughter Sophia. We went to the park and then over to my brothers house and the girls played in the lake a bit (even with the cool temps). So, that is what we have been up to.

Yesterday Hannah and Nora came down dressed the same--it was funny. I could not tell them apart. I guess what always helps is that I remember what clothes I put them in each morning and that helps me remember who is who throughout the day. As hard as I was trying to figure out who was who I just couldn't. I would actually have to ask them--"who are you?". I would examine facial features to try to determine myself who they were but I just couldn't. Scary....

Well, I am hoping to get my camera back soon. I don't have time to write stuff out like this all the time.

Oh, on a side note...fall really isn't here yet. It has felt like it BUT tomorrow we have a beach day planned because it will be near 90.

What we are doin'

Yes I know, this is a strange picture to have here....just a random one for your entertainment, since my camera is broken. This is actually a drawing. I have had it saved on my PC for a while because I just loved how realistic it is.

The girls and I have had a VERY busy week. Tuesday I was at the park with Robin and her kids and then we took all the kids out for lunch, which ended up being a very long process and that night I had b-study at my church. Wednesday I actually got my mom to babysit the kids over at her house so they went swimming and hung out with their cousins all day. I was SO behind on my housework that I was in tears that morning. The girls had been very creative with their artwork and there is marker everywhere...not to mention my 6 loads of laundry and a completely disorganized upstairs. I cleaned and cleaned not even stopping to eat and I left my upstairs with 3 large black trash bags of trash. I was also able to get my errands done without the hassle of unbuckling 3 car seats wherever I would go. Thursday we met Robin at the 'castle park' around 8:30 that morning and the kids played and then we took a short hike through the trail. It was sunny and warm so we decided last minute to head off to the beach...so, we ran home and grabbed our gear and we were on our way. Mandy and Brielle came as well to be with us and we ended up staying till a bit after 4...we then stopped and got the kids dinner and came home for showers and bed. Friday we had some errands to do and then we drove up to my Aunts house for a family party (my dad's side) and then we rushed home so Kevin and I could go out. . It was nice seeing everyone and the girls had a blast. On the drive up there I guess Nora had a marker and some crayons in her little purse so when I went back there to get her out of her seat she had a pink face and very pink lips and she had colored all over the side of the van and on her car seat. When we went to leave I took every crayon and marker I could find from them but then when we got home and I went to get Hannah out of her seat she had a green face and a green mouth, as if she was sucking on the marker, and she also had it all over her body. If only I had my camera to capture their artwork all over our play room walls (they did that tuesday night with Kevin was watching them). Ahhhh, so today we are home, for a bit, we need to run some errands. Tomorrow is the bridal shower for my brother Dan and Khaki and tomorrow night I am going out with my friend Robin because she will be going away for 3 weeks. So, busy week, of course not capturing all the the stuff that happens along with all of that. It feels VERY fall like today. It is in the 70's with blue skies and a wonderful breeze.

7 years

Kevin and I just celebrated our 7 year anniversary. We were trying to go on a small backpacking trip, just the 2 of us, but that didn't work out so we just went out for the night. We went to Newburyport and went to some art galleries and a few used book stores (which I love), then we went out for dinner at the Black Cow, which is right on the water and offers some excellent seating. The food was excellent and the service exactly the way I like it. http://www.blackcowrestaurants.com/

Check it out if you are in the area, but make sure you call ahead.

Sorry

Well, sorry to say, but my camera is broken. We are still under warranty so I will be calling to have it repaired soon. Sorry everyone. I will still try to update what is going on. The last few days we have just been hanging out and enjoying the sun. We went to my brothers house and went swimming in the lake and the kids played in the yard for a while. We had some dinner guests last night. Today we went to my friend Lori's house and went swimming and played in her big yard. The girls had a blast and have been talking about it all night. I have been very tired....I just got the girls to bed--we have been skipping nap time lately and it is hard to continue through the long day like that without some kind of break. I was reading them books at bedtime and found myself saying the funniest things. They didn't seem to notice but I would suddenly open my eyes and realize that I was just going on and on and not even sure of what I was saying. Well, lots to do around the house.

COLD beach day

Yeah, and I am not one to say that I was cold in the middle of summer, BUT I was cold. I did go for a few swims, did a great spa treatment (exfoliating with sand), and we played and played in the sand. It was foggy, a bit windy, cloudy, and there was NO warming from the sun. My friend, Robin and her kids were there with us.


JJ

Hannah, Nora, and JJ running after the birds
Still running...
Hannah and Nora snuggling to keep warm.
Joel

First Monarch of the year

Here is our first Monarch this year.


Here is the next one, you can see in the chrysalis still and it came out later that day.

Just the other day we were sitting outside and we were able to see a Monarch lay her eggs on some milkweed. It was neat watching...when she was finished we brought the milkweed into the house and the eggs just hatched last night so now we have 5 babies just munching away. Willing to share if anyone wants to jump in on the experience....just let me know.

Hot days

Swimming at a friend's pool.

Goofy kids

Finally finished my cat drawing. It feels so good to be done, but I still see so many things I should have changed. On to the next, I have a few things in mind. http://becca-art.blogspot.com/

WOF

This past weekend I went to the Women of Faith Conference in Boston. We stayed overnight in the Hilton and that was fun...walking the streets of Boston at midnight was also fun...having kids I don't get to do stuff like that very often. Below is a picture of my good friend Robin and I.


Below is Dani and Lorraine...we went out to eat after the conference so we didn't start eating till after 11pm. I had the best Chinese I have ever had...if I could remember the name of the place I would recommend it to all of you. I think I am going to get Kevin to take me there soon for our next outing.
Here is the other side of the table....Tiffany, April, and I. I also had my very first coffee--EVER. I am just not a caffeine person. but I wasn't going to spend all this money on the conference and fall asleep...SO, I got a Carmel Swirl Iced Coffee and my gosh it was amazing. I am still holding off on drinking coffee though because I know once I start I will be like everyone else in New England. So I will avoid it at all cost for now.
Robin and I again...the next day
TIffany and her sister, April are below. We had good seats for this event. Nicole C Mullen was there and also Nichole Nordeman so I enjoyed rockin' out. I love to dance...as some of you probably don't know. Nicole C. Mullen puts on quite a show with her music.
Robin and her mother (from Oklahoma).

Some of our group.
Some more of our group. I have some videos I will post later of some of the comical stuff that we heard.

Beach Day

Sorry for taking so long to post. The blogger website has been giving me problems...it just kept shutting down on me. These pictures are from last week. We go to a place where the river water is mixed with the ocean. It is usually warmer, and there are less waves for the girls to worry about. We can walk a few minutes and get into the ocean water though so it is nice to have it there for the girls to get comfortable with the waves. I love swimming in the the ocean so it is nice to have it there for me. The girls have been excellent at the beach...so much better then the years past. We can easily get there in the morning and stay most of the day without a complaint. That is a big encouragement for me since I LOVE the beach.


Emma just floating

Emma holding one of her crabs she found.