Swim Team

The kids did swim team mid-May (how could it be that long ago already?!) through mid-July.

I am really proud of them for sticking it out the whole season (not sure I gave them much choice).  It added structure and schedule to our days and provided great exercise for them.

Lily was still a mini-mite so didn't swim in meets.  We had Peter swim in the home meets only.

At the end of the year, we joined in for the banquet.  It was sweet, and a just a tad warm on one of the hottest days of the summer.  And we don't sweat much.

 The coaches were outstanding!

They do cute, fun awards rather than the typical ones.  Peter got the "Ladder Swim" award for swimming to the ladder on the first meet, rather than the end of the pool. :)  He thought it was great!

More Community

The day after Lily's birthday, my mom and neice, Audrey, came to visit for a couple days.

We lived it up in good summertime fun, with time at the pool & ice cream shop.

I kid you not, the day after our friends left, Peter was asking for a sleepover and telling me it had been forever since he'd seen friends. (I guess he meant local friends.)  But I thought to myself, WHAT THE HECK?!  When on earth is this kid's social quota ever filled?!  So he was thrilled to have a birthday dinner that week with his BFF, Luke.

 The following weekend we headed to the beach with Mike's family.  His grandparents had a beach cottage that he grew up going to so while his sister was in town, we all went to a nearby hotel so they could reminisce, and I could enjoy the fringe benefits of it.

 There was a big rain storm on the day we arrived, but it didn't slow anyone down.  

I huddled out of the rain with this little man.  

The next day was great weather and we enjoyed time on the beach.

Mike's brother built skim board for a high school business.  They still bring them along to the beach and the kids enjoyed some lessons.

 Sissy finally lost her wiggly front tooth while we were there!

The tooth fairy was able to find her way in through one of the air vents in the hotel room.

Mike and I both grew up going to visit grandparents in this area.  We like to compare notes and imagine that our paths came near to each other at young ages.  We both would visit the same places with grandparents.  One of our first dates was to a wedding (my side of the family) at the church that Mike's family attended when at his grandparent's beach cottage.

Being so close, we couldn't not drive by my grandparents places.

~My paternal granddad's farm~

~my maternal grandmother's road sign & house~

(Can you tell the first half of our summer was quite full?!  It was great. I am thankful to have such friends and family.  The introvert in me also welcomed the slowness and relative quiet that followed.)

Lily's 6th Birthday

Lily's birthday fell the day after we arrived home from NY. 

With all of our guests and travels and the end of school, I hadn't really planned anything.

Instead, we just had a low key day together, starting with the pool.

A slow Monday morning at the pool is always good! 

She and Peter swam together in the big pool and had a grand ole time in the baby pool "making potions".  It reminded me of years past.

 (can you tell who is in charge?!)  :(

She would want you to know that Benjamin was there and he slept for TWO HOURS!  

It was quite lovely to get the extra time with them!

Sissy is crazy for this baby brother of hers!

I mean, his toes are delicious!!

 Then she did the slide, over and over and over and over. 

 We went to ChickFilA for lunch.

I love seeing the moments when they can forget about themselves and be in their imagination (blessed self forgetfulness!).  It is always, always a needed reminder and prayer for me.  I am much better when I can forget about myself.

Then HomeGoods shopping, cake and balloon selecting, swim meet, and home for pizza and cake with Goo and Pop.

I learned more about Lily on her birthday this year.  I am not a big gift person and have learned I am not a big party person.  So we clearly went super simple.  She said to me during the day, "It [my birthday] doesn't feel any different."  And maybe part of that is growing up and maturing and realizing that a birthday IS another day, there isn't real magic to it.  BUT I also realized that I think it WAS disappointing to her that there wasn't more hoopla surrounding her day.  She is ALL ABOUT cards and gifts for others (its not totally my thing- sounds awful, I know), she is ALL ABOUT decorations for others' birthdays.  And we just flew by the seat of our pants, me trying to make it the best I could that day.  So I realized that I wasn't loving her in the way she'd like to be loved.  Mike and I frantically drew her magic marker cards, etc, etc.  

She has had a girls day since then (another post) but it was a good realization on how to better love her while she is under my roof.  :)

New York for the 4th {3rd Annual}

As has become tradition, we headed north for the 4th of July weekend for time with Mike's family.  His brother & sis in love always plan the most fun time.  We didn't waste any time and headed out for morning ice cream- because why not?! Its summer!  They live in the cutest town and I love it that you can travel so many places by this old aqueduct.  Our kid:adult ratio was a little improved for this round of community living!

 then a stroll over to the libray for a little story time with Goo/Gram

 Mike transporting the majority of the kids home.

 On Saturday we headed into NYC for a Yankees game.  It was really fun!

 It was a sweet time with this guy, which I could always use more of.

 And I got sweet time with this guy since strollers and backpacks aren't allowed.

 We had one sleepy boy on the way home.

 We always have such fun cousin time at their pool. 

Ben loooooves the water and would just walk right in if you aren't careful.

 The boys were in Lego cave heaven.

 Lily has come to know that NY means birthday time for her!

 Another day we went to a "castle" estate for a picnic lunch.  Love the personality and dynamics reflected in these pictures.  Last year Lily & Bennett spent a lot of time together.  This year the little girls are two year old.  That amount of development and Lily spend significantly more time with them.  But still a good "middle child" bouncing back and forth between them and the boys.

 The boys 

 Bubbles!!

 Love this pic of Goo and her big boys

 Ben is pushing on Liam's back and Peter is belly laughing.

 Dinnertime by the pool

 Birthday cake time.  The THIRD year of the butterfly cake and no less JOY!

 Mike handed out sparklers for the 4th.

 Such sweet summer childhood/cousin memories!