Dennisport, Cape Cod

We rented a cottage in Dennisport, Cape Cod the week of Labor Day. It was a wonderful experience. The cottage was very nice and functional. The beach (just a short walk) was clean with lots of white sand. We had a few nice meals out (Thomas asks on a regular basis to go to a restuarant! After eating a big breakfast out Saturday morning I mentioned that we wouldn't need much until supper which then Thomas pipes up from the back seat Pizza!) The weather was in general sunny and windy (on the beach) but a few cloudy mornings and one cloudy day. We did some swimming and alot of beach walking. The first picture was our first morning, Labor Day which was a gorgeous (a favorite word to describe the day by Thomas) day which explains why Matt is wearing a t-shirt into the water in the second picture on the second day. His back was burnt. You can see how calm the water was the first half of the week. A hurricane was brewing as the week went on so the waves did develop a little each day. There's Thomas, braver than I am to get buried in the sand. Tuesday afternoon, we tried miniature golfing. I'm glad we didn't keep score! Nathan was into it a bit more than Thomas. Thomas was taken with the water falls and small pools. Nathan got the point of hitting the ball into hole and he tried pretty much each station. Finally the last picture is my little coffee fiend. I must keep track of my coffee or he strikes! Nathan, that is.

A Day at Scusett State Beach

Another gorgeous day! Can you find Matt in photo #2? He's there!

Whale Watch out of Gloucester

What a wonderful day! Beautiful weather, good company and lots of whale sightings!

I took a picture of the boys next to the rose of Sharon bush which I am trying to do every year. We finally made it to Jennie's yesterday to celebrate her birthday! The boys love to go there. There is a beautiful outdoor garden with her building that we sat in soaking up the sunshine. Finally, a picture at breakfast this morning of the boys in their new sunglasses. Aren't they adorable!

The first two pictures are from July 4th. We went out to eat to celebrate my parents anniversary. On the way home we enjoyed a beautiful sunset. The next pictures are from a weekend trip out to western NY for Matt's high school reunion. We spent one morning with Matt's sister and family. Thomas and Noah were playing at the water table. Then Sunday we went to visit Thomas and Nathan's uncle and aunt. Got a picture of a little bonding time over a fake guitar!

For a couple of months now, Thomas has been able to get himself entirely out of his carseat by releasing the latches. We have this crazy routine when we get home. Sidenote: we have a long driveway. We come to the street end of our driveway, I stop the car, Thomas jumps out, lets Nathan out of his seat, one of the boys gets the mail out the sliding door, then they jump up in the front (usually one sits on my lap and the other sits between the front seats), then we go down the driveway while one beeps the GPS screen and the other uses the DVD remote control to "take pictures" of the coyotes along the driveway. It's crazy the little routines that we get ourself into but they love it!

Hoffman's Playland

The last weekend in June we went for a visit to Clifton Park. Upon my sister's suggestion, we took the boys to Hoffman's Playland--a little fun park for kids, some place we went as children. Still in business! It was really fun going there. The first ride the boys went on were the little boats. About halfway through, Thomas decided it was not fun and burst out crying. For several rides after that, I rode with them which allowed Thomas to relax and get used to the idea of "rides". I'm glad we went to the park.

We've been swimming some this summer at a lake. My goal in going was to just get the kids used to being in the water. We've been using life jackets on them and noodles. Nathan, who has liked water all along has been doing great. He actually kicks his arms and feet and moves himself around alone. He does not mind getting his face and head wet, but comes up smiling. Thomas has gradually being making progress. The first time, he would barely come in and when we got him in, he hollered the entire time and clung to me. The next time, he just hung on tightly without hollering. Now he comes in, but is still not terribly comfortable but eagerly asks to get out after about 3 minutes.

A weekend with Grandpa

That's Thomas in the first picture painting his fingernails pink! Matt's Dad came to see us for a weekend early in June to build the boys swings. Thomas was starting a stomach bug that weekend and the rest of us were getting it so the weekend fizzled out into a Long week of laundry, gatorade and bowls of cheerios.

One day while I was on the phone, I noticed Thomas was very quiet and I got worried. I found him tracing his letters...not bad!

Thomas calls oatmeal, eatmeal. Nathan calls chap-stick, lip-lip.

When we were leaving my parents house last weekend, I told the boys that it was time to go and to say goodbye. So, Nathan looks up at me and waves his hand saying bye-bye Mommy! That's not what I meant! Last night and tonight Thomas is staying with his grandparents and Nathan is telling me that Thomas should be home to keep me company (not him!).

We saw fireworks Thursday evening in the next town over. Thomas kept his head covered with a sweater and peaking out in between booms. Nathan did a little better although at one point he announced it was time to go home. As much as we tried to tell them about the noise, it's only until they see it that they can appreciate it.