4th of July

We had our annual week at the beach with Al's brother and sister and Dad and family. There were 14 of us....the kids had their usual blast- it was a flurry of activities as it is every year- sports, swimming, beach, fishing, carnival and parade on the 4th, trips to town, bicycling, etc... And don't forget the eating!! The girls are getting better every year- this year Di went on all the big rides at the carnival AND the water park. We even snuck Gi on a few rides- her 6'2" cousin took her- no one stopped him!! They are getting to be stronger swimmers and their cousins the professional athletes taught them about tennis and soccer and kickball. If it sounds like I need a vacation from our vacation..it is true! Except for the fact that our kitchen was finally gutted and now we are kitchenless for the next few weeks. All I can say is...let the games begin!!!!

June 2009

Well we have 2 more weeks of constant activities before the blissful summer vacation begins. We had Di's recorder concert, and her dance recital....her piano recital is this week... her dance recital was fabulous and we get MANY compliments on our little dancer- she seems to have a real talent! She performed in tap, ballet, and jazz/hip hop! Gi made her dinosaur diorama for first grade, and is finishing up her irish step dance class....we have pool parties, a graduation party, fathers' day, and some birthdays to get through before the 4th of July....plus our never ending wait for the kitchen construction !!! (see old posts).....stay tuned!!!

Welcoming summer.....

This time of year when June is looming around the corner, it is the time for all the "endings" of the school year and all the beginnings of summer. For us, we had a great Memorial Day weekend where we opened the pool at the beach house....While it was too chilly for a real swim (the kids went in)... it was a peek of the upcoming summer and it is always a great feeling!

Our June calendar has events written on every day- end of year plays and concerts, dance recitals, graduation parties, girl scout events....and hopefully the installation of our new kitchen! Di had a bridging ceremony in brownies to turn into a girl scout...after three years in brownies (Ist through 3rd) they become girl scouts. It brought back vivid memories of my own ceremony and I got all choked up...it was really special to me.....Di also has three routines for her dance recital; Jazz/Hip Hop, Tap, and Ballet... she is a great little dancer and her solos also bring tears to my eyes...add to that Gi's speaking part in the first grade dinosaur play, and you have a proud, weeping Mommy....

So we will tie up the year in a flurry of activities and gladly welcome the relaxation that summer brings!!!!!!

Camping

Well we seem to go from hurdle to hurdle around here- maybe we should head for the Olympics? Our big girl had her first camping trip with the Girl Scouts a few weeks ago. I should really say her Brownie troop, since she is only in third grade...despite the fact that Mommy thought she was very young for this, and had a million nervous breakdowns beforehand, we sent her off on a rainy cold friday night into the middle of nowhere (she was actually only 20 minutes from home)....I was SO nervous and lonely for her- could not even look into her empty bedroom- but I made it through the night and we happily gathered her up the next day. Needless to say, she had an amazing time- bunk beds- flashlights after hours, bonfires, scavenger hunts, up until midnight....I feel so bad for the troop leaders, but happy that she was able to have such a great experience. It did give me a glimpse into the future and the million and one times when I will have to let her soar off on her own, and I can honestly say ... I did not like the feeling AT ALL!!! Baby steps I guess... it was the right choice for her to go and that is what counts! Mission accomplished this time!

Cousins

Today we crossed another hurdle- our 6 year old took off on her bike! She has been wanting to ride forever- we took her training wheels off 1 1/2 years ago- but the problem is that we live on a hill and there are no close flat areas to practice. Practice would involve Mommy going with her, the bike, sister, her bike and the car to a flat area.....so today we were lucky enough to be hanging with our cousins and her 16 and 13 year old boy cousins taught her in a matter of 15 minutes.....youth.....I think Gi put it best when she said "Matthew runs a lot faster than you and Daddy"....the video was taken by my nephew's cell phone....it really is a different world today...I had no idea phones could video- well I guess I knew they could but I do not know how...and we certainly did not do that when I was that age!!! Anyway...having older cousins to be with and grow up with is an awesome privilege and no one could enjoy their cousins more than my girls. They are so lucky!!

Happy Easter!

We ended up having a wonderful Easter this year! We did something a bit different- we went out to Long Island to the Beach House for Easter with our cousins- something we have never done. We had a relaxing weekend (in the rain) , colored eggs and vegged out, and then had a super delicious brunch on Easter morning with lots of family who came for the day. We had a show the kids put on about the Easter bunny, a trip down to the beach on a windy cold day, and even celebrated a few belated birthdays. Then we packed everything up and drove home to be at school the next day. We decided it was definitely worth the trip!! The girls were quite happy with their loot and I have been happily picking through it too!

Fever!!!

OK- This is not the first time it has happened....however....why is it when my kids get sick, it turns into a week long production, while most of the rest of the world is back on their feet in a day or so? I know I should thank god and it could be worse......yet.......my 6 year old has had a fever for seven days straight. We are talking 101- 102 fevers. Did you ever try to keep a 6 year old in bed for a week? She has been fabulous about it...but I am totally stir crazy. She missed a week of school, I missed work, and we missed a whole fun weekend....at least it is now spring break. YEAY! Time to get everything done that I have been waiting forever to do....not sure where that list has disappeared to! By the way- still no new kitchen or upstairs bathroom yet....still working on it! Hopefully, Gi will be on her feet soon and we will all be able to enjoy our week off.


(Just to add to this post- Gi had the fever for seven whole days- here she is on day 7 happily eating the cotton candy Daddy brought her after she missed a trip to the city for a show!!)