Block Island '09

We just got back from our annual trip to Block Island. Our original plan was to go Monday-Friday but Hurricane Bill forced us to revise those plans and do Wednesday-Sunday instead. Well, Tropical Storm Danny brought us back early on Friday so it ended up being a short trip but still fun.

The only thing I felt was missing from the trip was our day of bike-riding. Clearly someone else has enjoyed lots of those days.

Colombo and Shaun, shootin' the breeze with a local, Cliff the dock owner. The two weekend storms significantly hurt his business.

This year we had our best "parking spot" ever, right next to the dock, a picnic table and the bathrooms/showers.

We had two great dinners, thanks to Karen's efforts. Here we are, l to r: Sandy and Jim, friends of Karen and Colombo II, boat owners and Colombo III's parents. Amy and Colombo III, my sister and brother-in-law (and boss), Shaun and I, tag-alongs.

The beach by day........and by night Shaun and I took a walk down the beach on a search for "pretty and sparkly" rocks to bring home to Avery and Amanda.

In hopes of beating out the poor weather of the tropical storm, we loaded up and walked down to the ferry. It was not an original idea, though. There was considerable movement on the island. This is the road to the beach and to town and it was busy!

We spent the afternoon at the marina in the pool, hot tub and workout room...not a bad alternative.

Shaun and I got time together to walk hand-in-hand and have heart-to-heart talks without being interrupted by needy kids. This is such a fun trip that we look forward to every year....Block Island definitely holds a special in our hearts. Thanks to our hosts, Karen and Colombo.

Thanks also to my mom and Russ and Nathan and Laryssa who took care of the kids. When we are away it is such a good feeling to know they are being well taken care of. I know some parents have a hard time leaving their children but we knew they were in good hands and were having fun. Its actually a tad disappointing how well they (especially Aiden) managed without us. :)

Project 365, Week 35

August 23
Sienna had another baby shower, this time with her church. As usual, the girls were a big help opening presents and during down time Amanda entertained with her dancing.

August 24
I was completely flattered when I went to pick up some prints I'd ordered online and was given a hassle about taking them. The developer in the photo lab thought they'd been taken by a professional, which they do not allow without a release form from the photographer. After being quizzed about my camera, I was able to pay for them and bring them home. I have no delusions of where I stand in the world of photography, but it was a nice feeling for a day.


August 25
On a beautiful day, we got a little porch time before naps...."Mom, watch this!"

August 26

We were able to get away for a few days with some friends to Block Island, RI. This is the dock we've stayed at for the six or seven years we've done the trip.

August 27

A perfect beach day, chillin' together.

August 28

We decided to take the high-speed ferry out and beat Tropical Storm Danny.

August 29
Happy to have everyone home together. This is the door to the girls' room. Each night the last thing they say is, "Leave the door open, if I need to come out can I get you?" Avery's been saying it for probably a year.

Sara is hosting at her newly designed blog!

Perspective

Perspective is the ability to stand between yesterday and tomorrow and understand how today fits in. It requires looking beyond the moment with a view toward the whole life.

How very much moms need perspective! When we drop everything to hold our babies while they are sick, when we disregard the clutter to read to our toddlers, when we make ourselves an available 'home base' from which maturing children can go out to explore--we need to know that we are investing in tomorrow by making wise choices today.

How are we spending our time today? Are our choices on this Tuesday going to make a difference in the lives of our children next Tuesday or even four Tuesdays from now?

Resist the urge to let a clean house take precedence over a tickle-war. Don't let a to-do list replace a heart-to-heart talk. Take a daily peek at how today fits in between yesterday and tomorrow.

It is hard for me to "take time" and deviate from my own agenda and to-do list. One of the things I like about having a newborn around is that I am forced to slow down. Sitting down every two hours to nurse is time-consuming, not to mention all of the other things that go along with a baby. One of the first things to come off my priority list was yard work, IF you can call watering a couple pots of flowers and pulling a few weeds in two tiny beds "yard work".

I have so much room to improve in this area and I daily ask God to order my days and be the Lord of my time. Sometimes that means there are dishes in the sink and little girl clothes on the floor, but I'm learning to see the big picture and realize there will be a day when I can have a pristine house and a to-do list that gets done without someone asking for a drink of water or to read them a story. And hopefully I'll be able to say that some of the time I chose wisely and let the mess sit through just one more story or snuggle time.

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher, "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?...All things are wearisome, more than one can say...What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1: 2-3,-9

Six Weeks Old

Little Man is six weeks old. Actually, he is referred to more often as "Baby Brother". Doesn't quite have the ring to it that Sissy did when Amanda was a baby, but that's what the girls call him. He's a super sweet boy. No regular sleep patterns have been established during the day, he just does a lot of it. During his awake times he's started to be more content on his own without us having to be doing something with him. He likes to be on his belly looking around, but then he quickly turns over and the fun is gone. He's about 3/4 of the way to rolling from back to stomach, so he is very busy trying to figure things out.

Most of the time people say he looks just like his daddy and without fail people comment on his hair. Right now he is sleeping on my lap on his stomach with his hands and feet dangling off, a position he's liked since the start. When I'm holding him in my arms he likes to pick his head up and look around, but he also likes to snuggle in under my chin. Sweetness.

As usual, the girls were not far while I was trying to take a few pictures. There was discussion for who would hold the baby, who would hold the sign, who should be in the middle, yada, yada. Here's Avery explaining (lovingly and gently, of course) that Amanda needs to hold the sign the right way, cause "he's 6 weeks, NOT 9 weeks!" Oh, I cringe when I watch them and remember that I was that bossy big sister who knew it ALL. Sheesh!

When we were done Avery said, "Oh, thank you Mom, for letting me hold him like that (supporting him standing)!" She thinks she's so much bigger than she is and is anxious to do all kinds of tricks while holding him.

What a crew!

Project 365, Week 34

August 16
This is the planning committee (me and my two sisters...Shaun was having trouble with the camera) for a family get-together we are having in a few weeks. Incredibly, with my parents and their spouses, my three siblings and their families and an aunt, uncle and two cousins, our group will be 30 people. Yeah, it takes a little planning for a group that size!


August 17
My dad called first thing in the morning, declaring it a slip-n-slide day. It was a good way to spend some of the 90 degree day. He's a duct tape kind of dad, as you can tell from the slide set-up. :)

August 18

Grandma came over a couple times this week. This was taken right before Aiden's pee shot through the side of his diaper, soaking her shirt. Ooops!

August 19

Action shot of rolling over.

August 20

Amanda in a typical outfit, just one of many for the day, talking her daddy's ear off while he makes lunch.

August 21

You can't tell from this picture, but it is pouring rain outside. When it started raining at our softball game, I tossed him in and he slept through the whole thing.

August 22

Avery showing off her new suit.

Sara, thanks so much for hosting!

Fun in the Sun

Sunday afternoon was 90 and sunny and we got to spend it at my sister's house. Other than an eating break, the girls were in the water pretty much the whole time. They are both fine to have their heads underwater (they practice this in the tub) and they were jumping in on their own without being caught. Cautious Avery thought it prudent to only jump in where she could touch (makes sense to me!). She and Daddy had a couple heart to hearts working out some of her fears.



I know I don't even have to tell you that Amanda was a different story. She didn't care if she was jumping into the kiddie pool or off the diving board. She started out holding Daddy's hand...


...then she and Nathanael held hands and jumped...

...then she jumped off all by herself. (I can't get that one line to stop underlining and being blue??)

...soon she'll be doing this just like Uncle C

She swam from one end of the pool to the other with the same silly grin on her face. (She slept good that night!)

Aiden took a little dip to cool off, but mostly he just chilled in the shade. Isn't that bathing suit too much??

As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19