Happy Fourth!!

We diverted from our traditional trip to Ohio for the Fourth and hung local this year.  We were able to take part in the annual lobster dinner at Mimi's cape house.  We also visited some friends farther down on the cape.  We all had a great time.  What's not to love: family, friends, fun, sun, pool, beach, boat, the list goes on. 

 

The kids were super excited to spend a day at the pool with their cousins. Couldn't even go home for lunch -

 

 

Icy treats -

 Paige was VERY excited to wear her bikini for Madison.  As you can see, that belly doesn't get a lot of airtime.

 Love this pic, so cute all four of them -

 Mimi's beautiful table for the lobster dinner -

Part two: After we left Falmouth, we spend a couple days in Dennis with some friends from Dartmouth.  Their summer house is basically right on a great private beach.  The kids had fun playing on the beach, looking for crabs, going on the boat, tubing, swimming, etc...

 Marley was VERY lucky to be included in this trip.  He usually gets stuck home with Sam, the dog sitter.  He actually did very well.  At seven years old maybe it is safe to say he is finally grown up!  The beach in Dennis was dog friendly.  As you can see, he was lovin' life hangin' on the beach all day with us and meeting some dog friends along the way.

 Dinner back at the house -

 Someone was cashed out even before dinner, too much sun!

 The guys took the kids down the beach to get mussels for dinner.  They got a huge bucket so Pete steamed them up and we all enjoyed on the back deck at sunset. 

 The view from their backyard is amazing.  Sunset as we were waiting for one of the neighbors private fireworks show to start.  45 minutes of fireworks and the best view from the yard.

 

A perfect New England Cape Cod Fourth of July!!

Sometimes I know how the president of the United States must feel with Secret Service always around.  This is what I get when I'm relaxing on the couch watching TV at night.  Not waiting for anything just ready for anything that may happen. This dog follows me around all day.  I dream of the day I can go to the bathroom by myself. 

 

Trip to Mystic

Saturday, it was rainy and overcast.  Sunday wasn't looking too much better.  We woke up Sunday morning and decided we couldn't' spend another day cooped up in the house.  We decided to road trip to Mystic, CT to see the aquarium and seaport area.  It has been on our bucket list since we moved here and figured once we move north we have even a smaller chance of getting down there.

 

We headed to the aquarium first.  It was very nice and clean, but pricey I thought.  If Luke and I didn't get in free (compliments of St. Phils!) it would have been over $100 for four of us to get in!!!

The kids loved the seal show the best and maybe the touch tanks but living on the coast has spoiled us, we have a small aquarium with great touch tanks in our backyard.

 

 

 

After the aquarium we headed over to the seaport district to poke around and have dinner.  Cute area.  Again, we are spoiled because we live on the coast.  I'm sure once we move to suburbia we will appreciate these cute little seaport villages much more.

Luke decided that he was going to set a trap for "the animals".  Which animals he was referring to we aren't too sure.  He stuck a limb in the ground and hung a cheese stick on it.  The thing has been out there for days.  Apparently "the animals" aren't partial to snacks in the dairy family.

 

Local famous!

Paige and her little friend Peter were in the local paper the other day.  They took a field trip through school to tend to the plot at a community garden. 

When the Boston Globe came on Sunday, Paige said, "Am I in the paper again?" 
Glad it didn't go to her head or anything.

Congratulations to daddy!  He just made the top 40 under 40 list for Providence.  Jay received this award for the Southcoast a couple years back - Top 40 under 40 for Southcoast.

We are so proud!!!

School's out for summer....

Today was Luke's last day of school.  As much as he loves school, he was ready for some summer fun.  Paige and I went to St Phils for a picnic with his class to wrap up the school year.

 

Making a little end of the year gift for the carpool gang -

Luke's teacher, Ms. Vanicek, looking at her gift from the class, a scrapbook one of the mom's made with input from all the kids.

 

Enjoying some fun outside.  The campus is beautiful with a huge lawn in the backyard that leads down to the water.  The kids are lucky that this is where they play everyday!

 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADDY!!!

The kids were very excited to see and hang out with daddy today considering he was in NH Friday and Saturday.  We went to the beach in the morning and let daddy watch the US Open in the afternoon. 

 

We love you daddy.  Thanks for being OUR daddy!

 

 

 

Welcome Home Marley -

After a month chillaxing in NH on Papa's farm, Marley Man is FINALLY coming home.  Jay went up to get him and the kids were excited to see him...kind of. I was trying to amp them up.  Paige drew a picture for him and thought he should have some treats. 

 

We missed him, our Marley Man.  We did not miss the dog hair, endless cleaning, swiping food from counter tops, and worrying about dog poops.  We did miss our family dog.  I would like to think the feeling was mutual but he looks a tad depressed and walked around aimlessly yesterday crying for no reason.  I guess when you consider the life he left: acres to run, pond to swim in, hangin' with his two very fun and adventurous cousins, and lots of horse poops to eat....who can blame him!

 

Paige's Graduation from Children's Circle -

 

Paige graduated from preschool today.  They basically "graduate" every year.  This was our fourth Children's Circle Graduation between Luke and Paige.  Knowing there is little chance she will make it another year here it really kind of was our last graduation, so sad! 

 

Keeping with tradition, the 3 day class did a play.  This year it was based on the Frog and Toad series books.  It could have been because I was alone in the audience for the first year with no kid, and therefore no distractions, OR the fact that I actually had a kid in the play for the first time but I thought this was the best I'd seen.  They also do some songs and a slide show of pictures throughout the year.  All this followed by a picnic!