Shinesalot: Summer of Bliss

I have always believed in notions such as: 'good things come to those who wait,' 'what goes around comes around,' and 'everything happens for a reason.' This summer is proving all those things to be true. Bill landed an awesome job and even I landed a job better than I could have imagined! A part-time school librarian job!!! Those rarely turn up and I feel so so lucky to have the chance to do what I love professionally, yet still be home 2.5 days of the week to be mommy all day long to Finn and get Liam off the bus, etc. Lucky, lucky, lucky, I tell ya.

This summer I have spent days at the beach (oceans and lakeside), biking along beautiful tree and sand dune lined bike paths, hiking mountains, swimming, picnic-ing under shady trees...truly the summer of bliss. Last night we celebrated Finn's 2nd birthday - his first in NY. I just can't say enough about being home. And while I miss my TX friends and family so so much, it is simply heaven to be in a place where my heart seems to beat in time with its surroundings.

This here is clearly Liam's "magnum" face.

Snyder's Lake - very tasty according to Finn...

Birthday boy's gluten/everything free cupcakes. The recipe came from the famous Babycakes bakery in NYC. The cupcakes (vanilla, with a hint of lemon), were actually very, very good. The chocolate frosting, however, was a complete bust. Probably had to throw away $20 of fancy pants ingredients...and ended up frosting them with Pillsbury's fudge in a can...not the greatest, but Finn can eat it and it seemed like most of the kids did not notice they were eating a very special cupcake. (I made an eggy/buttery brownie for us who know better.)