Beach time!

I basically lived in my bathing suit this weekend...which is kind of gross, but at the same time, pretty awesome.  And with all the sunblock applications of the boys and managed to forget to put any on my legs.  My face, arms, and back seem to be okay, but boy do I have me some lobster legs!

What a wonderful way to ring in the summer...

(photos by my sister, Lauren)

My little stomper.

My little fish.

Hello Summer!!

A few days ago I said good-bye to a job I really liked.  Being laid off is a depressing kind of thing, even if I hated the long commute and the child care situation I had for Finn.  It just feels sad.   I do not have any idea what the future holds for me at the moment. Should a wonderful job pop up, I might take it.  Should I have the opportunity to stay home with Finn, I will take it.  Should people want to eat my bread, I'll bake it.  I just really don't know where my path is heading at the moment.  So, this summer I'll be taking each day as it comes.  I'm pretty good at that.

This weekend the boys and I are welcoming the summer with a visit to my mom's.  Her pool and proximity to the beach make visiting her a mini vacation.  And in a short time we'll be meeting her in Norway.  Which I expect will be amazing.

For now, here are some pics of the boys in the pool.

sigh

Financially speaking, I should be applying for the few full time positions I've seen popping up on the job boards....sigh.

Time with Finn.  Time with Liam.  Time to be mommy.

I don't know what else to say.  Why does it have to be so hard to do the thing I want to do most? (Mommy, in case it isn't clear.)   Ug.

My Boy Turns Seven

Seven years - when did that happen???  My handsome little man...and his new bike.  A 20 incher!  It's a wee bit big, but in under an hour he figured out how to get on with a running start AND use the hand brakes.

Last weekend we had his party - a "monster truck" party.  The bounce house was a real treat.  Unlike Texas, where the choices are limitless, it was Sponge Bob or a castle.  Liam chose Sponge Bob. The ended up leaving it at our house for two whole days - it was great!!

One of the activities was to guess how many hot wheels cars were in the jar.  Riveting entertainment.

Next came "Pin the Plate on the Monster Truck."  Bill printed out a poster sized image of a monster truck.  We laminated personalized NYS license plates.  It was pretty cool.

 Even Finny had a go!

Grandma (in TX) sent some VERY funny stick on mustaches.  As you'll see, we've been having a lot of fun with them!

Finn doesn't quite get the mustache thing...but the uni-brow was funny.  Unfortunately, that little boy moves so fast it's nearly impossible for me to capture the actual image I want.  His mustache brow is pretty funny, though...

And onto other things...this dinosaur-esque snapping turtle made a nest and laid her eggs right in the middle of our front lawn!  Unfortunately, by the next day some predator found her nest and and all we found were open, but empty, turtle eggs.

This week we have had the pleasure of Aunt Alie visiting.  The boys are in love with her...in fact, when I picked Finn up from preschool the other day, he ran right past me and into Alie's arms!  

 Yeah...it was NOT my idea to give the TWO year old a stick for the fire.  That was Daddy.