They Got Me.

Instead of their Mom last night -
they got me.

Because their Mom was in Michigan at the bedside
of her father who had quadruple bypass surgery the day before.

THEIR Mom stayed an extra day to be with her father
who happened to be celebrating his 72nd birthday.

So instead of her, they got ME.

And I was warned that they would be SAD, SAD, SAD that Mom wasn't home.
So I pulled out all the stops and we played and laughed and laughed and played.
(And managed to get all homework done, lunches made, and reading completed...)

But while taking care of them I realized that it is the subtle differences that make
a Mom a Mom.

And the way I Mom, isn't the way their Mom moms.

Like, my kids jump out of the tub and then I cocoon them in a big blue towel and
call them a burrito.

But, THEIR MOM lays a towel down on the lip of the tub, then they stand up on it
hold their Mom's hands and jump like a flying squirrel onto the slippery wet floor.
(Or, at least, this is what they told me usually happens).

When they are wrapped up nice and snug in their cocoon, it isn't called a cocoon.
Or a burrito.

So when I went to dress them in their PJs (which they call Jammies), we were missing
a key ingredient.

Underpants.

When I came into the family room with the wrong kind (?!) of underpants I went back
into their room searching. And searching.
And I knew they could hear me from their playroom because THEIR MOM still uses a baby monitor. So I kept chatting to them.

"Can you hear me, I'm searching for underpants la la la la underpants where are you????" I shouted into the monitor.

And I could hear their distant laughter from the other room. Far away. While they waited
for their underpants. Laughing at my antics.

For a moment, I think they were happy that they got me tonight.

So, when I came back into the family room waving my empty hands and telling them that I couldn't find any of the "right kinds of underpants". They laughed again.

Because the underpants were on my head.

And I'm pretty certain THEIR MOM has ever done that before.

When play finds us.

Sometimes, our play is organized.


"Decky doo, go get your racket!!!!"

Sometimes, we drive really far to watch others play...
"Hey daddy, how long is 20 more minutes?"

Our drive is so far, in fact, that we are obligated to stop in Mystic for ice cream cones.
Happy to report that more ice cream now goes in (the mouth) than on (the clothes).


And the players who play? They are the best in the world.
"Ole, ole, ole, ole...."

We play around in the car during the long drive home.
okay, Mommy and Dec play, Nonie practices her anti-cavity regime.


We play with Fred.
Have you met him yet? He is Nonie's soul-mate.



And speaking of Nonie, she plays too.
"Mom watch, Mom watch me, Mom do you see me? I summersalted"


Oh buttercup will play.
All day, if you let her.

Of course, all that playing works up an appetite!
How bizzzzaaarrrre (as in ice cream & candy).


Sometimes. We don't even TRY to play.
Really, we don't - we just jump off rocks.

But then, play just finds us.

So, here's to all things al fresco and summer.

And here's to letting play find you.

Sashay

When the cousins kicked off their shoes,

and enthusiastically swung their hips from side to side

while walking the "runway"...

in one of the nicest hotels in all of Boston....

I laughed.

And, when the kids told the hotel staff (who were quite busy setting up for a fashion show),

that they were practicing for the fashion show...

I laughed harder.

(Yes, Connor is doing a high kick in that picture. BRAVO to the Auntie who taught him that!).

But, when Granny (unintentionally - or so she says... wink wink) sashayed down the center of their "runway"...

I cried

from laughing so hard.

Strike a pose Gran.

Photo Essay - Deadly Medley - Four Parts

"I like big butts"

"On the road again"

"Put me in coach..."

"Life is a highway..."

Love is in the air

Dec forgoes the bouncy house for a pile of mulch. Gettin' dirty love.




Connor doesn't whip the water balloon at Gracie to soak her. Big cousin love.



Trip takes off dad's man-dals. Son love.




Nonie watches Xave tackle Annie from behind. Baby love.




Connor knees Chris in the back. Nephew love.




Maddy gets a pick-me-up squeeze. Granny love.



Kara is very long. Bouncy house love.

Little Person spotlight #2

Another rainy, windy, gloomy, slumpy, frumpy, bumpy night.
Another cute little kid.



He's no ordinary boy, he is a wild bundle of fun. You might know him as Javier, or Chooch, or even fOx, I know him as the coolest pink helmet wearing kid in Sanibel. Though I suspect he's pretty cute in other places too.



Never one to miss a party, he is a guy who loves a good theme and prop. A munchkin after my own heart.



I won't hold it against him that it only took him 18 months to become a better skier than I am. It's just a part of the cycle.

Final verdict on the fOx: Pretty dern cute.
Best thing he gave me, and gave me, and gave me: Green flav-or-ice.
Things he likes that I don't like: Wearing a t-shirt, and nothing on bottom.
His favorite accessory from the FL house: Sweet cheeks rug.
As he put HIS sweet cheeks right on it.

Well done Emah!

Little Person spotlight #1

The thing about kids is, they're just little people.
Starting to figure themselves out.

I see hundreds every day.
I work with them closely.
I know what they like to eat and how they spend their time away from school.
But I don't have any emotional attachment to them.
I mean, some of them are cute.
But they're not my people.

When I get to see my little people I get to see the changes.
Relearn about them and who they've become since the last visit.
They are always changing.
ALWAYS cuter.
It's magic.

Here is a spotlight on one of my little people.

Lumpkins.

She likes to stick things on my head and then let me eat the crusts of her pb&j sandwiches.She lets me sit next to her in the way way back of the car and let Emah take pictures of us.
She rocks the house at bowling and doesn't even rub it in your face when she beats you. Like her dad does.

(I think that's a strike)

Final verdict on Lumpy: cool kid.
Best story she told: saving a kid on the playground.
Uncool thing she tried to do: give me a wedgie.
Cool thing she let me do: give her a big one.
What I didn't know about her before but do now: she doesn't like icing.
What she might be figuring out about herself: she's easy on the eyes (how does a first grader handle such revelations?!?)

Don't you just love....

Side by side snow angels

and somoas (I don't care that they are called carmel delites now...they will always be somoas)

and kissing cousins???

I do!

A picture buffet and proving me wrong.

I hope you pronounced buffet as boofay. It's more fun that way.

There was life before THE bug, I am sure. I just forgot what with all that whoopsin'. Here is some evidence.

I spy an Emah sandwich.


The Whelans steal a quiet moment.


I call this "The Chairlift".


This way Xave!


"Xavey I am TRYING to watch BABE".


"Ok. I forgive you."


Cousins give Bri a massage.




Post Note which is really a pre-note... but later.
Did you see all that embracing, canoodle, snuggling? Might we be huggers?

I Love the Place

Where the creations of the day are set out to dry in the green, green grass...
Where the sky and the sea become one...

Where sunsets captivate cousins...

Remeberies....

There are some moments that just need to be captured, and then they will be immortalized through time. These moments are not only in photo or video, but also in our memories. We are doing so many amazing things every day, I wonder what small moments, or sayings, we will be talking about when we are old. I was recalling a story the other day about a very stubborn Leen who proclaimed “I can do what I can do!!” I am not even sure what she could or would or was attempting TO do, but I will always remember that was her statement. The other day I was also telling Mads about the days of gas. I believe it was also our little Leen who believed “gas” to be a very delicious peppermint patty that was ALWAYS obtained whenever Granny would fill up the tank at the “gas” station. Then one day when there was no “gas” (it must have been around the time that debit/credit cards were accepted, and there was no longer a need to go INTO the store), Leen learned the real truth…I can’t wait to see what comes up in our crazy world and what the little ones around us will interpret. So much fun, so little time to write about it!!
Good luck tonight campers, I have more bugs in my house then you probably have in your tents!!! XOXO

Stowe good.

Cousins ...

Take leisurely strolls from the pool
Lick ice cream cones on main street
Gondola to the top and hike way far down
Cycle in circles
Compare bug bites and paper airplanes
Build pillow & blanket forts in earnest
Picnic in the grass
Sleep soundly sleep soundly sleep soundly
Wonder at the rain
Wiggle through shopping sessions
Pick wildflowers

(while) Sisters...

laugh and learn and love
(and stay up way too late)

Summer. Stowe Good.