Summer Daze

This summer was the first in five years where we had no major life changes or events (selling house / new baby / new job  '12, house showings galore / pregnancy '11, new job / new baby '10, pregnancy / traveling for work '09, traveling all summer for work / overabundance of weddings  '08).  But, despite the empty calendars, we managed to keep quite busy. 

We kicked off the summer fresh off the mouse high feeling ready to conquer the world.  Or at least, a 5 mile mud run.  I signed up with less than 3 weeks' notice, and somehow convinced hubs to come along.  This is the 3rd time in our 14 year relationship that I've gotten him to go running with me.  The other two were back in college.  I had been running all spring, so after signing up I jacked up my distance from 3 to 4 or 5 miles and added hills and field runs.  Hubs ran twice in preparation to see if he still had it, having had about a year or so dry spell from the gym.  He spent the entire race egging me on to go faster and waiting for me and another friend of ours who were holding him up.  Really, he kicked my butt.  I hate that!

Fathers' Day came next and I decided to try to reprise my project that I did three years prior that never made it to the frame.  This year I must say it was a success.  Maybe it was the setting, or the siblings playing off each other, but even though the Lobster Roll wasn't in a good mood to start, she had a ton of fun for her Yankees photo shoot for her Daddy, and I managed to get a collage framed in time for the big day. 

Too cool for school

Love my Daddy!

We love Daddy so MucH!

And Gobbles colored this Daddy's favorite color!

Enough posing - let's jump!

See Mommy, I didn't land on the dog!

Oh Spoonsie bear!

The holiday itself was pretty quiet - we spent a few hours at the "Fatherfest" at the Helicopter Museum, then grilled some nice steaks that hubs picked out for himself.  Just like on Mothers' Day, we all benefited from the special day holder's love of food and cooking.

Daddy can we fly this?

I'm the world's tiniest pilot!

What does this do?

Hmmm, more buttons to push!

The next week I managed to take the kids away for a brief overnight to the shore where my mom rented a small condo for her annual "being a teacher is so stressful so I need a getaway to start my summer vacation" trip.  The Lobster Roll had so much fun on the beach, her first time there since she could walk.  It was nice to be able to sit back while the two of them played together and enjoyed their Grandmom.

I'm posing for grandmom so she can take a pic of all those lifeguards on the DL

Let's swim, Lobster!

What? More pics?

We do NOT eat play doh!

Back on the beach for more trouble

Grandpop will help us get some water

I'm the fastest kid I know!

What an arm!

My Ns are backwards and the O seems to have gone missing,
but who needs to spell when you're on vacation!

We made it back from the beach with little time to spare before our next social event - the neighborhood campout.  I wish I had taken more pictures because words do not do this production justice - these people go all out.  There were about 20 or so families with twice as many tents sprawling the length of two adjacent backyards (acre properties).  The neighborhood has worked out the kinks over the years and, with everyone contributing, was able to have everyone fed, all the kids entertained, room to sleep, and seats by the fire for all.  They had a dads vs kids kickball game, with Gobbles being the first (youngest) to "bat", a movie set up after dark on a giant projector, and old school neighborhood games like ghost in the graveyard being played. 

My favorite part, confirming how much I love this neighborhood, is that the older kids were all so sweet to the younger kids to the point that they took them on the swingset, played in the sandbox with them, and basically made it easy for us to not have to helicopter.  By the end of the night, both Gobbles and the Lobster Roll were settled on the laps of other kids watching their movie and hubs and I were by the fire beers in hand chatting with the other parents.  If that wasn't enough, the next day a different neighbor hosted a pool party where again everyone was so inclusive of the newbies.  Gobbles has not stopped talking about one of his new friends, a 3 1/2 year old from down the street, with whom he's played since multiple times. 

A lot of kids and a lot of future babysitters

Gobbles and the Lobster Roll making themselves at home..
hey dude next to me, what's with the beard?

Monsters Inc is riveting

Ok Daddy, I'll help you take down the tent!

On the 4th of July, the temperature soared and the rain slowed.  We took the kids to a local parade where they are starting to get the hang of picking up candy thrown at them from the paraders.  I'm not sure if we'll ever get organized enough to actually enter the kids in the parade / decorate bikes, but they had just as much fun watching from the sidelines.  The best part was, it ended at a park with free hot dogs so they were set.  While playing on the playground Gobbles ran into the aforementioned neighbor kid and they played together, his older sister took the Lobster Roll to entertain her, so I was left to hang out with his mom.  Not a bad day.

'Merica!

Please, I can parade better than half these folks...

Hot Dogs and Doggie skirts

We love free stuff!

That weekend, we threw a 4th of July bbq, the first in the new house.  It was probably 100 degrees that day and after some failed attempts by brother-in-law to get a sprinkler going, we just pulled out the pool and threw the kids in. It was a lot of fun because we got to see friends we don't see very often, we stuffed our faces full of hubs' awesome wings, and the kids had a blast. 

'Scuse me, I was going to be the only one in red

This looks nice, mind if i join you?

Who needs a bathing suit!  I'm like a little hippie!

Workin' hard diggin the mulch

Here buddy, lemme show ya what do do with this sand

SPLASH!  Still got my tie on!

A-HA!  That's where you're keeping the good stuff...

Later in July, my mom took the kids and I to Upper Darby's summer stage.  This is the place my mom took my sisters and I as kids just about every week.  It was like a childhood summer staple.  The first thing that hit me about being back there was that the theater smelled exactly the same as it did 30 years ago.  Not only that, but when they started the show with their little song about catching a shooting star and magic up our sleeves I was transported back so quickly I got goosebumps.  These kids, most of whom had some real talent, put on a great production of The Little Mermaid, Jr. and both the Lobster and Gobbles were dancing and attempting to sing along the whole time. 

Oh I get it - a fishie shirt for the lil mermaid!

I'm among STARS!

One Saturday hubs and I decided to take the kids down to Linvilla Orchards and go peach picking.  We had a great time doing so with Gobbles a few years ago, and figured our fruit loving Lobster would enjoy it just as much.  Unfortunately, there weren't really any ripe peaches to choose from.  We walked up and down the rows of trees in search of the perfect peach.  The kids had fun running around and sampling quite a bit.  We gave up and tried the plums, which the Lobster roll loved but were really still bitter.  Even though we came away with no fruit, the kids enjoyed the hayride out to the orchards and visiting the farm animals.  Gobbles impressively did not hesitate to take a pony ride, and enjoyed telling the handler all about his pets and our neighbor's dogs.  Always the conversationalist, that one!

How much for this peach?

C'mon lobster - eatin's this way

Hmm.. A little hard...

I'll take this unripe plum thanks!

Miss M next door has THREE dogs, they're all bigger than mine...

whatcha got there? ducks?  QUACK QUACK!

When August arrived, we decided to (finally) get some use of our zoo membership, but the only available weekend was one of hubs' busy work ones.  I took advantage of the kindness of aunts and invited my sisters to come along with the kids and I.  Gobbles dictated all of the animals he wanted to see, including the hippos, giraffes, and otters.  The Lobster didn't miss a beat pointing out the ducks, peacocks, and monkeys. 

Moving at a pace the kids can enjoy, we only made it through half the zoo before our stop at the new KidsZooU.  It was hard to drag Gobbles away from the interactive stuff inside, not unlike the Please Touch Museum, and when we finally got outside again he insisted on waiting in a long line for a big twisty slide.  Knowing our time without meltdown was dwindling, I tried to get him away, telling him he can go on a slide any time.  Thankfully, my sister agreed to wait with him while we took the Lobster over to the goat-petting area.  She was tentative but did cautiously reach out to touch a few lazy ones, jumping away of the goats that walked near her.  Of course when Gobbles was done with the slide he wanted to see the goats, despite his insistence prior that he didn't.  Again, my sisters took over and brought him through to the goats so I could start on a snack for the Lobster.  After our time in the KidsZoo, we had lunch then called it a day, ready to get the Lobster Roll home for a nap.

where'd he go?

Love me some hippos!

C'mon polar bear - get in that water!

We're gonna get you peacock!

Eat, goats, eat!

And now for just a photo dump of fun around the yard, around the playground, around town, around the house, around friends!

wow mommy, this is the best invention ever!

phew!  i went far!  So glad the Lobster takes naps so I can do this!

Well, this is fun too!

New bathing suit, new day, right mommy? 
Trying to string these together = fail!

Let's play soccer splash!

annnnd... AWAY with you!

Here - let's try it without the raft!

everybody put your hands up!

Let's find those pesky butterflies!

forget the playground, where'd this ball come from?

Roll me around, Lobstah!

Seriously, Mommy, i can handle it!

Just doing our chores.  Mommy, why does Gobbles get to
walk the dog and I'm stuck holding the bag of poop on my stroller?



Yay!  i get to walk her now!  too bad you have no pics of my
faceplant i do in a few seconds.  oh?  you have a video? even better!

Giraffe balloon animals are the best!

Nothing beats helping Daddy make a pizza!

Well, maybe having my brother feed me ice cream does!

Oh yea, Phillies day at school! 

I know I look so pretty, but aren't we in Yankees gear earlier this post?

yea mom, what gives, pick a team!

Wacky Wednesday at school = 3 ponytails, a dog skirt,
a mardis gras necklace, and a belly!

Happy Birthday Great Grandma!  We love seeing our cousin & second cousins!

Kissin' Cousins!

Happy Birthday, D!

Hey, J, I know we're BFFs, but don't try to get close to my girl here!



Happy Birthday, A!

This is definitely against the rules!

So much fun running into D at the mall where the
crazy music man is playing!

K, you're pretty cool too, sometimes I just like to borrow
your big sister since my brother won't dance with me!

Hey over there!  look at all of us kids playing!

Wow old pal Lil Buddy, you've got a good foot!



Happy, full kids.  Plus a Lobster photobomb!

Is it almost back to school time already?

 

This post made me tired.  Let's watch some tv...

And read books to our dogs!

And watch some more tv!

and snuggle with our dog!

Uh - don't forget the other one, oh Spoonsie BEAR!

Oh my girlfriend, my love!

Well folks, that's the summer for ya...

Now it's off to vacation before the leaves turn...

See ya!