Pictures!

More of the Summer Fun in photos, click on the play button to view.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

View from my bed...

Does every parent of a 3 year old wake up this way? This is what i wake up to every morning now. Emma rummages through my closet and wears my blouses as dresses and finds shoes to match! This is the best shot i could get with one eye open at 6 am. She is very much a girl.

Princess

Enjoying a relaxing day with my girls. Obviously Emma is still in full blown princess phase! She dresses up all day!

Differences

Last night during story time Emma blurted out to Rob, "Daddy one day you are going to die". Rob, being the pragmatic thinker that he is, sat there and looked at her and said, "you are right Emma, but hopefully not until I am really old". Then Emma decided to turn this into a game, "then Mommy will die" ... and so on and so on. Rob says she really listed about everyone she's ever known and he was quite uncomfortable with her presentation and that she sort of became silly about it. Of course, being a social worker I said "babe, it's a good thing she's trying to figure it all out and it's even better that she's comfortable talking to you about it". He then says, "yea but I was not comfortable and I told her we don't talk about dying".

EEERRRRRR record player stopping .... to me that was like nails on a chalk board ... "we don't talk about _____" that is something that is sacrilege to me! To me, we talk about EVERYTHING.

I explained to my sweet hubby that although he may be uncomfortable sharing his feelings, it's really important to allow our children to talk about their ideas and feelings and of course guide them into more proper outlets. He says he understands that, but this came out of left field (guy analogy) and he wasn't ready for this type of conversation. So again, he has hopes that these sort of "heavy discussions" will come up planned. But we did more processing and I let him know that most definitely these things will always be coming "out of left field". He says from his statement "we don't talk about dying" Emma just laughed and said "Well Leo's Papa died. He was really old and sometimes old people die very fast. Leo won't see his papa anymore". So there you go, the little 3 year old social worker in progress! She helped Daddy along and they had a very nice conversation, "far too adult" according to Rob but for me it shows that though Rob and I have differences in our comfort levels (especially around communicating) our children are going to get the best of both worlds and are really comfortable sharing their feelings.

Shopping respite

Old Navy got it right. The girls taking a shopping break with crayons and coloring books. All while we snag sales galoure!

Summer photos

Here is a photo summary of what we have been up to with the girls (though we have not been great at carrying our camera with us!). I am loving having the summer off, we have done lots of day trips, went of vacation, spending great quality time with RaRa and PopPop and Auntie April ... and tons of playdates (those photos to be updated next). Click the play button below to see the slideshow.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Weddings

We attended a beautiful wedding Friday night at the Indianhead Country Club in Kingston, MA. Everything was stunning -- the bride, the bridal party, the ballroom, the adorable, yet elegant PINK touches splashed through out the reception. We all had a blast dancing and enjoying the tasty food and beverages. We wish Kristen and Nathan only the best in their new life together!

Attending the wedding got me to thinking, in the past both Rob and I have griped (sad to say) about getting ready, rushing out the door, sitting in a church, coordinating childcare and lodging arrangements, but this time neither of us did that, there was NO GRIPING! We had this really nice talk last month (around our own anniversary). We were out for a walk and we both came to the realization that Weddings are one of those rare moments in life, where for one day all is forgotten. The love is so pure, it is a time where everyone is there to celebrate the commitment that the couple is making to love one another. Regardless of how tough life can get, when you walk into a church or ceremony it is impossible not to be consumed with ease and happiness. With all that we have to face in a day, it is wonderful to have a place to just enjoy the celebration!

We had a blast and I was able to snag one of the GORGEOUS pink rose centerpieces! Also, a big big thank you to my Mom and Michael. You guys are amazing and the girls had the best time. Of course, Emma has not taken off her new "nightgown". Grandparents are the best!

Girls Weekend

This weekend marked our 2nd Annual Girls Weekend, it all began out of the idea that with life moving full steam ahead it is very rare that we get to turn off from responsibilities and just catch up over good food and a few glasses of wine (ok, a few is an understatement). It is a time where we check responsibility at the door (except for that once daily check in with the significant other, crossing your fingers that everything is indeed ok because really what the heck could we do about it over the phone anyway??!!) and just be friends ... We share in the cooking, cleaning, and advice giving and we also share our favorite things.

It began with a sunny afternoon on the beach drinking amazingly delicious yet extremely economically sound Vino Verde (Portuguese White Wine) while letting the ocean breeze blow through our hair. All of us quickly got into place:

Me - Black and White polka dot Tankini under beach dress, sunhat, 50+SPF and wine glass full

Michelle - Navy Blue Bikini, Sunglasses, Hair beach wavy tousled yet pulled up, and a moderate 18 SPF all over with an application of 30 SPF in the "high exposure zones", water bottle full

Danielle - Black Bikini, flip flops flying off as soon as a granule of sand touches her toe, silky shiny hair flowing in the breeze, sunglasses, and wine glass full

Dianna - Chocolate Brown Tankini, Sunglasses, hair pulled up neatly, jewelry off to avoid ANY tan lines, grinning ear to ear because today she is NOT wearing sunscreen!

And from there our "Women's conference" began. Discussions around every topic a woman could conjecture; there were tears, there were giggles, there were pee your pants moments like "keep your blouse on b*tch" comments from an enraged Masshole driver (Our front seat wouldn't agree but the backseat says the comment was probably warranted!); our discussions are thorough and frank all at the same time. It's an amazing blend of 4 friendships and something that I can now never imagine my life with out.

A is for AUNTIE!

Auntie April treated Emma to a mani pedi! How wonderful!

Chuck E Cheese!

Need an idea for what to do with kids on these rainy days? Chuck E Cheese ... For $15 per family we had pizza drinks tokens and hours of fun all which wore the kids out for a good nights sleep! Have fun!

SAY "CHEESE"

SOME GLIMPSES OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

JULIA EXPLORING THE NEW CUBES FROM MICHELLE AND LUIGI'S

SUMMER LOUNGING ON THE FRONT PORCH

PICASO EMMA

THE FLUME GORGE, FRANCONIA NH

MOMMY AND EMMA AT THE FLUME GORGE

EMMA, DADDY, AND JULIA HIKING AT THE FLUME

SHERIFF EMMA LEADING THE WAY AT CLARK'S TRADING POST

JULIA, DADDY, AND THE BIG BLACK BEAR

POP POP, RARA, AND EMMA SAYING "TADAHHHH, WE DID IT!"

EMMA WAS ENTRHALLED WITH MEETING CINDERELLA AND SEEING HER PUMPKIN COACH.

JULIA SHOWING US THAT SHE WILL BE A HANDFUL!!

SISTERS ... HOW SWEET IS THIS!?!

THE CLOSEST THING TO A SMILE FOR EMMA THESE DAYS (SHE IS HATING THE CAMERA!)

THE OLD LADY WHO LIVED IN A SHOE

EMMA AND THE BEACH AT ECHO LAKE

Truths from a 3 year old

So, we had a wonderful rainy vacation in the mountains. It had it's ups and downs and was not with out some jaw dropping moments, such as Emma saying to me "Mommy why do you have a fat belly?". YUP -- my precious 3 year old dumps that one on me after we just had a fun time in the bubble bath that she had begged us to have! What payback. There were so many thoughts running through my head in that instant:

1. WHAT?????
2. Gee, thanks!
3. My belly really isn't fat, is it?
4. Emma, go to time out!
5. Gosh, I hate that kids are so objective.
6. One day she will know.

So, instead, I looked at her and handed her a towel and said "Emma, my belly is not fat". She responds "Yes, it is" and proceeds to push her finger into my pillsbury dough belly ... so at that moment I had to accept, well yes to a 3 year old I do have a fat squishy belly. Fortunately Rob came to my rescue and said "Mommy had to fit you and Julia in her belly. One day you will have a belly like that too". Thanks babe ... is that a compliment or what? He he he. But truth be told, us women do have some squishy bellies, even if we work out and eat well. That is what happens with age and with childbearing, I just wish my daughter could learn the old adage "If you can't say something nice, do not say anything at all". We really have been practicing this with her but she's just not quite there yet.

It's the little things...

Doesn't get better than a hot cocoa with lots of whipped cream! A big diversion from another rainy day. We just had our second trip to Polly's Pancakes. That place has the best pancakes with 5 different batters to choose from. Our favorites: whole wheat w coconut, oatmeal buttermilk w chocolate chip and buttermilk w blueberry. They have amazing maple sugar and spread! Yum!

Sunny day!

Flume Gorge. The girls did excellent on our 2hr hike. The waterfalls are gorgeous!