2 2 year olds in motion...

Lily assisting D...

in the reapplication of his band-aide.

Around the House Pics

We have gone to the same house each year for the past 3 years--we love that house! It's got enough bedrooms and it's really close to the beach. It's got wrap around decks and a screened-in porch. However, it is clear that the owners were former owners of a mountain house and sold it and moved all of the contents of the mountain house into the beach house. We know an elderly woman owns the house and that further explains the decor. We think it's a bit funny, but it's super comfortable and perfect for what we need. And though the kids have managed to break something every year, we always manage to glue it back together!

Austin practicing his John Cena moves on Bryan. "Can you see me?!?"

Andy with his 2 boys.

Watching Dora!

Lily loved Finn!!! She goes for those older boys--should I be worried?!?

Andy's 2, Finn and Graham, with Sarah's oldest 2, Austin and Anna.

These 2 have a special connection. Lily also thinks Austin is pretty awesome!

Washing Shoes--a Woman's Work is Never Done

Lily making up her own fun on the beach. You can't hear it because of the wind but when I ask her what she's doing, she tells me "washing shoes". You can see they need lots of rewashing.

Beach Pics

I am not organized enough to divide these beach pics into day by day, so I'm doing categories instead. I hope you don't mind. As you probably figured out from the title, these are pics I took on the beach! We always set up a tent on the beach on our first day and leave it up all week--it survived 3 storms--much to the chagrin of the turtle activists. Sorry! They left us a little note every day. It is just is so much nicer in the shade! Lily didn't like the water at first--she wanted Mommy and Daddy to go into the ocean so she could watch, but refused to go in herself. Then she didn't really like that Mommy and Daddy went in the ocean together and she would wait for us halfway down the beach like she was holding a vigil. My sister couldn't even get her to come back to the tent for a snack!! On about day 3, she decided she'd rather try the water than be left without Mommy and Daddy on the beach. She quickly decided she LOVED the ocean and then was ALWAYS asking to go in the water. She's our little fish!

Lily at the tent when everyone else is elsewhere.

She feels like a big girl holding her own water bottle!

Anna--always ready for a photo shoot!!

D and Sarah--and those 2 specks in the ocean are Reg and Austin. We just loved how deserted our little section of the beach was!

G-Pa and Lily waiting for a BIG crab to come out of his hole so they could catch him in the bucket--he never came out.

Playing "Perfect Pitch"--my family refused to call this game Cornhole as I have always known it to be called. We also played a lot of Bocci Ball.

On the way to the Beach!!

Every year, Lily and I ride in my sister's mini van with her and David and Anna. Bryan drives and takes Reg and Austin. It works well, because the babies entertain each other, sometimes by fighting, or they watch DVDs with Anna on the DVD player in the van. Austin takes his portable DVD player and the dads listen to sports radio the whole way there. Which car would you rather be in?!? The kids were pretty great on the way there--they got restless the last 30 minutes, which is understandable, and they never slept, which we were quite surprised about. They were super excited to be going to the beach, which Lily's Daddy described to her as a big pool!

Friday Night Party

For those who don't know, we just got back from our annual beach trip with my fam!! We went for a week and had the greatest time!! We wish we could have stayed another week. Every Friday night before we leave for the beach, my parents have a little get together for close friends, including lots of my brother's friends that only get to see him once a year. It is lots of fun!

David and Lily--look at her eyes checking him out!!

Our little model, Anna!! She actually had to leave the party to go to try out for the Guppy swim team, hence the bathing suit! But she returned, changed into a sequined gown and tiara and continued to party.

Action Shots!

We went to Johanna's parents house for Johanna's Mom's Birthday and had a fabulous time!!! Lily enjoyed being near the lake and playing in their yard. Of course, I couldn't get her to smile at the camera, but I did get lots of good action shots. Just looking at them all makes me tired!

Bryan and Lily on the dock looking at the water.

Anna was also in on the fun...

Slowing down for some cake.

Playing with toys...

Yes, I realize she is hitting Anna's hand with the baton....and yes, she probably did it on purpose. She loves Anna a lot!!! But that doesn't mean she wants to share toys with her! And yes, I make her share anyway. See...I told you she loves Anna a lot!!!

Lily and Ethan's Play Date

Lily's friend, Ethan, came to visit the other day--he is exactly 4 months older than she is. She was so excited for him to come to play and kept asking when he would get there. Once he was there, they wouldn't play with each other at all. They both played in the same room, but wouldn't even look at or talk to each other, both acting very shy. We all then went out to eat, and the whole way there, Lily kept asking where "Essan" was since he was riding with his mommy and daddy, and once we were at the restaurant, they did actually play together a little more. It's fun to see Lily interacting with other kids her own age--she tends to be great with older kids, but not so great with kids her age or younger. She is starting Mommy's Morning Out 2 days a week in August and I think it'll be really good for her.

Ethan playing with Lily's cash register.

Kai and Lily

Take Me out to the BallGame!!

Bryan and his brother, Chris, are playing softball together this season and Lily and I go to every game that's before bedtime. We have such a good time!! Johanna and Anna and Johanna's parents are always there as well and we sort of socialize more than watch the game (I know that's surprising to everyone!). Lily cheers so loudly for her daddy and Uncle Chris and loves playing with the other kids there.

Chris and Bryan--their team name is 10 men and a bat.
Lily likes to climb the fence!

Lily in Anna's stroller--a big source of entertainment while we are there. Lily likes to pull the shade up and down whether she or Anna is sitting in it.

Anna is a big walking girl now!! Here she was holding her mom's finger, but now she doesn't even do that!