Notable Things!

Ellen cut her first tooth.
Grace took off her training wheels!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Volume 14)

This is the "pirate dagger" that keeps Sam occupied.

Ice Cream Man

$6 worth of ice cream

Summer Museum fun...

Congress is planning to open the National Children's Museum in DC in 2013. In the meanwhile, they have a mini-museum set up at the National Harbor that is precious. We have been two times and the kids enjoy it. They have many activities for all ages.

This week we are without a minivan. Nate's car broke down yesterday as he was driving home on the beltway from running the Annapolis 10-miler. I don't mind being with a vehicle in our little town because I can walk everywhere I need to be. It is just frustrating to deal with a broken car!

House Hunt!!

We went to look at houses last night. It was so much fun!

One of the houses had mysterious eggs outside the house. It was a really run-down house - a foreclosure. When we got into the basement of the house, there was snake skin hanging from the rafters. Ekk!

Ellen has a trick!

This is Ellen's new trick.

Adventures in Falmouth

I am going to put all the photos from our trip in one post so I can move on to blogging about something else (like Georgetown Cupcakes and lip surgery). Hi Pam.

This is my sister in law Alayna and I in the kitchen of the Heights house.

(I didn't get a photo of Sandy and I.)

This is the Nobska lighthouse, built in 1828. We missed the last tour of the summer by 2 minutes and we couldn't go in. The view is just beautiful. It is very close to Woods Hole - famous marine research area and where they filmed Jaws and found JFKjrs body. It is also the start of the Falmouth Road Race - family tradition to run in it.

Ellen on the beach. This beach is called Old Silver Beach and is one of the warmest, clearest beaches on Western Cape Cod. The sandbar went out for a long time and the kids really enjoyed playing in such shallow water.
This is the Falmouth Heights House. My grandfather was born in the house. My parents bought the house about 20 years ago. It was in horrible shape with weeds and overgrown and asbestos and rats and bats and squirrels - eventually they have updated and last year began to rent it on a limited basis. It is so much more precious than just this photo. There is a rope swing and my grandparents currently live on the adjacent property. We have many family members in the area that live within 20 minutes.

This is Frank the hairdresser.

He charges "by the age" for kids haircuts.

A new tradition that we will take advantage of.

Washington DC: $75

Falmouth, MA: $13

Sorry the photos are all random. I don't know how to fix that when I download them. This is the Road Race Award Ceremony. Traditionally, after the Falmouth Road Race, we host a huge family and friends party and everyone gets a prize for participation in the race. This was Nate's prize. As you can see, it is supposed to be a funny awards ceremony - hosted by my dad.

We also had a banana split sundae bar. That is a favorite tradition for the kids. We use 10 lbs of M and Ms.

This is my cousin Kate's precious daughter and Ellen.

Sam sitting in the horseshoe game.

Rita and Martha are two peas in a pod. Often I found them on the third floor of the Heights house wearing each other clothes and doing "first position." Martha told her mom that she likes to play house with Rita because they like to play "big sister gets into the makeup and jewelry." After she said this, I found my jewelry and makeup all mixed up on my dresser...

This is the night before the Road Race on a favorite beach. We have a huge cookout and the kids play and wade in the water. They love the hermit crabs. Nate always loads up on Gatorade and pasta.

Morning ritual: pancakes by Uncle Nate and fruit salad with flax seeds by Aunt Sandy...

These are 7 of my 11 nieces and nephews... one of the boys (on the right) is my sister in law Sandy's brother's son from Connecticut....

This is an extended family photo. Julius is my newest nephew on the right. He was adopted earlier this year. He is adjusting wonderfully and a really sweet helpful young man. My brother and sister in law are wonderful, Godly parents to him. They home schooled him this year with the other kids and he has almost mastered English AND ALGEBRA. I know many of you have asked about him.

This is during the Road Race while the kids are waiting for the runners to come by. They didn't make as much money as last year but they had a lot of fun and got rid of the donuts. My cousin Jeff is sitting behind them with his girlfriend Shelby from Oklahoma...

Here is Nate. I won't brag too much but let his stats speak for themselves. He was 294 in a race of 11,000 people. He ran just over 6 minute miles. He is very serious when he runs versus myself. When I run this race with my brothers, we wear headbands shaped like lobsters and yell at the crowd during the race. Our goal is to finish. Nate's goals are different.

So do you want to come next year with us? We love to have friends come and run the race and join our family festivities. The sign up is in January. Thank you to mom and dad for hosting everything and buying the ribs and clams!

Happy Birthday to Prec.

2 small words...

Cape Cod

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Volume 13)

Dollhouse - can you tell what it is on the floor?

Favorite Things at Her House

I have a friend who has a house that I adore. I like the layout and size of the house but I also like her style of decorating. She uses a lot of antique and old family items and modernizes it with many contemporary - 70's furniture. (I hope I got the decade correct!) Recently I was at her home and took a few photos of my favorite things that I saw.

This is a framed piece that she received as a family heirloom. She put it above an antique pew that recently purchased from someone nearby who got it from a church that shut down in DC. The pew is curved (not cut like many pews) which means it was most likely up on the altar. It is such a beautiful piece.

She also used to be a park ranger - loves plants and forestry. So one of her collections is wood bowls that have decay in them. They are really unique and fun as the wood is knotted and funky in style.

Funny Things They Say (Volume 2)

"Mommy, come quick! There is a parrot on our deck!"

Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Volume 12)

Where is my cell phone? I hear it ringing but where could it be?

Happy Birthday Sam

Today we celebrated Sam's 3rd birthday. We spent the day at one of my close friend's house and went on a nature hike/scavenger hunt to Wolf Trap. Wolf Trap is a performing arts center run by the National Park Service and located on 130 acres of national park land. Her beautiful home backs up to Wolf Trap and there happened to be a children's Opera (yes, you read that right!) happening at their Theater in the Woods. The kids just loved the morning!

Baby Cakes

Candy Camp - Willy Wonka Style

There is a new candy shop in town (The Sugar Cube) that offers summer camps for kids. I signed them up for a Willy Wonka morning. It was simply precious. They made Willy Wonka hats, got to watch the movie, take home Willy Wonka goodie bags!

Pig in the Summer

I once wrote about the "Pig" that we often drive by in our little town. Well, he is currently on summer vacation.

6, 4, 3, 7m - last day

We celebrated Willy Wonka this morning... photos to come.

Just sold the family room rug for $200 on Craigs List! Looking forward to a little change in our home - specifically the family room. Anyone want a glider and upholstered chair? I have a specialist coming to help me on Sunday to arrange and rearrange! Can't wait.

Going to look at a house today... we are always house hunting it seems but this one is extra special - not getting my hopes up for anything. More on that later.

Last day of having a two year old boy... I will have to say that Sammy did NOT have terrible TWOS. I am thankful for that and hope Ellen follows suit. Time to make a cake...

Countdown: 9 days until Cape Cod!

Paintball...

Weekend Wrap Up

We had spicy crabs for my brother's 35th birthday this weekend. I haven't had crabs since high school (Nate is allergic) and it felt so good to eat them again! I love clams, crabs and lobster.

Date night in DC... we went to a really famous restaurant that is difficult to get reservations. Afterwards we walked around the area and I thought this was a fun place... This cupcake shop was just going crazy and SO busy. At $3.25 per cupcake, I wasn't sure if people were really thinking through what they were buying!
We ordered Naan at the Indian restaurant and it was de-lish! What a fun date night. We had three FAB babysitters come and the house was immaculate! Thank you Ashley, Olivia and Abby!