Plums

One of the great things about summer is fresh fruit. I love having fresh local fruit to eat on a more regular basis. This week we had plums, and Munchkin got to eat her first plum. Buddy loved his too.

Boots

We got a bunch of new clothes from our cousins, so of course we got new rain boots, and so the kids found all of the other pairs. I think we have 4 or 5 pairs in miscellanious sizes and colors. The kids just stomped around the house in them for a while, but they were cute. The smallest boots finally fit Munchkin and she loved having some that fit her.

Beach

We stayed at a beach house that wasn't quite a beach house. This was our "water view" not quite what we expected, but the house was pretty big and there was a LOT of toys in the 3rd floor toy room. We had to drive to the beach, we spent a few mornings there, but not many, because we couldn't walk it was a little bit tough to go back more than once a day. Plus for those of us who are used to warmer climates, the water was cold. The beach picts are from my sister's camera, Thanks. No matter what happened, we had a great time and who knows what vacation will be next.

Children' Museum

We had one rainy day on vacation. After New England having a wet summer, I was glad it was only one wet day. We spent the day at the SE Connecticut Children's museum. It was busy, and loud, but the kids loved it. They got to play with each other and be crazy. They were weather broadcasters. They worked in a Mexican restaurant. They were builders. They got to play in a clubhouse. They got to play on a ship. It was a loud day, but good. My one piece of advice. Call the museum before you go. This museum is pretty small. They had a large summer camp group in the morning, so they told us to not come in the morning and come in the afternoon instead. It was busy in the afternoon but would have been crazy in the morning. The only bad part was that Munchkin stayed back to take a nap so she didn't come with us. Grandma was wonderful and stayed home with a cranky teething child. THANK YOU Grandma.

Mystic

We spent a day at the Mystic Seaport (where I forgot my camera) and then a day at the Mystic Aquarium. The seaport was fantastic, the kids thought the ships were cool, the loved watching the blacksmith work, watching sailing lessons, and there was a cool kids play area, kids building and a great kids map room. I could easily have spent another day there exploring.

The aquarium was OK, but not really fantastic. I felt like it cost a lot of money and then everywhere we went they wanted to charge you more money to have other "experiences" Even to go in the bird room cost more money. It didn't help that it was totally packed and we were constantly worried about a child getting lost in the crowd. But the kids liked the sharks, sea lions, and the beluga whales. Mostly the cousins just wanted to play together. They loved just hanging out and having snack time.

Vacation

We spent a week at a Connecticut beach house with my family. The kids loved it, everyone was exhausted and didn't sleep well. But it was lots of fun to spend time with everyone, though it is almost impossible to get a good group picture of 7 kids ages, 6, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2, and 19 months. I will have other posts about some of the stuff we did, but here is the crew. (not including Grandma and Grandpa)

Challenges

Why is it that soon after you return from vacation, the kids decide that they need to fight and be disobedient all day?

Today I was hoping to stay home and get a lot of stuff done. Laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc. Instead I feel like I have been doing way too much discipline.

I spent 1- 1/2 hours working with the kids to help them get their room picked up. It should have been a 20 minute job. At the end I told them I was going to take a shower and whatever was left on the floor when I finished my shower and got dressed would go in the trash. Buddy believed me and did a great job. He picked up all of his toys and most of his sisters toys. I even gave them warnings that I was out of the shower, and that I was almost done getting dressed.... yet Princess had a headband, a dolls outfit, and some cheap hair ties thrown in the garbage.

The next hour was torturous, she told me I was very bad, she told me she was going to rip open the garbage back and get her stuff, she yelled, she cried and cried and after hitting Munchkin spent 30 minutes in her bed. Finally she came to me and said "I can't stop crying" I got her a drink of water and she calmed down, but she was still disobedient for the rest of the morning about lots of little things. She was even disobedient about snacks, and resulted in her not getting any snack at all.

Buddy cried with her, (I think for moral support) for about 3 minutes and then was fine but got scared and picked up the toys in the living room without being asked.

I hope I don't have to deal with a tantrum like this for a long time. But mom is back in control, Munchkin is napping and the 2 big kids are finally playing happily together.

The driveway

A little girl found some concrete in the driveway this week. Doesn't she look beautiful.

Summer Swim

We have started summer swim lessons. It has been a little cool at 8:30 in the morning, so the kids are freezing when they get out of the pool. Lessons have even gotten cut short one morning because the kids were so cold. But other than that they love it. They both love the water, but need some work on actually swimming.

Bored

My kids came up to me this week and told me they didn't have anything to do, of course this was while I was trying to read the new Parents magazine about 25 free things to do. I actually did one of them. I made Goo.
Mix 1/2 cup of water, a few drops of food coloring and 1 cup of corn starch. It forms a really strange consistency that the kids loved. It made a mess, but thankfully it was just cornstarch and I just waited for it to dry and then vacuumed is all up. They loved it.

Big Girl Bed

The munchkin has started to sleep in a big girl bed. The crib is still set up in her room, but we moved the double bed out of the guest room and set it up in her room. Daddy tucked her in bed and she didn't come out, of course he had to take pictures after she fell asleep. She looks so little in such a big bed.

Happy 4th of July

We spent 4th of July with Grandma and Grandpa. The kids love playing in the kiddie pool. Princess loves to ride on the sunfish sailing and going for a ride on the kayak. Buddy loves the power boat, but won't ride the tube with Daddy yet, he just likes to ride in the boat and watch Daddy waterski. of course they also love the fact that Grandma spoils them and gives the pumpkin bread every day for breakfast. This is the horse that was made for Daddy when he was little. Our kids love it too.

Promotion

Daddy was promoted this month and so the whole family made it to the ceremony. I was trying to be proactive and gave each kid a camera so they could take pictures. Of course our pictures looked like this. This is the admiral's shoes, and one of Daddies shoes. I have LOTS of pictures of peoples feet and the carpet. Thankfully someone else took pictures too. I am very proud of Daddy.

Blueberries

The first of July brought blueberry season to Virginia. I took all 3 kids and together we picked 6 lbs of berries. Munchkin didn't help much, but both of the big kids did great and picked a lot of berries. Of course we made pie, everyone loves blueberry pie.

Hair

Princess is getting creative with her hair... this is supposed to be like the picture of an American Girl book. "Julie" We are slowly working through the American girl books and we finished all 7 Kit books, and now we are on to Julie. She loves them, so I will let her have some fun with her hair so it can match.