Beach Birthdays

This year, Elizabeth's birthday fell during our week at the beach; and many of our family and friends saved Emily's gifts to give to her in person.  Beach birthdays are the best!

Waiting patiently to open gifts at Grammy and Grampy's house.

A new Lego set!

Spending money!

She was obsessed with this book all week, reading it every day, sometimes aloud to us when she found something particularly interesting.

A new architecture Lego from Auntie Kathy and Uncle Peter.

A surprise birthday song at dinner on Friday night.  This scene is slightly familiar - we sat in the same booth in the same restaurant 4 years ago on Elizabeth's birthday.  This time, she wasn't quite as scared!

Birthday Girl sash.

Summer Vacation 2014

Last week, we took our annual summer vacation at Wallis Sands in Rye, New Hampshire.  We had a great week - the temperatures were warm but not hot and there was plenty to see and do.  I continue to enjoy our mornings and evenings on the beach the most - the time is more solitary, there are plenty of dogs around (and we love dogs!) and the whole atmosphere is just more calm.  Which is not to say that I don't enjoy being surrounded by our family and friends during the week, which I certainly love!  Already looking forward to next year....

One of the many starfish we found during the week.

Racing on the beach.

Feeling emotional on our last morning.

First Race!

When I was a kid, every Thursday night during the summer I ran in the Fun Runs at the Memorial Track.  People of all ages - little kids to the elderly - ran in various races of various lengths each week.  It was great way for high school kids to stay in shape, for adults to turn it up a notch, and most importantly, for little kids to be introduced to track and field.  I've been searching for something like that in Connecticut, but haven't found anything near us.  This summer, the Y is holding a series of fun runs at Camp Ingersol for all ages - the distance depends on your age, from 50 yard dashes for little ones to a 2 miler for adults.  The girls ran their first ever race tonight.  To be honest, it was disappointing in that we were the only ones to show up!  There is a 5K in Middletown tonight but still - we were hoping for a better showing. Anyway, they both ran the 1/2 mile course and they both finished.  As expected, Elizabeth was first, in a time of 4:06; Emily came in second, but first for her age group. We are proud of them for running, even though they were the only ones there, and for finishing.  I hope that this is the start of a beautiful friendship with running!!

The start. 

Elizabeth finishing. 

Emily finishing. 

Notice the puss on Emily's face - she got a stitch in her side, but pushed through anyway; however, she was in no mood to talk when the race was over.

New Room

A few months ago, the girls told us that they wanted to change the colors in their room - that they were too grown up for pink.  We didn't want to change all of the colors (there is brown below the chair rail), so we only looked at colors that would go with the brown, eventually settling on Sparkling Apple.  At the same time, we had a bit of discussion about taking down the bunk beds - surprisingly, they were all for it, even though it meant a major purge of "stuff" in their room.  Lee did a great job of painting the room and then I took everything out and put it all back in. The girls love their new room!

Painting while living in the room meant squishing everything to the center.  It was chaos.

Everything was moved out, and then the beds came apart.

The girls signed off on this new arrangement before we started bringing things back in.

The new look.

The devil is in the details, and I am a details person.  They loved looking for all the neat little things I found for the room.

We saw this saying at the University of Virginia and at Monticello but I never liked the signs that I saw so had this one custom made.  Etsy is the greatest invention ever.

Gem Lights - they went crazy when they saw these!

The new Lego alarm clock.  I have to say, I enjoy not having to wake them up now.

Little Harry Potter touches around the room.

We often find them reading in bed, before bedtime or when they first wake up in the morning.

Double Digits

Ten years ago today, our lives changed forever with the birth of Elizabeth.  She entered the world a bit impatiently - 8 hours from first contraction to delivery - and has lived life that way ever since.  Elizabeth has many of the characteristics of a first born - conscientious, dependable, persistent and driven - but she is so much more than that.  She loves school; loves to read and write stories; is a master Lego builder; and loves to be active, from playing soccer and lacrosse to swimming and running.  This year, Elizabeth took up the flute and surprised all of us with her dedication and talent. She is a good friend, a good sister and a good teammate and while her moodiness can drive us crazy, her maturity never fails to impress us.  Happiest of birthdays to our amazing first born child.  May you always be honest and brave.  We love you.

 

June Odds and Ends

June was insane - even with all of our posts, these photos didn't make the cut:

Birthday party fun!

Last lacrosse game of the year.

So excited for Fly Up Day!

June was an exhausting month for Emily.  Although napping has become extremely rare, we found her like this more than once during the month.

Silly string fun at Alex's birthday party!

Ice cream time at the pool!

A rare photo of the two of us.  Lee looks thrilled.

Champion roadtrippers.

Emily in her new goober goggles.