Backfire

At lunch today:

Addie: "Mom try a blueberry with Ketchup its sooo good."

Me: "No that's gross!"

Addie: "Mom you have to. Those are the rules of the house. Everyone HAS to try something once and you can't break the rules."

Result: Blueberries with ketchup are very very gross.

Memorial Day

Wow, we are behind. As usual we had a busy day. It started with a 5K. The Harrington Memorial 5K. The proceeds for the race went to the Million Mothers for Haiti, an organization that Natalie is involved with. I had a PR and a good race and we were able to be there with the Kings which always makes a good morning.


Then we did the obligatory Memorial Day yard work. We trimmed hedges. Addie was left wondering why we wait until fall to jump into leaves. We are just barely getting space in the garbage can now.


We went on a hike up towards Horsetail Falls with the girls. It was a low-key hike and they both walked it the whole way. Rachel did not... pansy. Even for a small time, it is great to get out and hike.


Finally we had a little family party and finished the day out with some good food and company.

Kiddo Quotes

Addie got a sliver in her finger the other day and after an extremely dramatic tear filled five minutes I finally got it removed. It took both Nick and I sitting on her bed holding her to get her through it. She said her prayers right after and was sure to say, "thank you for letting my mom get the sliver our and now don't ever let that happen again."

We were sitting at diner and Rachel started crying. Nick asked me do you want to feed her or should I? Addie looked over at him very confused and asked Dad how in the world are you going to feed her that just doesn't work. I had to explain that Dad was just going to feed her cereal.

Lizzie has become quite the little punk lately. Summer has really thrown her off. If she falls asleep in the late afternoon bed time is shot for the day. The other night she came down at ten and climbed in to Nick's arms. He talked to her and told her that good girls go to sleep and go upstairs and Lizzie don't you want to be a good girl? She said nope I don't want to be a good girl I want to be awake.

Addie's Week

Addie turned 5 on May 20th (yeah I'm a little behind) and the week turned out to be a busy one. It seemed like there was something big every day of the week and most of them were stuff for Addie. So, here are her five big "events" around her fifth birthday.


#1 Her actual birthday. We celebrated as a family and went to the Pizza Factory which was her choice. She didn't want to go there because of the food though, she just really wanted the suckers they have there.
I had a hard time buying her any presents this year. All she said she wanted was sunflower seeds and a polka dot birthday party with all her friends. She was really excited about the sunflowers seeds.
#2 Preschool GraduationAddie's preschool did a little program on their last day. She loved school and asks me everyday if she can go play with Miss Ginny.

#3 Last soccer game for the Sharks
It was their last game for the season and Addie actually ran after the ball a couple of times. She loves "playing" soccer which means she loves talking about the game and the players and the coach and pretending to play, but when the game comes it is much more fun to twirl around and get drinks of water.
#4 Dance Recital
Addie had her dance recital and got to do a "Candy" dance and a "Duck" dance. They were both very cute and she really does love dance. It is the only day of the week that she comes out of her room dressed and ready to go.She was especially excited because her cousins came and watched her perform this time.


#5 The Polka Dot Party!
This party was all Addie talked about and wanted. I wasn't even sure I wanted to do a party but I couldn't say No when she was so excited. She wanted to play "polka polka dot" (duck duck goose), have cupcakes with polka dots, and break a pinata.
The girls were all so cute and the weather even cooperated enough that we could break the pinata outside and save my house from the destruction. It was a great week and its been a great five years.

6 Months

Rachel hit the 6 month mark (yes it was a month ago) and is as happy as ever. She has a negative growth curve and we are trying to keep her full of cereal to add some calories to her diet. Other then that concern she is a content little girl who makes me want to have seven more babies if they are all like her (and if I get to skip that whole pregnancy part.)

The end

After a few more fun nights out,

and one last hike,



and a turn on the carousel,
and a couple pictures on the beach,
it was time to go home. We made it home in eleven hours with only two throwing up episodes and in time to say Happy Mothers Day to my mom. All around a fabulous trip.

Back to the Beach

After a day of the girls shopping and the boys watching the kids we headed back to the beach for a birthday party. Technically we were celebrating Addie's birthday that would be in a few weeks and Isaac's birthday that was in March, but somehow we ended up with presents for all and a couple of cakes.
Soft landings are a great thing. (Comment from Nick: Look at that kid spot the landing. Seriously, you can't teach that in school.)


As are self-portraits while making fishy faces.

Picturesque scenery with bright colors is pretty cool too.


Welcome to the deafening mob.





We were going to roast marshmallows and Starburst on the beach, but it was windy and the backyard worked just as well.

Rachel was very patient waiting for her Starburst. We really had to draw the line after fifteen though.
Kidding aside, I think we did have to draw the line at fifteen for Addie and marshmallows.


The next morning we braved the beach again and this time the kids played in the water too.


I'm not sure Lizzie liked it much better this time. She likes the idea of the beach and the ocean but when the water met the sand it was a bit cold.

Addie is learning the ways of the self-portrait master.


This is a fun activity consisting of dragging your child on a boogie board behind you on the wet sand. Sam dos this very well without incident. Nick tried it and dumped Addie into a large wave the first go around. Addie did not let him try again.