All I want for Christmas....

Is my FOUR front teeth! Renee lost her two bottom teeth this spring and her two top teeth this summer. Let's hope by school picture time, she'll have found her new ones!

Nos vacances d'ete-Our summer vacation

Yeah, it took longer than a week for me to post another blog! I told you time would be an issue. So I've decided maybe I will post every few weeks or once a month or it may even come down to being seasonally! hah! Well in any case, here is how our summer went, now that it is almost over...

We started off our summer by adding two kittens to our home. We all went to the shelter one Sunday afternoon in late June to pick out kittens. Our criteria was firmly decided: we wanted litter mates who were friendly, loving and would tolerate our children. We let them pick us as well. We took our time-as much time as we could with three children-to play and hold them and to see if they were a good match for us. Chloe and Renee couldn't have been happier and we believe we made the right choice. Renee's kitten is gray and Chloe's kitten is black. Their original names were Ash and Coal. We liked them, but they were not fitting names according to the girls. We talked them out of some interesting names such as "playful" and settled on Smokey and Diego. Renee chose "Smokey" as it seemed appropriate for his color while Diego came from Chloe's recent obsession with the Dora and Diego shows. They have provided us with much enjoyment and have given the girls a bit of responsibility. Chloe feeds them in the morning and Renee in the evening. Now, if I can only get them to clean the litter box! The girls have to be reminded they are not toys and need to handle them gently. Just tonight, Renee was pushing Smokey around in her shopping cart and Chloe was pulling Diego's tail. Dominic will even screech when they come into contact with him. He grabs their fur and laughs. Millie has come to tolerate them and she has been seen bathing them. However, she will bat them if need be. She certainly has let them know who is boss. Here are some pictures of our new friends. They are growing fast!






Despite not so perfect summer weather, we made the most of our summer. Living in a coastal community has provided us many opportunities to spend the day at the beach. The girls are definitely beach babes. They both dug in the sand and played in the water for hours. Even Dominic enjoyed his time! He spent a good amount of time napping under the tent while the girls were at play. He loved grabbing the sand and letting it go. His favorite activity was playing in the wet sand and leaving hand prints. He didn't even mind the cold water! Dominic discovered sand tastes just as good wet as it does dry. He also enjoyed dunking his hand in the salt water and then sucking on it. By the end of the day we had very soggy diapers and sand in places it took days to get rid of. They all are very brown despite the 50 SPF and I believe my car has more sand in it now then there is left on Wells Beach.





We also were fortunate enough to spend some time in Grandma Jean's pool. The girls have become quite the water bugs. Renee will jump in over and over. She is also pretty good at swimming under water. Chloe started the swim season a bit timid wearing every floating device she could but by the end has learned to trust herself and doggie paddle around. She too has gone under water but not by choice. We hope to enroll both of them in swim lessons next year. Dominic spent his fair share of time in the pool as well, usually in the arms of mommy or in his baby float. After the initial surprise of the water temperature, he would enjoy his water play. We are so lucky to have Grandma Jean and her family to help us in the pool!







There was also a good amount of rainy days this summer. We tried to make the best of it but you can only color, make cookies and play "movie theater" so often. One day I could not stand it any more and sent Chloe out to play in the rain. She had a ball. She was soaking wet when she was done but she sure did burn off a lot of energy stomping and dancing around in the rain!



This summer we have also been working on potty training. It has been a trying experience. Renee was so easy and Chloe has been a bit more challenging. Can you say control? Check out Chloe's potty time adventures!

Since Dominic is such a big boy now, we began experimenting with food this summer. At first it did not go well at all. He would clamp his mouth shut and shake his head no. He ended up wearing more of it than actually eating it. Now he will at least let a few spoonfuls cross his lips. The girls really want to help feed him but it is still a task for patient adults!

And the "I've had enough" picture.

If you look at him, his lack of eating food is not hurting him. He seems pretty content with mama's milk and his pudgy body agrees. At 6 months he was the size of the girls at a year. He is now at least 20 lbs of solid boy. He is fun and all smiles. He has also been working on finding his voice. Still no teeth but we have hopes they will be there soon. Dominic LOVES his Johnny Jump up! He jumped so much that he actually got a blister on his toe! It didn't stop him and it eventually turned to a callous.
Also, he is now sitting up quite well and does a bit of rocking on his knees. We are glad he hasn't learned to crawl yet. The house certainly is not ready for him and the beach trips would have been more difficult with a crawling munchkin!



We did get a chance to take a few trips this summer. We spent the 4th of July with Michael's family in Rockport. It was the first time we were able to meet Tante's fiance Ross and his little pumpkin Addison. The girls hit it off well. What fun we will have in the future! Here is the happy couple with Addison and Renee in tow.


Our next trip wast to CT to visit my grandparents for their 60th wedding anniversary party. Mom and dad joined us for a fun filled 4 hour car ride to my cousin Corrie's house on a hot humid day. Thank God for AC and portable DVD players! We had a wonderful time visiting with family and it was extra special as it was the first time many of them got to meet Dominic.






Our last big trip was the most memorable. On a last minute decision to take a vacation, we were fortunate to come across a resort in the Vermont Mountains called Smugglers' Notch (www.smuggs.com). We had such a great time we have decided to become part of the Smuggs' family and return year after year. The resort's website describes itself as " Nestled in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains, featuring mountainside lodging, 8 pools and 4 waterslides, award winning children's programing, daily guided mountain walks and hikes with spectacular mountain vistas, you'll find America's Family Resort. It's the perfect playground in which to recreate, regenerate and relax in a family-friendly atmosphere where you'll feel at ease." And that we did! We hope our pictures express the fun and memorable time we had. We can't wait to go back! Many of you should find information about Smuggs arriving in your mailbox....Feel free to ask us any questions or join us next year!
Here is the view from our porch.

Dominic spent a lot of the trip on Mommy's back.


There was a lot of time spent in the Resort's various pools.


Chloe takes a pony ride.


More water adventures!










Mini golf in the woods. Believe it or not, Chloe got a hole in one! Daddy was quite proud and Renee was a wee bit jealous.


Life size games played as a family. Can you say Kerplunk? Daddy and Renee disagreed on which stick to pull out. Needless to say, they should have stuck with the one Renee picked as 25 balls came spilling out leaving our team in the bottom three.


We will spend our final weekend of summer preparing for a new school year. Renee will be going into first grade and Chloe will be attending pre-school two days a week if we can get the potty training mastered. Dominic will be at Lots of Tots daycare and I will return for my 12th year of teaching. Michael will continue to work from home and travel as need be.

Enjoy the rest of summer and check in with us in the fall!