It's Friday morning - family day - and surprise, surprise it's raining. Again.
The kids really don't care - and neither does their Daddy for that matter. It's more - me - just needing to let it go and choose to be content and enjoy the adventure of the day regardless. I am just a wee bit tired of it all. But, for this largely prego body, I guess I do prefer the cool over the roasty toasty heat. So, I shall try not to complain.
We did get a few bits of sun over the past week, and on two different occasions we were able to get near some water and actually play in the sun. One day, we spontaneously ended up at a friend's camp and actually spent the whole day with these dear people. The boys got a boat ride and a chance to ride behind on a big hotdog tube - which they both loved. And another day, my parents came down and we all went down to Jenkin's Beach and played in the water again. The kids even came away with farmer tans - the first sign of summer on their skin!
A couple of days ago, we took a picnic to the Bangor Waterfront with their other Grampy and Grammy and let the kids ride their bikes up and down the walkway. True to nature, we faced a downpour midway through supper - but Daddy came prepared. He set up our camping dining canopy right over our picnic table, brought the stuff for camp coffee, and we were all sheltered and cozy all together. Undaunted, the boys still kept riding in the rain. And it ended up being a really fun time.
It's the kind of summer where I'm learning that we just have to embrace whatever we get for a day or else I'm going to blink and Autumn will be here with winter just around the corner.
So, today, we were all awakened early by our baby kitten that we have adopted for the weekend for some friends who have gone away. He is just precious, by the way, and solidifies in my mind that our time is coming soon. He and the boys are running around the house all crazy and half-clad, and Kev and I are still in our p.j.'s sipping coffee. It's dark and scuzzy outside but happy and cozy inside. We have no big plans - maybe some cooking, a family movie, and lots and lots of snuggles with our new friend, Baxter.
It's going to be a good day.
Two of my Loves....
For those of you who know me well, two of my most fave things in the whole wide world - (other than my boys, duh!) are - wait for them.......
:: Food and
:: Critters.
It's true. Both of those delights make me one very truly happy camper.
I love all things to do with food....except grocery shopping for it. I'm not a huge fan of that. But, I love eating it, I love cooking it, and I love making it special for those I love. One of my mostest favoritest fave things to do with food is to prepare it for my wee little family - but to do the whole thing from start to finish.
Like jam making. I love the whole process. I love picking the berries, hulling them, making the jam, putting it into jars, and then storing it away to have for months on end. Kev says it's kind of like shooting a deer - seeing something to completion from start to finish. You know - from the deer standing in the field all the way to the cooked venison on the table.
Who knew? I can totally see the analogy, though.
Anyway......this week, my two little loves and I hit the strawberry fields two different times in between the rain showers to see what we could see. I was a wee bit hesitant about going all by myself with them, but it was so much fun and they had a really good time - and they actually worked really hard right along side of me. True to personality - Kaden's was the most perfect box of all - not a blemish on any berry. And Jesse's.....well, let's just say that the majority of his box was inedible - but he was very proud of himself!
So, here are a few pics of one of my loves this week:
We only picked sixteen boxes, but we got quite a few berries from these.
We made six batches of delish strawberry freezer jam.
I made some scrump-didilly-umpshious strawberry muffins to put said fresh jam upon.
And I flash froze the rest which are now in freezer bags awaiting their fate.
:::And now, for my second love which I share with both of my boyzies...
A few pics for your viewing pleasure:
A sweet little tree frog that we just released a few days ago.
A super cool luna moth that has now kicked the bucket.....they only live for a week anyway.....this one did get quite a bit of love though, I must confess.
And for the most rockinest thing of all:
A baby snapping turtle that we found today!!!
Seriously, how cute is he?
I totally would've kept him, if he wouldn't have grown up to be able to bite my children's fingers off.
:: Jam and berries in my freezer.
:: Some fun and funky critters to hold and admire.
:: I can now die a happy woman!
:: Food and
:: Critters.
It's true. Both of those delights make me one very truly happy camper.
I love all things to do with food....except grocery shopping for it. I'm not a huge fan of that. But, I love eating it, I love cooking it, and I love making it special for those I love. One of my mostest favoritest fave things to do with food is to prepare it for my wee little family - but to do the whole thing from start to finish.
Like jam making. I love the whole process. I love picking the berries, hulling them, making the jam, putting it into jars, and then storing it away to have for months on end. Kev says it's kind of like shooting a deer - seeing something to completion from start to finish. You know - from the deer standing in the field all the way to the cooked venison on the table.
Who knew? I can totally see the analogy, though.
Anyway......this week, my two little loves and I hit the strawberry fields two different times in between the rain showers to see what we could see. I was a wee bit hesitant about going all by myself with them, but it was so much fun and they had a really good time - and they actually worked really hard right along side of me. True to personality - Kaden's was the most perfect box of all - not a blemish on any berry. And Jesse's.....well, let's just say that the majority of his box was inedible - but he was very proud of himself!
So, here are a few pics of one of my loves this week:
We only picked sixteen boxes, but we got quite a few berries from these.
We made six batches of delish strawberry freezer jam.
I made some scrump-didilly-umpshious strawberry muffins to put said fresh jam upon.
And I flash froze the rest which are now in freezer bags awaiting their fate.
:::And now, for my second love which I share with both of my boyzies...
A few pics for your viewing pleasure:
A sweet little tree frog that we just released a few days ago.
A super cool luna moth that has now kicked the bucket.....they only live for a week anyway.....this one did get quite a bit of love though, I must confess.
And for the most rockinest thing of all:
A baby snapping turtle that we found today!!!
Seriously, how cute is he?
I totally would've kept him, if he wouldn't have grown up to be able to bite my children's fingers off.
:: Jam and berries in my freezer.
:: Some fun and funky critters to hold and admire.
:: I can now die a happy woman!
Home on the Range
Aah.
We are home - boys in hand, and I am happy.
It was a wonderful, restful vacation for all involved, but it is sooo nice to all be together again. Kev and I made good time getting home on Friday, so we scooted up to Mom and Dad's late that afternoon to be there to surprise the boys when they woke up from their naps.
It was so fun to see them and surprise them, and they were so happy to see us, too! But we could totally tell that they had been having a blast with Grampy and Grammy. We all went 4-wheeling, had a pizza picnic outside, and then one final bonfire to top off the night. The next day, we made one last trip to the pond and collected some baby tadpoles to bring home, went on ONE more 4-wheeler ride, Jesse took a massive dunk in a huge mud puddle (I swear, I'm bad luck for that kid!), so they washed off in the kiddie pool for one final swim, and then we hit the road for home.
We came THIS close (fingers pinched together) to bringing the boys home a baby kitten from the animal shelter. But, we're headed to Pennsylvania for a couple of weeks of support raising in a couple of weeks, and I thought that might be too traumatizing for the little thing to just get bonded with it and then leave it, so we resisted. The time is coming soon, though. I can feel it in my bones.....
So, now we are home and settled. The boys are napping in their own beds, stuff is put away, laundry is slowly getting caught up, bread is rising, a few groceries are in the fridge, and I am once again settling into HOME.
The chatter is incessant, the noise is raucous, feet are constantly running, messes are getting made, diapers are getting filled, and my counter is once again getting filled up with "critters."
It's good to be back.
We are home - boys in hand, and I am happy.
It was a wonderful, restful vacation for all involved, but it is sooo nice to all be together again. Kev and I made good time getting home on Friday, so we scooted up to Mom and Dad's late that afternoon to be there to surprise the boys when they woke up from their naps.
It was so fun to see them and surprise them, and they were so happy to see us, too! But we could totally tell that they had been having a blast with Grampy and Grammy. We all went 4-wheeling, had a pizza picnic outside, and then one final bonfire to top off the night. The next day, we made one last trip to the pond and collected some baby tadpoles to bring home, went on ONE more 4-wheeler ride, Jesse took a massive dunk in a huge mud puddle (I swear, I'm bad luck for that kid!), so they washed off in the kiddie pool for one final swim, and then we hit the road for home.
We came THIS close (fingers pinched together) to bringing the boys home a baby kitten from the animal shelter. But, we're headed to Pennsylvania for a couple of weeks of support raising in a couple of weeks, and I thought that might be too traumatizing for the little thing to just get bonded with it and then leave it, so we resisted. The time is coming soon, though. I can feel it in my bones.....
So, now we are home and settled. The boys are napping in their own beds, stuff is put away, laundry is slowly getting caught up, bread is rising, a few groceries are in the fridge, and I am once again settling into HOME.
The chatter is incessant, the noise is raucous, feet are constantly running, messes are getting made, diapers are getting filled, and my counter is once again getting filled up with "critters."
It's good to be back.
Time With My Man.....
We have internet connection in our lobby, it's 8:00 at night and pouring rain, and we're cozied up inside with bellies full and quietness reigning supreme.
We've had one glorious day of sun so far, so we played outside all day long. We lazed by the river - but didn't dare go into its icyness. A few people did, but not me! And then we went on a beautiful six mile hike up to see a gorgeous waterfall in the mountains. Kev actually braved jumping underneath it, and I got a great picture of him screaming like a girl! Very classic.
We went swimming when we got back to get rid of our sweat and filth. Kev made the big mistake of diving underwater and grabbing my feet to tickle them. I did what any normal person would do to prevent being dunked underwater - I stepped on his head and held him under water! Now, he has an awesome battlewound that's about the size of a nickle right in the middle of his forehead!!! It looks just like a huge rugburn! I must admit - I resist the urge to laugh my head off whenever I see it, but I do feel a little bad. How was I to know that it was going to be bashed on the bottom of the pool? I was just trying to protect my poor little self.
Happy Anniversary, Honey! (ahem)
Today it's been scuzzy, so we slept in late, hit some shops, went to an Animal Shelter and snuggled lots of kittens, and filled our faces with yummy food. It's been wonderful.
Being a Mommy is a crazy thing, though.
I spend many a day craving some solitude, some space, and just a few quiet moments to myself. And then I get them........and oh, how I crave my babies! They have become such a part of me. We are finding that we are seeing everything through their eyes. We are shopping at the toy stores, we are hunting for fun treasures to take home to them, and we are saying over and over again: "Oh, man! The boys would love this! And THIS would be so much fun for them!"
We have talked with them each day, and they are having a blast with Grammy & Grampy, so that makes us feel good. They are catching lots of new little treasures and creepy crawlies to bring home and replentish our empty countertop, so they are in their element.
And it HAS been oh so nice to have a few days alone - just the two of us. Lots of great talks, slow walks, sleeping in, dreaming and planning, and just BEING. It's been a long time. Only a couple of more days left to savor - and then back to real life.
........And that will be great, too!
We've had one glorious day of sun so far, so we played outside all day long. We lazed by the river - but didn't dare go into its icyness. A few people did, but not me! And then we went on a beautiful six mile hike up to see a gorgeous waterfall in the mountains. Kev actually braved jumping underneath it, and I got a great picture of him screaming like a girl! Very classic.
We went swimming when we got back to get rid of our sweat and filth. Kev made the big mistake of diving underwater and grabbing my feet to tickle them. I did what any normal person would do to prevent being dunked underwater - I stepped on his head and held him under water! Now, he has an awesome battlewound that's about the size of a nickle right in the middle of his forehead!!! It looks just like a huge rugburn! I must admit - I resist the urge to laugh my head off whenever I see it, but I do feel a little bad. How was I to know that it was going to be bashed on the bottom of the pool? I was just trying to protect my poor little self.
Happy Anniversary, Honey! (ahem)
Today it's been scuzzy, so we slept in late, hit some shops, went to an Animal Shelter and snuggled lots of kittens, and filled our faces with yummy food. It's been wonderful.
Being a Mommy is a crazy thing, though.
I spend many a day craving some solitude, some space, and just a few quiet moments to myself. And then I get them........and oh, how I crave my babies! They have become such a part of me. We are finding that we are seeing everything through their eyes. We are shopping at the toy stores, we are hunting for fun treasures to take home to them, and we are saying over and over again: "Oh, man! The boys would love this! And THIS would be so much fun for them!"
We have talked with them each day, and they are having a blast with Grammy & Grampy, so that makes us feel good. They are catching lots of new little treasures and creepy crawlies to bring home and replentish our empty countertop, so they are in their element.
And it HAS been oh so nice to have a few days alone - just the two of us. Lots of great talks, slow walks, sleeping in, dreaming and planning, and just BEING. It's been a long time. Only a couple of more days left to savor - and then back to real life.
........And that will be great, too!
What NOT to Expect When You're Expecting!
Vacation: Day 1
I believe the words out of my brother's mouth were: "Hey, Kevin! Do you want to go mudding?"
So, off we went - our whole family on three four-wheelers. Mom & Dad took theirs; my brother with his wife and Kaden took another; and Kevin, Jesse, & I rode the third. This is the sort of thing that we live for when we go home. Our whole family LOVES to go four-wheeling. And we had an extra treat in that my cousin lent us their two new ones, so we each got to ride on our own rather than be pulled along in a wagon "Beverly Hillbilly" style. (Mind you - that's fun, as well!)
Anyway, we didn't get too far on our ride when we saw this side trail that was buried in a couple of feet of muddy water. That's where this whole mudding idea came in. Aaron, Jules, & Kaden went in first and we followed. To get out of this trail, there's a bit of a steep embankment that you have to pop up over. It shouldn't really have been too big of a deal. But, we were on new wheelers and didn't realize that we had to manually push her over into 4-wheel drive - aaaaaaand because we didn't put it over - coming up out of the embankment she stalled.
And we flipped.
It was a bit of a shocker - we all got submerged and Jesse came up screaming! The first thing that I heard went I came up for air was Kaden cackling gleefully in the background! After if all happened, he looked over at Grammy and noncholantly said: "Well! I'm sure glad I wasn't riding on THAT 4-wheeler!" He wouldn't ride with us for the rest of the week-end! Luckily, Mom had a handful of wild strawberries in her hand, and as soon as she offered some to Jesse he was fine!
It took me five shampoos to get all of that crud out of my hair! On the way home to shower, I asked Jesse if that was fun and if he wanted to do it again. His response? "Yep. But, me no get in bathtub!" He was more concerned that he was having to miss out on more wheeling by going home to get clean!
And my wee babe within - well, Mom just about had a hernia worrying that I was going to go into pre-term labor. I assured her that he's plenty protected! Besides, it's all part of the indoctrination into the Booker family! And what a way to start our vacation!
My Dad got a good part of the whole escapade taped on his camera, so in a couple of days, I'll see if I can get it up for your viewing pleasure! It surely was an experience......
I believe the words out of my brother's mouth were: "Hey, Kevin! Do you want to go mudding?"
So, off we went - our whole family on three four-wheelers. Mom & Dad took theirs; my brother with his wife and Kaden took another; and Kevin, Jesse, & I rode the third. This is the sort of thing that we live for when we go home. Our whole family LOVES to go four-wheeling. And we had an extra treat in that my cousin lent us their two new ones, so we each got to ride on our own rather than be pulled along in a wagon "Beverly Hillbilly" style. (Mind you - that's fun, as well!)
Anyway, we didn't get too far on our ride when we saw this side trail that was buried in a couple of feet of muddy water. That's where this whole mudding idea came in. Aaron, Jules, & Kaden went in first and we followed. To get out of this trail, there's a bit of a steep embankment that you have to pop up over. It shouldn't really have been too big of a deal. But, we were on new wheelers and didn't realize that we had to manually push her over into 4-wheel drive - aaaaaaand because we didn't put it over - coming up out of the embankment she stalled.
And we flipped.
It was a bit of a shocker - we all got submerged and Jesse came up screaming! The first thing that I heard went I came up for air was Kaden cackling gleefully in the background! After if all happened, he looked over at Grammy and noncholantly said: "Well! I'm sure glad I wasn't riding on THAT 4-wheeler!" He wouldn't ride with us for the rest of the week-end! Luckily, Mom had a handful of wild strawberries in her hand, and as soon as she offered some to Jesse he was fine!
It took me five shampoos to get all of that crud out of my hair! On the way home to shower, I asked Jesse if that was fun and if he wanted to do it again. His response? "Yep. But, me no get in bathtub!" He was more concerned that he was having to miss out on more wheeling by going home to get clean!
And my wee babe within - well, Mom just about had a hernia worrying that I was going to go into pre-term labor. I assured her that he's plenty protected! Besides, it's all part of the indoctrination into the Booker family! And what a way to start our vacation!
My Dad got a good part of the whole escapade taped on his camera, so in a couple of days, I'll see if I can get it up for your viewing pleasure! It surely was an experience......
This & That
Well, the sun has been peeking through the clouds for the past couple of days, so we are drinking in whatever tidbits we can get. The ground is still so wet and there are puddles everywhere, so whatever we do and wherever we go the boys are perpetually soaked! The water and the puddles just seem to draw them! But, I can't scold - they have missed being outside SO much! So, these past two days there has been lots of puddle stomping and riding bikes through muddy messes. Good times!
We released ALL of our little critters. We're going away for vacation, so I figured now was a good time to let all the littles go and start over afresh and anew when we get home. Grampy DID bring over two beautiful green moon moths that we've been enjoying. Interesting tidbit: when they hatch into moths, they have no mouths, so they don't eat and consequently only live for one week! Sooooo, I don't feel so bad keeping them until they die!
Kev and I went on a really fun date the other night. Instead of doing the usual dinner and a movie, we decided to instead take a drive down to Bar Harbor and eat at a little place right on the water and then walk around town for awhile. That was SO much fun, and we've decided that's what we're going to do more often - use up that time that we'd normally be sitting for two hours and drive a little farther away.
Our babysitter called though, and said that she was having a little trouble getting Jesse to go to sleep. She said he wouldn't stop talking to Kaden and she wasn't sure what to do! I told her to just not go in at all anymore and he would peter out within a few minutes. First thing the next morning, Jesse tattled on himself and came right up to me and said: "I no obey Abby. I talk Kaden!" Pretty funny.
And the highlight of my summer: tomorrow we're kicking it, and I am TOTALLY pumped!!!
We're all going up to the County to celebrate the 4th of July. My little brother is home from the Border Patrol Academy for just a few days and then he'll be gone for ten more months. So, we're going to go and spend some time with him. And THEN we are leaving kidlets with my parents, and we are going to New Hampshire for FIVE NIGHTS......ALL BY OURSELVES to celebrate our ten year anniversary!!!!
We've never left them this long before - only for a night or two here and there - but they are totally excited and so are we! Kev says that we're going to catch up on five years of lost sleep! Although it's predicted to rain EVERY SINGLE DAY - Praises - we're going to make the best of it and have tons and tons of fun. We've been to this area many times before and we've already conquered everything that there is to do, so we just plan to chill and play and swim and eat and relax to the MAX!!!
Happy 4th of July, All!
We released ALL of our little critters. We're going away for vacation, so I figured now was a good time to let all the littles go and start over afresh and anew when we get home. Grampy DID bring over two beautiful green moon moths that we've been enjoying. Interesting tidbit: when they hatch into moths, they have no mouths, so they don't eat and consequently only live for one week! Sooooo, I don't feel so bad keeping them until they die!
Kev and I went on a really fun date the other night. Instead of doing the usual dinner and a movie, we decided to instead take a drive down to Bar Harbor and eat at a little place right on the water and then walk around town for awhile. That was SO much fun, and we've decided that's what we're going to do more often - use up that time that we'd normally be sitting for two hours and drive a little farther away.
Our babysitter called though, and said that she was having a little trouble getting Jesse to go to sleep. She said he wouldn't stop talking to Kaden and she wasn't sure what to do! I told her to just not go in at all anymore and he would peter out within a few minutes. First thing the next morning, Jesse tattled on himself and came right up to me and said: "I no obey Abby. I talk Kaden!" Pretty funny.
And the highlight of my summer: tomorrow we're kicking it, and I am TOTALLY pumped!!!
We're all going up to the County to celebrate the 4th of July. My little brother is home from the Border Patrol Academy for just a few days and then he'll be gone for ten more months. So, we're going to go and spend some time with him. And THEN we are leaving kidlets with my parents, and we are going to New Hampshire for FIVE NIGHTS......ALL BY OURSELVES to celebrate our ten year anniversary!!!!
We've never left them this long before - only for a night or two here and there - but they are totally excited and so are we! Kev says that we're going to catch up on five years of lost sleep! Although it's predicted to rain EVERY SINGLE DAY - Praises - we're going to make the best of it and have tons and tons of fun. We've been to this area many times before and we've already conquered everything that there is to do, so we just plan to chill and play and swim and eat and relax to the MAX!!!
Happy 4th of July, All!
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