Beach Day with the Mayers

Our weekend of fun visits continued on Saturday when the Mayers came up to the beach. Elliott and I enjoyed some mid-morning snuggles when he asked to read stories and get in bed around 9:30 am. I'm never one to turn down snuggles!



There is an awesome collection of dump trucks, fire trucks, and the like at Abino. These are originals from the 70s and 80s.

I think we need a haircut again.

We went down to the beach after nap. Our beach was quite different from the day before because of a huge storm we had on Friday night. The sand was much higher on the rocks and full of heavy iron (hence the dark color here). Elliott usually insists on wearing his swim trunks over his swim diaper but went for just the diaper on this day. I love seeing those legs!

Humphrey dug a hole in the sand and Elliott settled right into it. There are Tucker and Dutch in the top of the shot.

Tucker took his turn in the sand.

The kids enjoyed fun in the tub to wash the sand off. Remember these pictures of the three of them in the tub a few months ago?

All smiles.

Poppy, Coco, Taz, and Sue came home around dinner time. Poppy put this hat on Elliott and he actually wore it. He usually takes them right off. I love this picture!

Elliott and his best friends.

I'd like to think he is going to get the other hat for Tucker.

Elliott cozied right up to Taz, Coco's brother. They developed a nice bond over the course of the weekend. 

 

Beach Day with Rachel and Elisa

Rachel and Elisa came up to Abino on Friday to enjoy the beach and the breeze. Usually, we escape the heat up there but last week's heat wave was so hot that my parents succumbed and turned on the AC (something that only happens once a summer, if at all).

A self portrait of my boy and me that we sent to Jesse.



Rachel and Elisa got right in the action with Dutch (in Rachel's lap), Elliott, and Humphrey.

I did not take my camera to the beach but Rachel did. I'll post any good pictures I get from her. After fun on the beach, we came up for lunch. Elliott and Elisa had a blast together.

 

One smiling. 

The other smiling.

Both smiling and laughing!

A shot of the breezy day. We had fun and hope they come up again soon!

 

Cooookie

As our heat wave continued on Wednesday, I thought it would be a great idea to get out of the house and go to town for a walk, ice cream, and playtime for Elliott at the caboose ice cream stand. Dutch needed a walk too so he came with us. We are fortunate to live out of town and back in the woods where it is a few degrees cooler. So I, with exactly two months to my due date, took a toddler and a puppy to a hotter place to wrangle them. Great idea, not so great in execution.

Elliott has not expressed interested in ice cream so I got him a chocolate chip cookie. Yummy cookie.



Happy boy with his messy chocolate face.

 

Sprinkler Fun

Last week was HOT here. It was around 90 with very high humidity - not fun for everyone but especially uncomfortable for a toddler and very pregnant Mama living without AC. On Tuesday, we went over to play with the Mayers and enjoy the AC in their playroom. After a while inside, we ventured out and enjoyed an idyllic half hour or so. This is the stuff stay at home moms dream of. The three "big" kids played in the sprinkler while the new baby slept peacefully. Leah and I enjoyed a delicious al fresco lunch in the shade on the deck while watching the cute kids. It was lovely. Then reality resumed with normal chaos and actual parenting.

Nude boy bums.



Sprinklers are fun!

Elliott all covered in grass. I think he was throwing a ball over the fence.

 

Jeep Driving with Poppy

Poppy picked up Elliott from school on Monday since I had a late meeting. They went back to Elma and Elliott got to drive the Jeep for a while. He is still a little short and young to master the pedals but he loves to drive!! Here is a short video of the fun.