Robert's First Field Trip - a Scavenger Hunt

Found the treasure box - now taking the picture to prove he was there :-)

There it is!

Heading down the path to the find the next treasure box

Mom's turn to help out!

Really another picture?  

Climbing a tree at the picnic

If there is one puddle in a one mile radius a three year old will find it :-)

Maine - our Fall Vacation

The view from our breakfast spot - it was warm enough to eat outside each morning - in Maine - in October - amazing!

Steamers at Barnacle Billy's - a tradition

On the beach

somewhat happy to smile

You're still taking pictures?

Only Dad is holding on to a smile

reflection or 2 Roberts

Waiting for the lobster boat

enjoying the cruise

Apparently the lobster is a Red Sox fan too

Who let the 3 year old drive - maybe you should watch out for those rocks

that's better  - now what does this lever do?

baseball on the Beachmere's wonderful lawn

requisite family picture

family picture - take two

The boys :-)

Could these two possibly be related?

This was our fifth annual trip to Ogunquit over a long October weekend.  We had fabulous weather and two afternoons we could actually spend playing on the beach and wading in the water.  Each year has had different aspects to it.  This year, I had a cast on my leg - a walking cast and I figured out how to take it apart so I could wander barefoot on the beach.  The first year we came, I was expecting Robert, so you could say that he has been going to Maine all along.  That was the first trip that Dad made back to Maine since Mom had died and I remember being worried about how things would go.  It turns out it is just brings back lovely memories of times spent in Maine growing up.  We actually all went to Maine once with Mom and so Kevin always has a rum punch in her honor at Barnacle Billy's.  We have our own family traditions now too.  We go on a lobster trip and eat dinner at Barnacle Billy's.  The boys usually get to choose one toy at the toy shop in town and we spend lots of time playing on the grass in front of the inn and on the beach.  It is a long weekend, but always feels a bit short.  It is one of those places for me that have always brought a feeling of home and of wellness.  I am so happy that I have gotten to share it with Kevin and the boys.

Fall is here

For the past few weeks I have been struggling.  I have a bad cold and I am wearing an aircast on my injured ankle.  I feel like my house isn't quite as clean or tidy as I would like and that my cooking has been quite simple. I am not a perfect housekeeper or stupendous cook at the best of times, but I usually am able to make a better effort.  Despite all that, it has been a good few weeks.  The boys are happy in school and we've had time to do fun things.  Robert's wound is mostly healed and it looks like that although he will have a scar, it shouldn't be too bad.

Robert and I went to a MOPS play date this morning (which I organized) and it was fun and he got some good run around time.  He also fell and scraped his face (landed on his face in the sand - poor soul).  So just as he was healing he has added some new battle scars.  I came home more tired than I wished and with a sore ankle.  So we sat and watched some television while I iced my ankle a bit.  That is what frustrates me - there's so much to do and I have to stop it all to put my foot up.  I know it is silly, but I am struggling and not overly happy that the physical trainer told me this is something that can take up to 3 months to be pain free and longer to be fully healed.  Thank goodness for health insurance.

Well, enough griping.  Somehow despite it all Robert and I are keeping busy and enjoying some things we'd not been doing over the summer.  We have been drawing monsters on the driveway and reading.  He has just about memorized the Pokemon handbook.  Perhaps not the best use of brain space but that is okay.  Robert is a sweet little guy, but he is also asserting his person-hood as a boy and a three year old.  He has definite ideas and things that he wants to do.  He has also learned how to bug his big brother, much to big brother's chagrin.

Harry seems to be enjoying school and he also like cub scouts.  So far this year we have also been to a Lego Club at the library, which he liked and this week he will go to the first meeting of the book club for the 3-4th graders at the library.  He read the book they plan on discussing in about 2 evenings.  He is a big reader these days.  He is still constantly coming up with comics and in the past week or so he has been working on mastering the use of a yo-yo.  I love to see what he is going to come up with next.  He has an eclectic group of interests.

So here are some photos from the past couple of weeks.

My Uncle John & Aunt Shirley were on the QMary II and stopped in Newport, so Dad came down and we met them for lunch.  Unfortunately it was a school day so no Harry.

This was the first time they met Robert and he was an angel at lunch - which made it all quite enjoyable :-)

Here are the boys on a tractor a the local Hey Day Celebrations

R in the maze at the Norman Bird Sanctuary

Our little daredevil as he rides the tractor at the Bird Sanctuary Festival.

Catching up

It has been an eventful couple of weeks since school began.  I haven't been very good about documenting things though.  Harry seems to like 3rd grade and his new teacher.  I actually went in and volunteered yesterday and it was fun to see some familiar and new faces of the kids in his class.  It is really the only time that I am like a rock star for Harry.  That is nice.

Harry won a giant cake at a cake walk at a local event - he was very proud

So far there is less homework this year (or Harry has been pretty good at getting it done)
 so there's been plenty of time for afterschool play

We are back to normal routines and that means life is busy.  Mornings are spent getting folks launched for the day.  Then on some mornings Robert and I have time to play and relax after everybody else is gone, but 2 mornings a week it is just me.  We spend time at the library, we read, do puzzles and play imaginary games.  This week Robert has been catching Pokemon a fair amount.  Last week he was playing with Star Wars characters.  He also likes to get out a wand and play Harry Potter.  As you may note, these are all highly influenced from the interests of his older brother.  He does have some "typical" 3 year old fascinations - trains, monsters, blocks.  But if Harry is around, he wants to do and be like his big brother.

The American Flag is a wonderful toy right now - it is just fun to swing and wave and walk around with.

Daddy is also a favored companion and if the only way to be with him is to follow along as he mows the lawn, well that is what will happen.

As for our various injuries from last Saturday, they are healing.  I haven't been a spry as usual and haven't been to the gym this week, but the PT said I could ride a stationary bike now and so I think I will try that next week.  My ankle is still swollen and sore, so I am a bit constrained in what I can and what I want to do - when I am on my feet too much it gets progressively uncomfortable as the day goes on.  Hopefully it will be over soon.  Robert's wound is healing nicely and he has a bit of a black and blue eye, but it isn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be.

healing nicely

my latest fashion accouterments 

A nice Saturday outing or?

School's been in session for 3 weeks and is going well.  We thought it would be fun to do something different this weekend as a family.  We'd never been to Battleship Cove in Fall River and figured that would be something the boys would like.  It has a battleship, a destroyer, a submarine and a gun ship.  You can walk around and explore on all the ships.  It was pretty neat, but as sometimes happens we didn't come away unscathed.  I have spent much of today and yesterday with my foot on a pillow and ice on my foot because I sprained my ankle (not in the museum even, but before it when I was chasing after Robert and I stepped wrong).  Something had scared him and he was headed full tilt for the parking lot.  While we explored the ships, I thought it was a bit more sore than other times I have turned my ankle, but then the real event of the day happened and I was no longer focused on myself to realize what I had done.

The reason I wasn't is as follows.  Robert and Harry were climbing into a gun emplacement when Robert took a dive and got a pretty good gash above his eye and below his eyebrow.  As with most head wounds it bled well and Mommy, Daddy and Robert were all pretty covered in blood by the time we made it out of the little first aid station on the battleship.  Robert was pretty upset and we were pretty sure that it was time to go and bring him to the ER.  In the ER we found out that it was indeed a pretty good gash and he had to have 4 stitches.  He was very good, but it was not pleasant and by the time we headed out, everybody on the first floor or so of the hospital knew that he was not a happy camper.  Harry was moved over to the family room and the hospital social worker said he had his fingers in his ears.  

Poor Harry was quite upset when it happened too.  I think the crying and the blood freaked him out a bit.  Fortunately after we were in the car on the way to the ER things seemed more normal.  After the ER everybody was a bit hungry/thirsty so Robert got to choose a special snack.  He chose a donut from Dunkin Donuts and so we headed there.  Today everybody is acting like themselves and Mommy is the one who is wondering why she didn't have her foot checked out at the ER too.

The boys with Battleship Massachusetts behind them

In the bunk-room on the Destroyer

Reading the posters about the ships

Waiting for the doctor 

Robert's wound

My Garden

This year we planted a raised bed garden in the yard.  We put it where we hoped it would get a good amount of sun.  Here are some pictures of what it looked like at first and what it looks like now.  There is a big difference.  There was a time when I thought nothing would come of it, but miraculously we have eaten, tomatoes, squash, sage, parsley, basil and are anxiously awaiting the ripening of our peppers.  I am pleased with my efforts (which really were minimal) and hope to undertake this again.  There is something about growing your own food that is very satisfying.

My family will be amused - the big boy tomatoes have been for Kevin and others and the little marazano ones I have been using in sauces and bruschetta and guacamole and the like.  The squash has been grilled and baked and the like.  Robert loves the garden and periodically picks something (usually not ripe) and so some tomatoes have ripened on the window sill.  It has been a fun project and I look forward to trying again next year.

The Garden in late May

The Garden in mid September

Back to regular routines

Chilling and looking at a catalog

I admit wholeheartedly that I am the one who thrives with routines.  I do think they are extremely helpful for my children, but I need them just as much, if not more.  School began last Wednesday and I feel like I have been set free.  I know what to expect during the weeks and on the weekends.  On the weekends besides church we don't usually have anything specific that needs to be done.  In fact we often do something fun on Saturdays as a family - that really is our family day when we are all around and together.  Sundays are work days until the early afternoon and then often just loll around time.  It just isn't like summer when every week or even every day is different.  I do alright with that, but I don't thrive.  I am a routine girl, pure and simple.