Winding down

Sadly, today was the last time we'll go to the beach this summer :( We went to the beach with our friends EVERY single week - normally at least twice. I'm so sad the summer is over with!

Neighborhood bbq

We went to our annual neighborhood pig roast recently and I want to kick myself for not taking more pictures. I can't believe how well they decorated it! The theme this year was cowboys :) We absolutely love our neighborhood and look forward to the pig roast every year!

For One More Day

I had a dream about my Grandpa last night...
It was different from any dream I'd ever had of him.

Instead of it being a past tense dream,

It was a dream that happened in present day.

He was gone. And I missed him more than words can explain. I ached at the thought of him.

And suddenly...he was here. With me.

And I got to hug him. I got to hear him laugh. Hear him say "Jennafear" one more time. Hear him say "Jeasum" one more time.

We were in my Grandparent's living room and I was on the couch talking to my Grandma and suddenly my Grandpa appeared in his chair. We talked and laughed. I frantically called my mom and sister begging them to come over as quickly as possible because Grandpa was here. We called Mimi, Kimmy, Kirstin, Laurie, Tim, Craig and Sandy. All of a sudden our entire family was there. In their living room. Laughing. Talking. Telling himwhat we had been up to. Ella's loose tooth. My photography business. Michelle's school. Jimmy's new job. Kirstin's vacation.

We were talking to him. And I could hear his laugh like it was yesterday. I could see him look at my Grandma...with the love he held for only her.

And I woke up. And realized it was a dream...and I cried that terrible cry. You know...the one that people can hear from miles away...the animalistic cry that you try to do into your pillow so that no one else will hear you...the one you do until you can cry no longer and finally pass out from exhaustion and hope that you will forget about in the morning.

But you don't forget...about him...which is a blessing and a curse. I don't want to forget him and yet I don't want to hurt any longer. So I sit here in a state of confusion...not knowing exactly when or where the pain will strike. So is the price we pay for love, right?

So, wherever you are Grandpa, just know that I loved hearing your laugh for one last time...and I love you...a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck...xoxo

Happy birthday!!

We went to Snow Farm on Matt's birthday and met up with his family a couple days later for them to celebrate his birthday. So much fun!! The kids had a blast :)

Ali and Justin

Our friends Ali and Justin came back for a visit to VT for Ali's birthday. Her parents had us over for an amazing BBQ - so yummy! Not sure why I didn't take more pictures, but here are a few of Acadia decorating her cup cake :)

Miss Dawn

The head teacher at Acadia's new school came over for a home visit today. What I love about this school is how hands on the parents are as well as how well the teachers plan activities to get to know the children. The school plans play dates once a week for the entire summer before the children start school so the kids can get to know each other and the teachers, and so the parents can get to know each other.

In addition, Miss Dawn comes to your home to meet the students in their own environment. Acadia would do fine without this, but the visits must really benefit children who are extremely shy. Dawn said that they really open up to her when they're in the comforts of their own home.

Doing a school puzzle



Picking her shape for her cubby. She picked a butterfly :)

Reading and talking about The Kissing Hand

Bath time

During our bathroom renovations we had to bathe the kids in the bath :) It was SO cute!! Both kids loved it!

Daddy's first race

Matt and Uncle Jimmy signed up for their first race a few months ago. They ran the Stowe 8 Miler in July and I couldn't be more proud of them!! They each trained for a couple months and had an awesome race. Our friend Liz also ran in the race so our cheering section included her husband Todd, their kids, my mom, sister, the girls and I.

It. Was. A. BLAST! There is something about a group of hundreds of people yelling and cheering on these runners - it was such an awesome thing to see. And Stowe is such a beautiful place to have a race - it was a picture perfect day and the kids had fun playing together while we waited for Liz, Matt and Jimmy to finish the race :)






There's Matt in the grey shirt (right in front of the guy with the backwards hat) - YUP! Even in a race of hundreds of people, he's still one of the tallest runners! It makes it easy to spot him :)


The best group shot of the kids we could get :)

Squirting the runners as they ran to the finish line

Liz

Matt

Jimmy

Sweet Dianna

Our friends Jim and Beth just celebrated their 5 year wedding anniversary this past weekend so we watched their daughter Dianna (one of Acadia's BFFs!) Saturday night.

I told Acadia that we should make a list of fun things to do with Di and Acadia thought of everything on the list by herself - the last one on the list is my favorite!

1. play in the sandbox
2. swing on the swings
3. eat snacks
4. color
5. take a walk
6. have a yogurt pop
7. have a vitamin
8. have some lunch
9. watch a movie
10. listen to a song
11. go swimming
12. take pictures
13. say "I love you"

Sometimes...

All you need is Daddy to make you paper hats to brighten up your day! Oh, how I love him...

More beach pics :)

We've done a few beach trips with our friends Jamie and Jen and their kids this summer. This day we went to the Sand Bar which I love because they allow flotation devices and you can walk out so far and still not have it be above the kid's heads. We love it there!

Happy 4th!

I told you I was backed up with my pictures! We had a wonderful 4th, as always :) We went to the parade with my mom in the morning then to Aunt Mimi's for her annual bbq.

Summer

We have had such a busy summer that I haven't really had much time to update the blog. We're on the go during the summer months, because they are so short here that we like to take full advantage of the weather :) We've been doing a lot of grilling with our friends and family, roasting smores in the back yard, going to the beach, taking walks around the neighborhood, playing outside in the pool. I can't believe it's already mid-August and the pictures I'm getting around to posting on the blog are from JUNE! I'm waaaayyyy backed up on updating the blog but am hoping to do better now that summer is coming to an end.

We always have fun with our "Fairfax Friends" - it's hard to believe they weren't in our lives 2 years ago! They have become some of our closest, dearest friends. We absolutely love them. The only people missing from this evening were the Duvals and the Alexander family :) Besides that, the evening was perfect! Yummy food, the kids got along so well and a beautiful view! Plus a rainbow at the end of the night- how can you beat that?!

Just noticed when I was posting this that every guy is looking to his left - SO funny!