Happy Birthday Nedders!!

Ned's 31st birthday was this week and he was able to have some friends in town to celebrate.  I pretty much only saw him in the morning all week.  The kids loved having them in town and Penny was particularly fond of Kyle, she even cried when the left and did not want to come to me .

They were able to eat a yummy lunch, see Further in concert twice, go to the beach, play in Boston, and go to a Red Sox game.  I am happy that he was able to have such a great time.  Ned deserves it he works so hard and gives so much to me and the family I am happy he was able to have a little Ned time.

Jared and Kyle at lunch

I laughed so hard while I was taking these pictures.  These boys are funny.

At the first Further concert.

The stage at Gathering of the Vibes

Fenway Park

This photo of the boys was in a newspaper in Connecticut

They were able to see Cheers

And hang out with Norm

The Fourth of July

Happy Belated Fourth of July!!

We move quite a bit.  When I was a younger adult pre-marriage I always hoped and thought I/ we would move around a lot.  That is how my parents spent their early years together-  moving for school, military, military, school, jobs.  My dad always had the coolest stories to tell so I figured that was how you got out and lived life-you move.  The story my dad forgot to tell me is that moving is hard.  Leaving a place you have lived is really, really hard even if you didn't like it that much.  There are always memories, places, and most importantly friends that are left behind.  Then moving to a new place is exhausting physically and emotionally.  You have to start over again finding places, creating memories, and making new friends.  Every time I move I have to step out of my comfort zone.  I keep thinking the day we stop moving is the day I become comfortable with it.   To be honest the thought of settling down scares me.  Although, the older Lucas gets that more I realize moving takes its toll on the kiddos.  

One thing that makes moving A LOT easier is the church.  It gives me an automatic circle of friends.  I have resources of what to do, where to go, and easy access to friends for my kids.  So far my church friends have started out as a resource soon to friends, and then to family.  When there are no blood relatives around it is nice to find a family.  I have been very blessed so far with amazing people in my life.  Now that I have been in Rhode Island for 2 months I know that the same is true here I am on my way to whole new family.  I have been blessed again.    

For the fourth of July we were able to meet up with some friends at India Point Park for music and fireworks.  I was such a pleasant night with my immediate family and my church family.  It was probably one of the nicest nights Ned and I have had in a long time.  We were just able to sit back and relax and enjoy the company.

Penny spent the whole evening with Sophie

Thanks to Jenni for inviting us and saving us a place in a great location.

Lucas and his new friend, Samuel. 

The stage where the RI Pops played

Penny was also fond of Josh, Sophie's brother.

11 months old

On the Fourth of July Penny turned 11 months old.  She has changed so much in the last month.  I think that she is really starting to understand things going on around her which is making her a bit more demanding.  She is still such a good girl, but if she wants something she starts screaming.
This is what Penny has been up to:

• She always wants to play with the toy that Lucas has and screams if she doesn't get it.  
• Penny says "Hi" all the time and waves whenever I get her from her crib.
• She can sign all done when she is done eating and sometimes she will sign more.
• She loves the beach and just crawls all over the beach.  Most of the time she has a sand mustache and beard. She also loves the ocean water she starts crawling in the water and will not stop even is the water is above head, and when I pick her up from the water she is smiling and kicking. 
• Penny has gotten her third tooth on the top.
• Loves to play peekaboo
• Penny loves any food that is not baby food. If she sees us open a package or eat something she starts whimpering and then it turns to a scream.

When we are bored...

The other day I was organizing the kids clothes and we found Penny playing in the bin.  So, one thing led to another and of course Lucas had to join in the fun.

My conversation with Lucas today:

Me:  Lucas do you want to take gymnastics?
Lucas: No
Me:  How about Soccer?
Lucas: No
Me:  Tee Ball?
Lucas: No
Me: Karate?
Lucas (with a giggle): No, I already know how to do that.