Picking raspberries

Last week Dave noticed a ton of wild raspberries growing along our property line. We have had some in the past, but never this many! I don't actually know if these are these black raspberries but that's what we've been calling them.

The girls have been out there at least once per day with their little bowls, picking away.

So far, we've made two raspberry custard pies (one for us, one for a friend) and enjoyed pancakes with raspberry sauce on Eva's birthday.

Note: Baking a pie in the toaster oven results in uneven browning!

Yesterday while we picked, Amanda asked,"Mama, what is the word when you're really nice and give something to someone?"

"Generous?"

"Yeah! We should be generous and give some of our raspberries to Mrs. Gail."

With all that we have, we certainly could afford to give some away to this neighbor and I thought that was a nice idea.

After we picked this morning, I froze a big bowl's worth so we can continue to enjoy them once summer is over.

Celebrating with cake and presents

Last night we celebrated Eva's birthday with a special dinner. In the afternoon, I took her to the grocery store to pick out a birthday cake. She chose a Friendly's pink ice cream cake, decorated with pastel sprinkles.

For her birthday dinner, she had requested meatballs and noodles, which we interpreted as Swedish meatballs. Apparently our interpretations were different.

Dave prepared dinner and presented her with a yummy plate of meatballs and spaetzle. However, I think she must have meant spaghetti and meatballs because she furrowed her brow and said,"Not those meatballs and noodles." In the end, it didn't really matter too much because she was just too excited to eat.

After the table was cleared, we sang to Eva, had cake and opened presents.

Amanda had a great time selecting special gifts for Eva and wrapping them by herself.


She was particularly excited about giving Eva a set of Dora walkie talkies.

Unfortunately they don't work so we'll have to exchange them for something else. She liked her princess puzzle, outfit, sunglasses, lip gloss, Princess and the Frog book, and the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom TAG book. She and Amanda have played with the My Little Pony toy all morning long.

It is 95* here right now, so after Eva's physical appointment this afternoon, I think we will all jump in the pool... and eat some leftover ice cream cake!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Eva!

Today my beautiful, smart, funny, loving little girl turns three. (Well, technically her birthday is at 9:30 pm but close enough!)

Three years old!

Eva, you are such an interesting little person with so many great qualities. You are equal parts tomboy and princess. You are brave and daring, yet you manage to be dainty and petite in your fancy dresses and flip flops.

You are our little firecracker, a little pistol - always full of energy, no matter what time of day (or night!) it is. You constantly keep me on my toes, and often wear me out, just like Olivia does to her mom in the book you like so much.

You are strong willed and headstrong, very much your own person. I like that you stick up for yourself and never let anyone push you around. As you grow older, that is going to be a great attribute. (However, when it's time to brush teeth or clean up toys, I wish you weren't quite so stubborn.) I see a lot of me in you and maybe that's why we sometimes butt heads.

I know you don't yet understand why I have so many rules and you probably feel like I'm always scolding you. Just remember that I will always love you, even if you're in Time Out for the third time in one morning. One day, maybe not until you have children of your own, you will understand that I was just doing my best to raise you right.

At the playground

I love your generosity, the way you're always first to share something of yours, often before someone has a chance to even ask. You give great hugs and "love pats" and always show concern if someone seems hurt.

I love that you are always ready to help whenever I am baking. We've made some really delicious things together and I think you will grow up to be a great baker or chef!

Making Christmas cookies

You are so creative, whether it's drawing pictures or making up new words to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." I especially loved the map you drew the other day when I was driving somewhere new, and how you kept it on your lap during the car ride in case I got lost. You are quite an artist.

Some of Eva's artwork from last December

You have a quiet intelligence about you and I can tell that you are always thinking about something. You are so curious and inquisitive and I admire that about you.

A dandelion bouquet

I love the way you take your time with things as if you're in your own Eva Time Zone, although sometimes I do wish you would finish your meals a little quicker. On the other hand, the speed with which you can put a puzzle together is amazing!

I love your stories, always filled with plenty of details. I love your funny facial expressions and your witty remarks. I love how every time you see a camera pointed your way, you say,"Cheeeeeeeeeese."

Playing at Rexhame Beach

I love how particular you are with things like laying out your outfit the night before, making sure that you look "beautiful" rather than just "cute." I love the way you say "Shank you" when someone gives you something. I love the way you pronounce 'yellow' (Lello) and 'spaghetti' (ska-betty.)

I love how you always want someone to "cuddle in your bed" at nighttime, because I'm sure those days will be gone before much longer. You are not much of a cuddler during the day because you don't like to sit still for long, so I guess we should take advantage of it while we can.

Burkes Beach

I love how you always go around picking flowers and making bouquets for me, presenting the bundle to me with an "I love you, Mama."

And the way I always have to remind you to put your shoes on instead of running barefoot around the yard. Sometimes I wish I had a fraction of your carefree attitude.


I love it if you hear someone say a bad word like 'stupid', you will chastise them by saying,"We don't say 'stupid' in this family!" Or when we're in a store and your hear a child misbehaving, you always say,"That boy/girl is not being a good listener!" Although you may not always follow the rules, you definitely understand them and will enforce them when necessary.

I love it when someone offers you something with peanuts in it and you tell them,"I'm not old for peanuts yet." Guess what, Eva? You're finally old enough for peanuts now!!!

You have the greatest sense of humor and always figure out a way to make us laugh.

Modeling Daddy's cowboy hat

I particularly love your funny conversations with Liam and how you always ask me to "do the little voices" so you can communicate with him. You really made me laugh last night when we pretended that Liam was "The Birthday Fairy", and you told him that your birthday wish was to become a butterfly.

I loved it when Daddy asked you what you wanted to do for your birthday and you exclaimed,"I want to go to Montreal!" And how you requested meatballs and noodles for your birthday, but when Daddy presented you with a plate of Swedish meatballs, you said,"Not those meatballs and noodles!!"

And I loved it this morning when I said,"Happy Birthday, Eva!" And you immediately replied in your sweetest little voice,"Happy Birthday, Mama!" Always the polite one, you are.

Sometimes I worry that you may get lost in the shuffle, not the oldest... not the youngest... but smack dab in the middle. I often feared that you would be in your older sister's shadow but you have proven that you are unique and have your own talents. I know that it must be hard to be the little sister, watching Amanda do all of the things you so desperately want to do, like going to school, riding a bike, reading a book, and playing piano. But just remember that you are not just a little sister. You are a big sister to Liam and he looks up to as a role model. You are a great helper and teacher to him. Even though you are still young, I can see so much potential in you. I know you are going to shine.

Happy birthday, my little chickadee. You are growing up before my very eyes and I hope I never forget a moment of this. You amaze me every single day.

Eva's Birthday Shopping Spree

Last week Eva received birthday cards filled with money from Grandma Jo, Grandpa Clint and Grandma Reda.

Beforehand, we had checked out a book from the library about saving money. We read it together and discussed it, so Eva understood that part of her birthday loot (precisely 2/3 of it) would be going into her bank account.


She was given $40 to spend on whatever she wanted, which was great plenty for her! Even $5 would have been a real treat!

We headed out to Target, stopping first at the $1 bargain bin as we entered the store. If I had let her, I think she would have spent the whole amount on little trinkets. She picked out a book, a canister of Oreos, headbands and a dog's chew toy. I quickly realized that I would have to intervene.

I steered her toward the toy section, but not before she spotted the DVD's. There at eye level was "Stuart Little." She has seen "Stuart Little 2" a million times with her grandma, but never the original. I thought this was a fine choice, so into the cart it went.

Once we made it to the toys, it was a free for all. Eva picked up anything in a brightly colored box and proclaimed,"This! This is what I would like!"

Meanwhile, Amanda had developed a "debilitating" leg cramp and began to cry. Coincidentally enough, this occurred just after we had seen an Ariel bathing suit, which I wouldn't let her buy. I diagnosed it as a case of jealousy, lifted her into the basket of the cart and we continued on with Eva's shopping spree.

We had a Playdough ice cream making set. We had a Barbie doll, decked out in a glittery gown. We had a Leapster game, which clearly was not an option since we do not even own a Leapster video game console.

But then like a dream, Eva's eyes landed on a bright pink, sparkly Tinkerbell dress-up gown. Once she saw that, there was no going back. It even came with wings! That used up half the money but I knew it was something she would definitely get plenty of wear out of. All of our other dress-up gowns are tattered and torn, and hardly "fancy enough" anymore.

She had just enough left over for a Let's Go Fishin' game... or the Barbie doll.

Thank goodness, she chose the fishing game.

That game has already provided hours of entertainment for the girls. And as a nice bonus, it requires such intense hand/eye coordination that they are very quiet while they play it together! I imagine that I'll need to replace the batteries any day now, so you can see it's getting plenty of use.

Eva chose a dress-up gown with wings, purple headbands, a fishing game and a DVD.

So, thank you to all of the grandparents for your cards and gifts! It gave me a chance to teach a lesson about saving and spending wisely, which I think is invaluable.

Family Beach Day

We decided to make Saturday a family beach day. While I packed sunscreen, snacks, etc., Dave loaded the girls up in the bike stroller and they headed on their merry way. I drove on ahead with Liam to Burkes Beach in Green Harbor, hoping to find a prime parking spot.

It must have been my lucky day because not only did I get the very last spot in the lot, but it was the closest one to the beach. This was huge because parking in the overflow lot means an arduous walk of several blocks. With a baby, beach umbrellas, sand toys and all of the other necessary gear, it is quite a chore!

I staked out a spot on the deserted beach and waited for Dave and the girls to arrive. After a 40 minute bike ride, the girls came running down the boardwalk and across the sand, ready to have some fun.

What a perfect day! Plenty of sun, not too hot, and a slight breeze coming off the ocean. We forgot to bring a hat for Liam. Oops! But he looked just as cute wearing mine.

We all worked together and built a sand fort, which became a "swimming pool" once the tide came in.

Liam spent most of the day in the shade, playing with his toes and watching the activity around him. He's so easy to please!

At lunchtime, Dave took a walk with Liam to the Green Harbor Lobster Pound and came back with this treat.


For those of you not familiar with New England cuisine, this is a Lobster Roll. Think of tuna salad, but with lobster, piled high on a toasted hot dog bun. It's perfect for those who like lobster but don't want to deal with the messy task of digging the meat out of the shell.

Normally I am not particularly crazy of lobster rolls, mainly because of the $13 price, but this one was absolutely delicious! Then again, maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was eating it on a beach?

Around lunchtime a family with three children claimed the spot next to ours. The five year old girl, named Taylor, much to Amanda and Eva's delight, and her 3 year old twin brothers were perfect playmates for the girls.

They spent the next few hours together swimming, digging in the sand, blowing bubbles and sharing snacks.


These new found friends were absolutely obsessed with Liam and wouldn't leave him alone. They had a million questions for us... "Does he like to be tickled?" "What's his favorite food?" "Does he like oatmeal?" Of course, Liam was all smiles for them which made them like him that much more.

After five hours on the beach, we decided to leave while everyone was still in a good mood. The girls got back into the bike stroller and after a quick flat tire repair, they fell asleep on the ride home.

I would definitely call it our most successful and fun beach trip ever. The kids behaved perfectly and it was so relaxing for Dave and I to sit in our beach chairs and watch them play. I figured we'd only be at the beach for an hour, two hours tops, but they proved us wrong. I can't wait to do it all again!

Father's Day

I am finally getting around to writing about Father's Day. The trip to New York really set me back and I am still trying to catch up on everything.

As I mentioned before, the bike stroller was Dave's big Father's Day gift and we spent some family time by going to the circus for some family time.

But a month earlier, Amanda had made a gift at Preschool and had kept it hidden all of this time.


Dave loved it! It was a paperweight turtle, made of a painted stone and felt arms and legs! It goes perfectly with his collection of small, plastic frogs.

For dinner that night, we ordered Italian take-out. We enjoyed a buffet of vegetable primavera, four cheese lasagna, meatballs and penne, and chicken marsala. It was quite a treat to sample all of the different entrees, and we had plenty of leftovers for the following night.

At bedtime, we all rubbed Daddy's back and took turns telling him why we loved him.

Amanda: "I love you, Daddy, because you cuddle in my bed."
Eva: "I love you, Daddy, because you make me oatmeal for breakfast."
Amanda: "I love you, Daddy, because you take me to the gym with you."
Eva: "I love you, Daddy, because you give me gumdrops."

This went on for quite a few minutes and every one of Eva's statements involved food. But at least they were heartfelt. Although I couldn't quite tell in the dark, I'm willing to bet that it put a smile on Daddy's face.

I hope he knows how much we love him and appreciate all that he does for our family.

Under the Big Top

The Cole Brothers circus came to Marshfield this week!

Because we were away for the weekend, we made this was our Father's Day celebration. Liam stayed with Omi and we could spend time with just the girls.


We had 2nd row tickets for Monday's afternoon show, the first of four shows over two days. Whew, boy, was it HOT under that big top! It made me wish I had spent the $3 to buy a program, just so we could use it as a fan because there was no breeze whatsoever.

We soon learned that it isn't cheap to take a family to the circus! The concession vendors were relentless. One after another, they walked through the crowd with their trays of sno-cones, popcorn, cotton candy... and the big seller, ice cold water. One would walk by and not more than five seconds later, another would be right behind him. Since we were seated so close to the floor, it became very distracting.


We ended up with popcorn, a funnel cake and sno-cones, which came in cute monkey and penguin cups, so at least we can reuse those. Of course, the girls also wanted elephant rides, but at $8 per child, we said no to that. (Then I felt guilty when I saw pictures on Facebook of their friends riding the very same elephants.)

The circus itself was very entertaining. We saw tigers, elephants, camels, horses and dogs.

We saw clowns and learned that our girls do not have a fear of them.


The little boy sitting in front of us started crying when the first clown came out so his father had to take him out until that portion of the show was done.

We saw acrobats.


As one would expect, the girls liked the acrobats and dancers in their colorful costumes the best.

Mesmerized.

I hadn't realized that 4-wheelers and BMX bikes were part of the circus, but there they were. It felt more like we were at the Marshfield Fair watching motorcross. The sound of the engines revving was enough to burst eardrums and I saw many parents covering their children's ears.

How they fit three motorbikes in there is beyond me!

However, the finale of the show where the dirt bikes zoomed around a metal cage globe was absolutely amazing!

It was something just to see one bike orbiting around sometimes riding upside down, but when a second... and then a third bike, driven by a young woman, entered, it was fascinating to watch. I can't even imagine how one would prepare for that kind of stunt without getting severely injured a time or two.

It was a fun time for the whole family.

The Balloon

Last week Amanda and Eva got free balloons from our florist friend at the grocery store.

It seems that every time this happens, someone ends up in tears because either a) the balloon flies away or b) the balloon pops. Sure enough, this time Eva let go of hers and lost it before we had even gotten out of the store.

Amanda was more careful and hers actually made it all the way home.

During Quiet Time, she shared her balloon with Liam. After seeing how interested he was in it, I got out the camera to film his reaction.

And then...

Next time we go to the store, we may have to ask for THREE balloons, just in case.

Ballerina Storytime

We are lucky to have about five libraries within a 15 minute radius of our house and they all offer great summer programs.

Today we attended at Ballerina Storytime program, where a real live ballerina came and read ballet related stories. After first getting some energy out on the playground, we met up with the girls' friend Katelynn in the large meeting room.


Miss Suzie also played music and showed the kids a few ballet steps.



After the performance, the ballerina asked if any of the children had questions.

Of course, Amanda did.

New York City

Our overnight trip to New York City was great! The wedding was short and sweet, and the celebration that followed was a lot of fun.

We woke up Saturday morning after a very restless night. Eva had been losing her voice on Friday and overnight she had developed a scary sounding cough. By morning, we hemmed and hawed about what to do. Omi assured us that she could handle the situation, so after leaving insurance cards and plenty of "sick supplies", we were on our way. We ended up leaving a few hours later than we had originally planned, but when you have kids, you learn not to hold tight to those so-called plans.

We received conflicting directions from Google maps and our TomTom, so navigating was a little tricky. On top of that, the traffic coming into the city and it was stressful. Dave and I both wondered how people could deal with a daily commute into the city!

After five and a half hours in the car, we finally checked into our hotel. It was already 1:00 pm by then and we realized that we wouldn't have much time for sight-seeing.

This was the view from our 2nd floor room, the Queensboro Bridge.

We took a walk in search of a light lunch and found a bar/restaurant that looked promising.

The place had lots of character and the food was great!

Apparently all of the artwork is done by local artists.

The "tin" ceiling was really neat, although it's hard to tell from this picture.

I really enjoyed my spinach salad with blue cheese, apples and bacon and made a mental note to try making this on my own. Dave's Greek salad was equally as good, and was the perfect light meal. It was close to 90* so neither one of us felt like eating a hot meal.

Scenery seen during our our walk.

After a quick meal, we walked back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding.

Liam, all dressed and ready to party!

We gathered in the lobby to meet up with the other guests who would be taking the shuttle bus to the wedding.

The Ravel lobby

The lobby, which is actually set up more like a lounge, has tons of silver globes hanging from the ceiling and it creates a really neat effect.

Along the wall, you can see the vending machines...filled with wine!

This was the first time I had never seen a "wine vending machine", for lack of a better term. I guess it's the type of thing you'd only see in upscale hotels or cities. You slide a card through the slot, choose your wine, and the amount you'd like.

With the cost being $2.00 for a taste; $6.00 for a half glass; $12.00 for a full glass, it's a bit pricey! But I think it's set up more for wine connoisseurs who want to sample a variety of wines.

The wedding was beautiful with the most creative wedding vows I have ever heard. The bride and groom created the ceremony to completely match their personalities and it was just perfect.

After the ceremony, caterers walked around with a delicious assortment of appetizers like rich macaroni and cheese, mini pulled pork sandwiches and caprese salad samplers. The bar also featured a Brazilian drink called a Calpirinha, which was similar to a margarita and very refreshing.

The venue was decorated just beautifully! The wedding colors were orange and charcoal, so striking against the white.

After having a fantastic time mingling with all of the other guests, we were seated for dinner. (My portobella mushroom ravioli was to die for!) The bride is originally from Chicago so I enjoyed talking "Midwestern conversation" with her relatives, and it was so comforting to hear that accent again. It felt like home!

After dinner, we danced the night away. For most of the reception, Dave carried Liam in the Snugli, which meant Liam danced right along with us, sandwiched in between. (It was so reminiscent of the wedding many years ago where Amanda was the one dancing between us, our "Happy Family" moment!)

Liam absolutely loved dancing. In fact, he found it so enjoyable that he wouldn't fall asleep! He took a few cat naps here and there, but after a few songs, he was fully charged and ready to get back on the dance floor with us. It was so much fun! We celebrated way past our bedtime, making it to the adult hour of 11:00 pm before returning to our hotel.

As for the girls back home, we checked in with them every few hours. Each time, they sounded like they were having the time of their lives, although Amanda had to do all the talking since Eva could only whisper. At no point did they ask when we were coming home. In fact, when I asked Amanda if she could save some of her lobster for me, she said,"Um, maybe you can just go out and get some there." They were in fine hands.

For dinner, Omi provided a very special treat: lobster and sushi! What four or two year old kid would request that as their meal? Champagne taste, apparently. No Chef Boyardee for them!

We left Queens at 7:00 am the next morning and were home by 11:00 am, just in time to rush Eva to the doctor before the office closed. As it turns out, she has laryngitis!

The plus side to that is that it has been much quieter around the past few days! Today, she is feeling much better and her voice is slowly starting to return.

Our first night away

Tomorrow morning, Dave and I will wake up bright and early with the birds and head to New York City!

Our hotel is supposed to have great views of the city and the Queensboro Bridge.

We are attending a wedding in Queens and have decided to leave the girls with Omi. (Liam will be coming with us obviously, since I am his only source of nourishment.)

I am extremely eager for this short weekend getaway, a chance to get all dressed up for a night out on the town, and celebrate with friends. Ever since my one and only visit to NYC in November 2001, I have always wanted to see the city with Dave.

{Interestingly enough, Reid Stowe, the guy who had planned to spend 1,000 consecutive days at sea, just "landed" in NYC today. (If you haven't heard about this, you can catch up with the story on his travel log.) I have been following his mission with interest since I first heard about it three years ago. He crushed his original goal of 1,000 days by making it 1,152 days! Anyhow, they are having a big party for him this weekend at Pier 66.}

Our hotel, The Ravel, is only a mile from Central Park, and we are hoping to get into the city by noon and do some walking. It is also within a mile of Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, Carnegie Hall and several museums but unfortunately we will only have a few hours to spend before the evening wedding. If all we have time for is a nice lunch and a stroll in Central Park, that would be perfectly fine with me!

How strange it will be to only have one child with us. It will be almost like turning back time to when it was just Dave, Amanda and I. Same stroller, different child.

The girls have been looking forward to their "sleepover" with Omi for quite some time now. They have a menu planned, a birthday party to attend, and a movie picked out. I'm certain that popcorn, ice cream and swimming will also be somewhere on the itinerary. The really big thing is that they'll be sleeping downstairs (!!) on an airbed. Yes, both girls sleeping on the same airbed. Boy, if it's anything like getting them to sleep together in a hotel bed, I wish Omi luck.

Even though the girls are excited about their first sleepover, I am predicting a frantic phone call around 8-9 pm. One, but more likely both, girls will be in tears asking,"When are you coming home, Mama?"

One thing is for sure. I know I'll be just as eager to see them come Sunday.

Liam can sit!

Liam can officially sit! Unassisted! Without the Bumbo seat or Boppy pillow!


As you can see in the background, the girls are quite proud of their little brother! Their faces say it all.

You should have heard their squeals of excitement and overflowing pride when it happened earlier this afternoon!! They wanted to immediately call Daddy at work to tell him the good news, so we did.

As soon Dave answered his phone, Amanda exclaimed,"Hi Daddy! Liam can sit!"

And then we emailed the photo to him for proof.

A very exciting day, indeed.

I admit, even though I am thrilled with Liam's newfound skill, these milestones seem to be coming one after another now, fast and furious, and I feel like time is slipping through my fingers.

I know I keep saying this, but how is it possible that he will be five months old in another week? I really don't think time went this fast with Amanda, nor with Eva!

Pen Pals

The other day, I received an email from a good friend in Wisconsin asking if anyone would be interested in being pen pals with her son.

Knowing this was right up Amanda's alley, I asked her if she would like to do it.

As I suspected, she was thrilled to have someone to exchange letters with! Usually her written correspondence is pretty one-sided so the thought of someone actually writing back to her was a novel idea.

During Quiet Time the next day, Amanda asked for some "fancy" paper and a pencil, and sat down at the kitchen table to begin her first letter.

Look at that concentration!

"Mama, how do you spell 'making'? Mama, how do you write '4 1/2'?"

We have been working on lower case letters so this was great practice for her.


What an excellent project for the summer!