July
2008
July has always been one of my favorite months! I love the
beach, and we are very fortunate my Mom lives in a beach
community in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Since Courtney was born, we
have been spending our summers at the beach house, and it is a
world away from the stressors of life and work. There are movies
on the beach a few nights every week, and Bingo nights, salty
water and sunny days! Claire didn’t understand when I was
packing that we were actually going to ‘live’ with Grandma for
the summer, she just thought we were going to visit for a
‘couple of days’…
One of the best things about July is when the kids get to see
their cousins; Sam, Nate, and Emma! My sister does not live on
the East Coast anymore, so, those visits are always very
anticipated by all of us……
This year, friends invited Courtney to Newport, Rhode Island for
the first week of July. She was nervous, excited, maybe a little
scared? She was a little upset about missing the July 4th Bike
Parade at the beach, but, slightly mollified when I told her she
wasn’t going to be able to ride this year because she was ‘too
old.’ All was well the first 3 days, she sounded excited about
all the things they had been doing, and very happy and relaxed.
But, on Tuesday, we had a call from our friends, saying that
maybe we would like to visit for the day? So, I packed Claire
and I up and off to Rhode Island we went for a visit….and, we
had a ball !! The weather was great, and we rented little two
seater bright green cars, and bopped around Newport all day….it
was so much fun! I cannot wait to go back and bring Steve with
us….the family invited us to come visit them again in August for
a few days and I am going to take them up on their offer…. When
we arrived in Newport, Courtney was fine…she had just been
missing us and wanted us to come visit, but, she didn’t want to
come home! So, we enjoyed our visit, and left on Wednesday
evening to go back to Connecticut….we are fortunate it is only 1
½ hours drive!
We are Baseball fans (Go, Boston Red Sox!!!)…. Our friends’ Son
was asked to be the bat boy at one of the New Britain Rock Cats
baseball games, and we decided to go cheer him on! It was a
double header……and, a very late night! The girls’ had a great
time together, and it was fun watching Christopher run out onto
the field to get the bats from around home plate. Claire was in
her glory, munching on peanuts and eating hot dogs!
WE have a new addition to our Family!!!! On July 10th, we
adopted a puppy, and named her ‘Carly’….she is an early birthday
gift for Courtney, who has been asking since we lost our dog
‘Bailey’, for a puppy. I have been missing having a dog, and
also felt it would be a great thing for the girls to have TWO
pets….so, now Riley has a playmate! It is hysterical to watch
them together….they chase each other, and Carly chews on Riley’s
ears while he is sleeping….what is up with that? It is almost
like she is saying ‘Hey, Riley, wake up!!! It is time to
PLAY!!!’ Thus far, there has been no bloodshed….yet!
It has been a wonderful summer so far…..friends, family and fun,
what more can we ask for?!!
|
Courtney and Mom in the 'little green car' we rented in Newport,
Rhode Island...it was a BLAST!
Fourth of July, 2008 ; Claire's First Bike Parade
Cousins!!! Emma, Nate, Claire, Liam and Courtney
Claire started loving the water toward the end of July....she
especially loved her little tube! |
