Cape part II

We got up Thursday morning and had breakfast. We didn't really have a plan for the day and since it was supposed to be cool we didn't plan to go to the beach. We ended up hanging out in the yard all day. Sophia was happy as a clam in her pack n play watching M&J run around.

Nana Fitzy's neighbors came over to say hi. There is no way Maddie remembers meeting him before but before he even got in the yard she was running up to him and put her arms out for him. She barely does that for people she knows!

Jackson decided to read the paper in the Adirondack chair.

At one point I went inside and decided to set up a location to take some pictures of M&J in the light of the open front door. I tested out the light with Jackson's puppy. This is the puppy that he sleeps with every night and always wants to hold when he gets sleepy. He has now added his big puffy blanket to his must have items. He insists that I wrap him up in it and hold him.

Back out in the yard shirts came off for popsicles.
We hung out in the hammock.


Jackson showed Nana Fitzy how he can hit a ball that is pitched to him and we kicked around the soccer ball. It turned out to be a beautifully warm day and we totally could have gone to the beach but it was nice to get to spend time with Nana Fitzy.

In the late afternoon we took a drive to Mashpee Commons and walked around pretty quickly.

The kids got a cupcake and I sat with them while they ate them so Nana and Auntie could look around some stores without M&J trashing them.

Nana left Mashpee Commons on her own to meet a friend for dinner while Auntie and I drove back to Nana Fitzy's house. We all had chinese food for dinner and hung around.

That night sleeping was a little smoother but I was still up with Maddie once and Jackson ended up sleeping with me in the twin bed the rest of the night.

After breakfast Friday morning we started packing up our things and said goodbye. We stopped at the Wrentham outlets where I once again entertained the kids outside while Nana and Auntie went into stores. It was a nice day.

It was nice to get home Friday evening. I had been away from home for 7 days at that point because before we went to the Cape I was staying in Boston photographing the elite athletes of the Boston Marathon. I'll post more on that later.

Cape mini vacation part I

Last week I took the kids to visit Nana Fitzy in Falmouth with Nana, Auntie Courtney and Sophia. We drove down Wendesday morning and got there around noon. We brought the bikes so they rode around in the driveway for a little bit then we all took a walk/ride to the beach. M&J did awesome riding their bikes along with us.

This is the very first beach M&J were ever on almost 3 years ago. It was really sentimental for me especially because it doesn't seem that long ago.

It was really cold but they were having so much fun throwing rocks in the water. Courtney ended up walking back with Sophia because M&J wanted to stay at the beach.

Eventually the lure of the water was too strong. Jackson just couldn't help himself. His shorts got soaked so I took them off.

Maddie joined him so her skirt came off too.

We finally dragged them away. On the way back they were good enough to stop and pose for this photo with a fish mailbox.

Maddie still hates to have her hair brushed. Even when it's not snarly she cries hysterically. In order to get her hair brushed so we could go out to dinner Nana pretended to have a hair salon (not that she even knows what that is) and it totally worked. She let her brush her hair and didn't cry.

We went out for an early dinner at a beautiful restaurant right on the water. M&J had fun playing with their linguini but wouldn't put it near their mouth.

Kisses for Nana. He is the absolute sweetest boy on the planet.

They were getting antsy by the end of the meal so I took them outside on the docks to run around a little.

After dinner we went back to the house and the kids watched the original version of Alice in Wonderland and then went to sleep without too much fuss on their mattresses on the floor in my room. They each woke up a few times during the night. At one point I was sleeping on Maddie's mattress with her then another time Jackson was in a twin bed with me then another time Maddie was in the twin bed with me. After falling asleep and waking up again I realized she was laying with her torso on the bed and her legs hanging off the side. I don't even know how. Then they were up for good around 7.

I don't have skin cancer

About a month ago I noticed a spot on my chest that wasn't there
before. It had all the characteristics of non-pigmented melanoma.
The dermatologist thought it should be tested so he numbed the area
and shaved it off. The shot hurt but getting it cut off didn't but it
totally grossed me out. I had to wait about a week to find out it was
benign. Good news.

Sent from my iPod

Taking the train to Boston

Last week I took the kids into Boston to visit at the Elite Athlete Village for the Boston Marathon.

I thought it would be fun for the kids to take the train in rather than drive. I was brave and didn't bring the stroller. They were fabulous. They listened to me, held my hand when needed, and were SOOOO excited to ride the train.

In Copley square...

We basically just hung around for a few hours and played with our little friend Yasmine. We had lunch with friends and saw Grandpa who was working there too.

Then it was time to get back on the train to go home.

They fell asleep in the car on the way home. Since I had my camera with me I took some pictures of them.

I must kiss this perfect little face a million times a day. I just can't get enough of him!

M&J have both always slept with their hands in little fists. It's so cute!

Maddie's eyelashes are really light near the base but gradually change to a dark color at the end.

First beach day of 2010

A few weeks ago the weather was forecasting 80 degrees for the next day. Auntie Kristen and I decided to take the kids to the beach. I got to Good Harbor with M&J around 10 am. It was nowhere near 80 degrees. I didn't bring towels because I didn't think they would go in the water since I knew it would be freezing. The only thing I had to keep us warm was the blanket that I brought to sit on.

Even though it was so cold M&J just wanted to put their feet in the water.

They were running away from the waves. This is what the kids were doing when I was sitting on my blanket and was approached by a woman walking on the beach. She said, "Don't you think you should be watching them more closely?" I said, "I'm pretty sure they're fine. We've done this before." She said, "I just think you should be closer, you never know what kids are going to do." While I understood what she was saying I said, "I know my kids pretty well and I know they are fine." She said OK with an attitude and walked away.

We were there for about an hour when Kristen and her cousin Melissa and baby Alyssa joined us. Our friend Rhiannon and baby Carter came a little later too. Around noon time the chill in the air finally started to go away and it turned into a beautiful day.

After the beach we went back to Kristen's house and hung out in the yard once Raffe got home from school.

There once was a little girl, with a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead...