Tyler's Birthday Weekend

We've all experienced some rough times over the past year......

stressed about the little things....

yelled at each other and forgotten what we were even upset about....

hospital visits...stomach bugs....need I go on.

So when it comes to birthdays, I don't think it's possible to "over do it"....because we are going to take any excuse to celebrate, smile, and eat cake!!

Tyler's Birthday, August 7th, fell on a Sunday this year......so we started celebrating on thursday with a trip to the cape!!!

I got both kids dressed in cute outfits....and after being there 10 minutes they were soaked from the water table, half-naked and enjoying a popsicle....it was sure to be a good day!

Next on the list for Tyler's Birthday extravaganza was a quick cuddle from Uncle Gregory

who came out for the day to see him since he couldn't come on his actual birthday..

and then onto the main event - A PONY RIDE!!

This was Tyler's gift from G-G and Great Great (great grandparents)

Now we have done a pony ride before...you know, the small fenced-in area with a circle worn into the edges that 5 or 6 horses walk mindlessly around while your kid is on their back....

this was not that kind of pony ride.

This was a trail ride....into a huge field....that Mom wasn't expecting so she wore flip-flops and couldn't keep up....so Dad and Great Great (yellow shirt and hat) walked beside Tyler

and although he asked to get off his trusty stead Coco (more than once) and was a little nervous...

he totally hung in there and made us all smile!!

After so much activity it was certainly time for an ice cream...at 10:30 in the morning...

lets put it this way, we were standing outside waiting for the ice cream place to open and I think they took pity on us and let us in a little early....again TOTALLY WORTH IT!!

And a sugar high should always be followed by a sweet ride...the best 50 cents I spent all day!!

and then it was home for a rest to get ready for the beach.

After naps we packed up and headed to the beach....and it was a gorgeous afternoon...

with a little patience from Mom, Dad, DeeDee and Dup we made it until low tide which is when the fun really began...sand bar....mud volcanoes...and races with Dad!!

The kids had dinner on the beach (while we were spoiled with lobsters when we got home)..

and when they got home G-G had a special cake for Tyler to decorate and enjoy....

Day one of Tyler's birthday extravaganza a total success.....

it ended with a twilight walk down to the dock....

strolling with Dup...

and piggy back rides from whoever had the most energy....

when Joe and I went to bed it left us saying "so what are we going to do on his birthday?"

The next day Tyler, Ava, DeeDee and I headed downtown to do some damage at the local toy store.

DeeDee went there with the best intentions of buying things only for the birthday boy....

but she just couldn't help herself....

When lunchtime rolled around Tyler and I were beat and took a little snooze....

and Daddy was there to catch us in the act, I guess Tyler was a little more tired than I was!

Then it was off to the beach again...it's Cape Cod, that's what you do!!

this time Casey and Uncle Jeff joined us...

and we came up with a new form of childcare.

 Back to the house for "a few more minutes" (as Tyler would say) and some backyard fun....

then it was a night time ride home, which Tyler was awake for and Ava

only fell asleep when we were getting off the highway(at 8:30pm)!!

Saturday was a recovery day and we didn't go anywhere or do anything or take any pictures because

WE WERE SO TIRED!!

As I looked at the weather for sunday, I was grateful that we had so much outdoor fun at the Cape

because rain was in the forecast....so our trip to Davis's Farmland was cancelled

and replaced with Tyler's 1st cinema experience, WINNIE THE POOH!!

The morning started as every morning should with M & M pancakes and a sip of juice

from a Lightning McQueen cup!!

Then onto opening some gifts while Ava had her breakfast picnic on the floor....

Then Ava stayed home with DeeDee and Dup while we took Tyler to see Winnie the Pooh, which I was a little nervous about how he was going to do seeing as how his last theater experience was less than positive.....but he did fine and I learned that if you are the mother of a toddler and want them to sit still for any length of time, a lollipop can be your best friend!!

Then back home for more gifts, family, and of course more cake!!



What a great birthday weekend....my little guy already 3 years old...when I look at him

on his new bike it almost makes me want to cry!!

I can't believe he will start preschool soon and I think I'm in total denial that one day in the not so distant future he will be in school all day and not home with me.....
but until then I am going to soak up all of these moments,
all of these smiles....

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TYLER!!

Just like Bermuda!!

Today we went to Breezy Hill Wateslides in Douglas, MA.

We waited until naps were over, packed up the cars and drove 15 minutes to our lakeside oasis....

it was Uncle Kyle's 1st visit and as he took in the surrounds (which if you've never been to Breezy Hill the people watching alone is worth the admission!!) he muttered "just like Bermuda."

Logan felt like she was in Bermuda, striking a pose at the water's edge..

Tyler made good use of his new life jacket and did not leave the water....

except when he asked Dad to go down the waterslides, which they did only once....only once because they were going to fast Mom couldn't even get a picture....so fast Dad didn't lift Tyler up at the end....

so fast that the spash in this picture is Dad and Tyler under water after their landing.....

a landing that clearly Tyler was not expecting!!

So it was back to the comfort of the lake for more playing....and more smiles...

and although Logan was not sure if she was having fun or not

we all enjoyed the cool breeze off the lake and the simple pleasure of having family so close by.

When we got home that evening it was like National Geographic in our backyard.

New neighbors moved in this past week....

Four Cooper hawks had made a home in our back woods....

This pine tree is right over the kids sandbox......which makes me slightly nervous!!

Well the new neighbors were trying to say hello to the old neighbors...our family of turkeys...

and before there was any bloodshed we decided it was time to go upstairs and get ready for bed......

As Tyler walked up the stairs, holding his new car he got as a "poopy present" for doing poopy on the potty, he handed the car to me and said "mommy you can play with this because you are my best big girl"......a perfect ending to a great day!!

In the blink of an eye.....there goes July!

This crazy month started with a weekend at DeeDee and Dups Beach House to celebrate
the 4th of July!!

Which of course meant a lot of time at the beach and we soaked up every last drop of sun!! For those of you who may not know, it goes unsaid that when down at the beach the "adults" get the beach chairs and the kids sit on towels...

with the exception of DeeDee's only granddaughter who gets to do whatever she wants!!

Tyler got to connect with cousin and "his best big guy Kenny"

And we all cheered on Dad and Dup during the sailboat race.....after which Dad and Dup both decided they would never do again unless there was a steadier wind.....

The weekend went by way too fast....we played with Bentley and Auntie......

 Tyler went for a sail in the harbor....

and then we made our way back home to rest up for our next adventure.

Next stop: Dup's 65th birthday!!

DeeDee planned a surprise party for Dup at Pinz bowling alley in Milford and we all became kids again!!! Joe made t-shirts for all the kids with this picture on the front...

and we all celebrated in the "King Pin Bowling Suite"

It seems it was from one thing to the next this month....Logan Marie's Christening......

Bentley Christopher turned 1......

and somewhere in between we still had time for popsicles.

Ava decided her and Dad had to try on their winter hats as temperatures reached a cool 100 degrees....

We also had our very first sleepover with Ava and Tyler's big cousins Sophia and Maya....the kids each made their own ice cream sundae...

and we all laughed as we watched the sugar slowly enter Tyler's blood stream and the giggling began...

All in all I think this summer has turned out just the way I expected it to...

crazy, fun, busy, hectic, beautiful and full of family.