Mommy-Cole Time

Cole and I went blueberry picking last Saturday! We went early- 8am and got there before it got too hot or too crowded. It was really nice to have this Mommy/Cole time- we really enjoyed ourselves. Picked over 7 pounds in 40 minutes and only needed to pick from 3 bushes because they were just loaded! It was fantastic! And eating those warm blueberries off of the bushes was pretty great too. Cole was very proud of himself for picking entire bucket. When he was done that he decided to run the length of the aisle and back again and then sat down and ate some blueberries. We talked about the nets over the bushes and why they are there to protect the berries from the birds. He was concerned that as soon as we stepped out of the netted area a bird was going to swoop down and eat his blueberries but I reassured him that birds generally stay away from people if they can help it!  

We go again next Saturday to pick another 7...10? pounds!  Yummy!!

Amazed

Jennifer McKinney is someone I've never met...yet she continues to amaze me, to uplift me, to make me laugh, and most importantly, REMIND me of who God is.  Her little boy Stellan (8 months old) is again in the hospital in very grave condition.   Yet Jennifer continues to point to God, knowing....remaining confident in....praising even....God who has a plan for us all, even her little baby.  My heart breaks for her but I continue to pray for her and for Stellan as well. Won't you pray for him too?

These orange bracelets were bought in support of Stellan. They say "Stellan Will Live".  Indeed he will....

Fishing Trip and more pics of my Grandpa

My Dad planned a "boys" trip to go deep sea fishing when my Grandpa was visiting. They all got up early (4:30am!!) and made their way to York, ME to go striper fishing. I think the big laugh was that it wasn't actually deep sea fishing...they were only like 50 feet off shore! But I think they all had fun and Brendan was proud of his big fish! : )  He didn't eat it though....

I just love this last photo. Too bad Kerry is not in it...she was at work. 

Come Sail Away, Come Sail Away!

Ok, we didn't really go sailing but we did take a nice little excursion through Portsmouth harbor a couple weeks ago. It was delightful with the only exception that Charlotte, had she been only slightly taller, would have quickly scrambled over the edge and into the water if she could have!  It was a beautiful day and just so pleasant. 

Tried to get as many of pics of my Grandpa and the kids.  Charlotte never completely lost her shyness around Grandpa but that'll change come October!

Gymboree dress: $25

Land's End oversized hat: $15

Getting "the look" from a 18-month old: priceless

Believe it or not, during the Perfect Storm in '91, the waves went OVER this lighthouse. Amazing.

Cole was quite content watching the wake in the back of the boat. He also loved waving to other boats and just generally enjoying himself!

This is my new summer home. 

This has an interesting story: everytime the original owner of this house wanted a bigger party, he added a new room to the house. The house has 34 rooms!

Cole has become very interested in maps!

The boat was "this big" Mimi!

Let's Go Fly A Kite!!

Cole has been waiting ever since he got his Spiderman kite for Easter from Grammy and Paw-Paw to go out side and fly it.  Finally two Sundays ago the weather was perfect! We tried to get it going in our yard but the open area isn't big enough (too many trees!).  Cole sure did enjoy it though!

We brought it over to Mimi's later that day but the wind had died down. Uncle Jay thought he would try to get it going by running around the front yard. If nothing else, it was a funny site to see. : )

4th of July

My dear, dear Grandpam along with his friend Ruth came to visit all the way from Nevada! It was so wonderful to see him- it had been 2 years since we last saw him!   When I was a pre-teen, Jay and I spent 3 weeks in the summer for 4 consecutive years at my Grandparents place in Chicago and their summer house in Wisconsin on the lake. Some of my fondest memories are with my Grandparents (and my cousin Matt who would fly in from Montana). It was weeks of  being spoiled and no parents. It was lazy days at the lake house, swimming in the lake for hours on end, fishing, water-skiing, and watching fireworks on the boat. It was getting to choose the sugary cereal at the grocery store, having soda whenever we wanted, Klondike bars, and watching movies that my Mom and Dad probably wouldn't have okayed, like Jaws!  It was riding in the back of my Grandma's station wagon (with no seat belts!), driving through the flat land of Wisconsin's endless corn fields, and riding the train into Chicago to watch a Cubs game. I will always, always treasure my memories of my Grandparents and the weeks we spent out there.  Sadly, my Grandma passed away in 1999 and Brendan was never able to meet her, but I think about her often and it always makes me smile to remember her and her humor, her laugh, and her assertiveness. I miss her all of the time!  So I am always so happy to see my Grandpa.  We are visiting him, as well as my Aunt Gail, Uncle Phil and cousin Matt and his wife Cassandra in October. I can't wait to see them all!

The Sevins go to the Dentist

Cole loves the Berenstein Bears books.  We read them often and since Mimi has such a good library of them we borrow from her.  Perfect!  I like them because they have good lessons and also prepare kids for different events...like going to the Dentist!  Cole actually went last month for his consultation.  He was great! So obliging! He was thrilled when he got stickers and little toys for being so great and was happy to report to Daddy that the dentist counted his teeth and that he didn't have any cavities.  Incidentally, I asked the dentist if it was common for kids his age to have cavities and he said sadly it was because of all of the juice kids drink!  Anyway, Cole and I went back a week later for his first cleaning. We were in a seperate room this time and while the hygenist was talking to me we could hear a child screaming bloody murder in the next room. You would have thought they were cutting off an arm or something! Anyway, that kind of freaked Cole out.  As an aside, you also are already familiar with the fact that Cole hates new tastes/foods. Well, the fact that they put the cleaning paste on his teeth was not ok, he started crying and just being very upset. I have to say I am really impressed with the people at Vangaurd in Derry because they handled it really well. It was over and done with in 10 minutes and Cole amazingly walked out of there with still a good feeling about the dentist (maybe it was the 10 minutes of video games we playing in the waiting room afterwards!).  So there was no lasting affects and we go back in January. Cole is super serious about brushing his teeth now and often repeats back what the dentist told him ("Remember Mommy, you brush my teeth at night and I brush my teeth in the morning and at school.")  So that is one for the memory books. : ) The pic above is Cole showing off his toy dino that he got from the first visit and the first one is a cute one, just because!

Visiting Grammy

Waaaaaaaaaay back when, on July 3rd, we visited with Grammy for the day. It was such a beautiful day, we walked along the Weirs and just enjoyed the outside!  Cole was excited to see the train come through and Brendan showed him how to flatten a coin on the tracks! Cole was like, "Why are we doing this?", but thought it was cool in the end.  Saw someone dressed as a bear walking around- Charlotte was fascinated but would not go over to say hi without the help of someone else!  Saw Ethan unexpectedly which was a nice surprise!

Oh, How the Years Go By..

Does anyone remember that Amy Grant song from the early '90s?  For some reason I've had it stuck in my head for the past week and I cannot get rid of it. I had a cassette of her pop music way back when and I think I probably wore it out I listened to it so much. That was the same album of "Baby, Baby":

Baby Baby

This song is dedicated to millie, whose six-week-old face was my inspiration Baby, baby I’m taken with the notion To love you with the sweetest of devotion. Baby, baby My tender love will flow from The bluest sky to the deepest ocean. Stop for a minute Baby, I’m so glad you’re mine, yeah You’re mine. Baby, baby The stars are shining for you And just like me I’m sure that they adore you. Baby, baby Go walking through the forest The birds above a’ singing you a chorus. Stop for a minute Baby, they’re so glad you’re mine, oh yeah And ever since the day you put my heart in motion Baby I realize that there’s just no getting over you. Baby, baby In any kind of weather I’m here for you always and forever. Baby, baby No muscle man could sever My love for you is true and it will never Stop for a minute Baby, I’m so glad you’re mine And ever since the day you put my heart in motion Baby I realize that there’s just no getting over you. And ever since the day you put my heart in motion Baby I realize that there’s just no getting over you. Over you. Baby, baby Always and forever Baby I’m so glad that Here for you baby So glad you’re mine Baby I’m so glad that When I think about you it makes me smile Baby, baby be mine Baby I’m so glad that Don’t stop giving love Don’t stop, no Baby I’m so glad that you’re mine Baby I’m so glad Baby I’m so glad that When I think about you it makes me smile.  Charlotte is 18-months old today! Each month seems to go by quicker and quicker than the last and I find myself scrambling to document everything that has happened.  Charlotte is a true toddler....independent with doing things herself (like using a fork), saying more words every day (and being proud of herself when she says a new word), and playing and running (tonight she had to hold the baseball bat just like Cole and when I threw the ball so it would bounce off of the bat, she threw it down and started running, expecting me to chase her like I do with Cole!). She's in the toddler room at school now and is enjoying being one of the "big" kids very much. She has meshed in well and loves repeating all of the names of the kids and teachers in her classroom.  The same teachers are there from when  Cole was in the toddler room and I just adore them so we are all happy! Charlotte is a wonderful eater.  She tries anything- tonight she ate the green peppers in my salad. Loves chicken with sauce better than grilled chicken, is a huge veggie fan, and would probably eat us out of house and home with the amount of cheese she wants! She prefers water to milk and loves dried fruit like raisins!  But there are give and takes with any child and Charlotte is a horrible sleeper!! Let me rephrase that...she is a horrible sleeper in her own crib! Often she wakes up around 10 or 11 and will ask to be put in our bed which we still oblige.  We've taken to putting her down for naps in Cole's bed on the weekends and she sleeps like a...well, a baby. I think she is just used to the softness of the mattress now. I think we'll move her into her own "big girl" bed sooner than we had moved Cole into his big bed..probably after our Nevada trip in October. She is a snuggler and has learned how to say hug ("hu") and often tackles anyone with one of her tight squeezes.  She adores Cole beyond words and often copies what he is doing.

She often wants to be picked up. But often only while I am busy making dinner or something. If I am playing on the floor with them she is ok wandering off and not being next to me all of the time. She just really enjoys my attention and I am happy to give it to her!

(This is what our living room often looks like when people aren't over! : ) Messy...but oh well!)  Charlotte likes to play cars just like Cole!

She is a happy wonderful little girl and all 3 of us love her to bits!

Preview

I now have over 450 pictures to go through from the past 3 weeks. I'm in way over my head with blog posts, but post them I shall.  I used my 2008 blog to help me (start to) make a 2008 photobook complete with stories and updates so that's my motivation for completing it here.  For now, enjoy these photos from the past several weeks of fun filled activities!