Summer 2012

Making the most of a New England summer is top priority around these parts! (Admittedly, this is easier said than done when Mom is in the throes of morning sickness.) But still, we made hay when we could!

After a quiet Fourth of July at home (our town common has a lovely little parade and festival for families), we spent a week in Otisfield, Maine on the shores of Pleasant Lake with aunts, uncles, and cousins--the first time we've been able to attend more than one day of this yearly family tradition. Joe further honed his sailing skills, Ian got his first hole-in-one, Jen ate as much seafood as she could, and Blake became a more confident swimmer. (Or, as he puts it, "Blake touched water.") At the end of the week, Joe and Ian were able to spend a day deep-sea fishing with Jen's uncle...an experience that continues to be discussed to this day.

Ian continued to lose more teeth and learned how to ride a 2-wheeler (two unrelated events, of course), and Blake learned to love the tricycle. Also in Blake-related news, he was evaluated in July and was found to have completely overcome his gross-motor delay. In just over a year, he was able to make a tremendous amount of progress, and these days you can hardly tell he ever had a problem. (We do, however, miss our PT, Marissa.)

We were also able to tag along with Joe on another conference--this time in Minneapolis, MN, where his sister and her family live. We spent a fun week playing with cousins and exploring one of the few places that's even colder and north-er than our little New England town. 

Continuing our family tradition, we ventured to Newport, RI with good friends to cheer on the U.S. Polo Team. Next year we won't make the mistake of going on Labor Day weekend, though. Nooooooooope. (And we also won't forget the cheese platter.)  

Ian started the first grade in September and has loved [almost] every minute of it. He's become quite the reader and mathematician....and is a pro at the art of the word search. Blake is finally venturing out on his own--making new friends in nursery and having play dates.

Joe and Jen--as always--spent the summer tagging along with the boys. Isn't that what summer is for?