Welcome one and all... this is a chalk town complete with all the essentials: #1 McDonald's, followed by a zoo, park, library, post office, swimming pool, church, mall, and of course The DOLLAR STORE (curse you Grandma Julianne!)
The kids loved this idea, they loved it so much that Lyv started to sob uncontrollably when it was time to go in for lunch. I'm so mean, but I thought her crying face was so funny - so dramatic!
Our Memorial Weekend was pretty low key, but super fun. We cooked up a dutch oven Raspberry Cheesecake cobbler, 
slept out on the trampoline (got rained out at 5 a.m.), had a battleship tournament, 
and played a major game of softball at the ward picnic. Yesterday I woke up and realized that I'm getting old... why did this realization come? I couldn't move my body, I was so sore! All because I ran some bases? Really that is so sad.Summer is fully upon us, and we love it - there is nothing better than icecream or a popcicle, or Lyv's case both.
Jack is making progress, I won't say mastered yet, but progress in potty training. Mostly due to the fact that he loves, and I mean loves to go pee outside and be naked. Seriously this child was born in the wrong time, to the wrong mom because it drives me crazy. However, I will let him strip down to go potty outside in hopes that this will make the whole potty training complete. (this is the second picture of Jack's naked back side, and hopefully the last, its just so funny!)
Jack is making progress, I won't say mastered yet, but progress in potty training. Mostly due to the fact that he loves, and I mean loves to go pee outside and be naked. Seriously this child was born in the wrong time, to the wrong mom because it drives me crazy. However, I will let him strip down to go potty outside in hopes that this will make the whole potty training complete. (this is the second picture of Jack's naked back side, and hopefully the last, its just so funny!)
Traditionally my family immediate and extended gathers together to celebrate Memorial Weekend camping in Island Park. We have dutch oven food all weekend long, lots of games, golf, fishing, and laughs. This reunion still occurs (even without ME! what?) and we've missed it so several years. Last year we hurried home after Shawn's graduation to be there and I'm so glad we did... it was the last family picture that we have with my entire family in it (minus Christine). Everyone was there. 
It was also the last time I saw my brother Ryan, as we moved out to New York a week later. Ryan loved this tradition, and he never missed it. He loved the outdoors, loved camping and fishing. He encompassed the ideal of camping - it was natural, it was part of him. So that being said, this holiday and tradition though they are still celebrated and loved, have a little piece of wonderful missing. There is one less fisherman, one less muddy dirtbike, and one less smile at the campfire. I love and miss you Ryan.
It was also the last time I saw my brother Ryan, as we moved out to New York a week later. Ryan loved this tradition, and he never missed it. He loved the outdoors, loved camping and fishing. He encompassed the ideal of camping - it was natural, it was part of him. So that being said, this holiday and tradition though they are still celebrated and loved, have a little piece of wonderful missing. There is one less fisherman, one less muddy dirtbike, and one less smile at the campfire. I love and miss you Ryan. 
The area is perfect because it has tons of family activities... seriously a miniature golf course every half mile. So while Lyv napped, the boys hit up Pirate's Cove a favorite of Shawn's!
The hotel also had a swing set on the property and so the kids had a great time on this after dinner each night. Did I say kids? I mean Shawn... he's just an overgrown child.
We ended our trip with a day at the Lake. The Lake is 37 miles long, and has over 150 small islands. It was a very important transportation route in colonial times, as well as an important battle site in the French-Indian War and Revolutionary War. We visited Fort William Henry which lies on the south end of the lake, and then took a cruise. It was a nice family trip together, and we were happy to have taken advantage of the beautiful area which we live in.
At the beginning of the year, I questioned myself daily on whether this was a good choice to keep Sam for one more year. Now that we have reached the end, I'm confident that it was the best choice. He is such a smart boy, and loves learning. Here are the boys in front of the "preschool" area, posing with all they've learned and accomplished this year. They were wonderful.
He and Jack have become such great friends, and I love seeing them play together, talk together, share together, and fight. Good Job, Sam! We celebrated with the kids favorite: Dunkin' Donuts (my kids can't get enough of them and Jack wakes up asking for more Dunkin' Donuts, mom?)
Jack's mind works in mysterious ways, and I often wonder how he comes up with some of the things he thinks of doing... point in case: Let me dip my pork chop bone (already gross) into my milk and suck off the juice. If that description isn't given you dry heaves, then I don't know what will? To make things worse you have Shawn who is laughing hysterically at him, and me who is running to get the camera... what more incentive does a person have to continue to do crazy things?? 
The UGLY... shield your eyes, and prepare for some 2 year old nudity. The week has been dreary with rain, and the boys had been cooped up long enough. They headed outside during a slight intermission, and found that the dirt patch and turned into lovely mud. Sam came in to tattle on Jack, informing me that he was in the mud. I told him I'd be out in a second, (Sam took this as a sign that it was okay for him to follow Jack's example). I grabbed the camera, and by the time I got back out THIS is what had unfolded.
You can imagine my surprise at finding these two wild boys covered in mud. After a quick picture, I had to do what any mean mom would do - hose them off with freezing cold water before putting them in the shower. (I hoped that no one passing by would report me to child services as they watched me do this). Now, I'm one who does appreciate mud and playing in it, but taking off my clothes and throwing on each other and the house is where I have to draw the line. 
Yesterday we hit up Lowes and got our patio garden started. While I was doing this, 
Lyv had wondered into this....
