Cape Cod, part 1

We rented a house in Cape Cod for the week, with two different sets of friends coming to stay at different parts of the week. We'd found the house online, and although it's a bit hotter than we wish (no air conditioning in a heat wave!) it has otherwise surpassed our expectations. The girls LOVE the backyard, especially.

We took a preliminary trip out to the beach the first day, for just a short time. It was wonderful to be out there with the girls, and they had a great time in the sand.

Kerrie and Hart got in later that afternoon, and the girls are already having SO much fun with Kerrie and "her friend" as they keep referring to Hart. Kerrie read the girls a bedtime story, which they loved, but we can't say much else positive about the sleeping situation. When booking this spot we decided the girls could sleep on two mattresses on the floor, and didn't need cribs anymore. Man, that is hard transition. Things haven't gone exactly well (late nights, difficult falling asleep/staying in the room/etc.) but it had to happen sometime. Maybe this will soften the transition at home when we move to big girl beds there (fingers crossed).

The next day was a bit overcast, and the girls were getting restless at home, but we didn't want to get caught in a big storm on the beach. We looked for a blueberry farm that is apparently gone, and after sad girls couldn't stand to be in the car any longer we looked up and there was a carousel in Hyannis! We could scarcely take enough pictures of the joy - we were so glad to see the girls happy.

Part of sleeping on the floor and being on the go has meant we haven't really gotten naps in, so some of the afternoon got a little bit dicey - and when in doubt, go for a sure-fire crowd pleaser. We went of to Four Seas Ice Cream and had a delicious set of cones we all swapped around.

Then it was off to the beach after all, because as Elena kept telling us "Is a nice sunny day for a beach."

And it really was. We're hoping to spend the day there tomorrow...we didn't want to leave today. The favorite game of the afternoon was 1 2 3 Splash! The girls made it up. You yell "1, 2, 3" and then run into the surf yelling "Splash!" Then you run back, backwards, up the beach.

Such fun little sweethearts.

Boston

We started summer vacation '10 traveling across the country to Boston. We only had two flights (instead of our usual three to get to the East Coast) and the girls did very well overall. There was some resistance to seatbelts, especially at the end of the second flight, but they really held it together pretty well. We thought we'd see the city a bit, getting in at 5, but between getting a car, getting to our hotel, and getting something to eat we were wiped out and all went to bed.

The next morning was one of our favorite mornings ever. The girls hopped into our bed happy and bright and sweet to each other. We cuddled in bed and watched Caillou.

Then we stared out the window, watching the rowers and the ducks on the Charles River.

Then it was off to Quincy Market for some breakfast,

and lots of picture posing.

We stopped at these fountains on our way to the North End, and each girl tried to convince her sister to go in first. They splashed just a little bit in the end, but it was fun to watch the negotiations.

Here, Elena is saying: "I smell somefing!" We tried to tell them there are just lots of smells in the city, some nicer than others, but she wasn't about to quit her dramatics for a silly picture her mom wanted.

Everyone here just doted on the girls, and gave them tons of compliments, and made us feel so at ease and welcomed. We were offered lots of advice, directions, and yummy food - and we accepted it all. We ended up at our favorite pastry shop, Mike's Pastry, for some lobster tails (and lots of cannolis to take with us!).

It was a really wonderful day. We traveled downtown via a shuttle from the hotel, and two memorable interactions on the ride with the girls follow.

*******************
Steve: Elena, look at all those tall buildings!
Elena: Yeah, sysapers! (skyscrapers - we didn't know she knew that word!)

Clara: Can we get a cookie?
Christina: Sure we can, we'll get a cookie at the pastry shop.
Clara: I'll put it in my pocket! I put yous in my pocket, too.
Christina: Honey, you don't have a pocket - you're wearing a skirt.
Clara: That's okay! I put my cookie in my undies. That's a good idea?

In the end, no, not a good idea. But SUCH a fun day!

Fourth of July Camping

This weekend we went with friends to camp just 45 minutes from our home. The girls had one of the nicest trips of that length we've ever had, and on the way we spotted mountain goats, deer, horses, and cows.

When we got to the campsite, they were happy to help us set up. Here Clara and Charlie bring in some of the sleeping bags.

Christina was trying to figure out how to get a sharp rock out from under the (already set up) tent.

Maeve jumped in to help by sliding UNDER the tent, to try to get the rock out with her foot. Do we have nice friends or what?

If you've spent much time around Clara or Elena in the last year, you'll think this next photo is surprising. Although they love the idea of dogs, and pretending to be dogs, they grow wary around actual dogs. Somehow they got over that with our friend's dog, Jasmine, and they really took to her. It was great to see.

Trying to get the fire started...or some people earnestly working to get the fire started and some bemused in the background.

Elena here is showing off her socks - they are the ones she got for riding the carousel by herself, and she wanted to show them to EVERYONE.

What sweeter sight could anyone ever hope to see? Steve took the girls to the creek while Christina hung out with friends at the campsite. Upon their return, they saw Christina and bolted for her, showing off the grasses they had found on their way. Such a sweet trio here.

Some of the friends who came camping play lacrosse - Elena would like to put an early bid in for this to be her sport, too.

S'mores cheers! The girls didn't really like our "you are two years old so you get two marshmallows each" rule - I think they could each have eaten a whole bag!

This is where Leni started showing the lack of nap that day and the lateness of the hour - she's trying to eat her marshmallow...

But can seriously barely keep her eyes open.

Clara, on the other hand, was full of energy!

And full of company. Charlie is a sweet friend to both girls, but he definitely plays favorites. At first he liked Elena best, and in the last few months he has switched to Clara. He sat himself down beside her to hold hands all while she ate her marshmallows.

And, unexpected to any of us, brought on the affection even further.

Clara loved the attention, but was too busy to sit still for long. She took the care of Jasmine on extensively. She was allowed to give her this bowl of kibble for dinner, but when Jasmine didn't seem interested Clara took it upon herself to feed Jasmine the entire meal, piece by piece, from her own hand.

Leni continued, in those twilight hours, to battle her fatigue. Here she keeps saying "I'm just too tired, I'm just too tired." When Christina suggests bed, the response is always an adamant no.

But she did just flop over several times! And it didn't seem to be (entirely) for dramatic effect.

Caryn engages Clara in a game of hide and seek, helping her count. Most of the campsite looked like what you see here (one big boulder field behind us, and these trees all around) so hiding spots were really sparse!

Soon, attention drifted to the boulder field instead. It was dramatic and beautiful, and everyone had fun climbing it to their varying abilities.

Elena finally passed out at about 10:00, and Clara stayed up for some time around the campfire with the adults. She really didn't seem sleepy until right before we were going to bed, at about 11.

We are happy to report that the girls did MUCH better than they did last year sleeping on the floor of the tent in their sleeping bags - they really didn't migrate around at all this year. We did have an issue with Elena waking up and wailing for about 20 minutes - she seemed upset and disoriented, but rejected all of our efforts to help the situation. We probably woke up the surrounding three campsites, at least. Eventually, she slipped into a sleeping bag with Christina to sleep the rest of the night (yes, that had been offered and rejected at least five times already by that point, and no, we have no idea why the idea finally became okay).

Also, it was COLD!! We know many of you are having temperatures higher than you know what to do with, but the low was 40 degrees, and it was just so very, very cold to be out in a tent. The girls didn't seem as bothered as we did, and perhaps no one was as bothered as Christina, who huddled around a fire Steve made her in the morning and finally gave up and sat in a car with the heat on. Pitiful.

Stoic, camp-skilled Steve rustled up some irish oats on the campfire - the four of us have never been so happy to have warm oats, and it finally got the day going on the right foot.

After breakfast, Elena pulled Christina aside and said "Look, Mama! My moon! My friend come back!" She continues her love affair with the moon from when she was very young, and she's always so happy to find it out.

The new day brought another trip to the creek -this time Christina came to get evidence of the fun on camera.

Both girls enjoyed watching the water go by as we walked over a series of these bridges over the creek.

Steve started showing the girls how to fish - Elena is adamant that she wants her own fishing rod now!

Here is Clara "catching" a fish (this was a fun pretend game - the hook never came out here).

And here's Elena "catching" hers:

Elena takes some time out to blow a wish on her dandelion:

And Clara takes up fishing with a blade of grass.

It was really a very fun camping trip, but we were happy to get home. We all took a nice long soak in a bath or shower, washed our hair of the woodsmoke, and hung out in the garden for a while.

Beautiful Clara of the poppies:

Lovely Lena of the berry patch:

And "cheers" to all on this fourth of July. Happy Independence Day!