Pool Party

This year we almost didn't rejoin the pool. With my work schedule and Kellen's dual naps in 2012 we just didn't get our money's worth last year. Thankfully this year we gave it another go and it has been great! We have hit the pool 3-4 times a week since it opened and have been enjoying our evenings, Fridays, and weekends there. We also have a lot more friends that are members now, and as the kids get older and meet new friends through school and sports I think that will become even more the case. The kids are loving the pool!

Kellen has to stay in the little pool which is fine with him. Noelle prefers the big pool, but only gets over there when both mommy and daddy are able to go. She is becoming much more comfortable in the water and blows bubbles while she kicks and walks on her hands. She'll occasionally put her face in but not generally without coaxing so that is our challenge to get her swimming by the end of the summer. Grandma is going to give her a lesson this weekend and then I think we'll pay for a few private lessons since they are pretty reasonable at the pool. Kellen loves the water and gulps it as he puts his face in a zillion times a day. I think he'll be swimming by the end of next summer.

We are loving our summer pool time, especially meeting up with friends there! Happy Summer!

Frederick Road Fridays

I love Catonsville. This town is so perfect for raising a family. We are super close to Baltimore, an easy drive to DC, and there is so much to do out and about around town. Summer is the best time to experience all Catonsville has to offer, and one of the things that makes it great is the free concerts! Last year we went to some of the concerts at Lurman Theater on Saturday or Sunday evenings to listen to music, dance, play with friends, and eat, but we hadn't been to the Friday concerts in town. Until two Fridays ago. On the 13th after a long day of doctor appointments and an afternoon at work with my kids where they were mostly angels, we hit up the first Frederick Road Friday of the season to listen to music, eat pizza, drink beer, and play with friends. We had a great time! And Kellen ran in to one of his favorite friends, Max! We'll definitely be back and can't wait for more fun Fridays!

A Day for Daddy

I just finished week one (plus 2 days) of seven of my programs so finally have time to get a post in. We had a lovely Father's Day to celebrate Bryan and some of our other favorite dads on the 16th! The day was pretty low key but we ended with a little cook out with some of our favorite friends - the Hollywood's and Dobucki's! The 4 little ones enjoyed playing, and the adults enjoyed catching up since it had been months since all of us had actually been together with our work schedules and all the sicknesses we had over the winter.

It was a pretty nice evening even though it threatened to rain so we got the water table out for the kids and they had a blast while the grown ups enjoyed some margaritas. I love some of these pictures because they really capture the kids' personalities - my big girl star and my little silly future class clown! After the kids played, we ate our kabobs, corn bread, fruit salad, and then our ice cream sundae bar. Yummy! Hope everyone else had a Happy Father's Day too!

 

 

 

An Interview About Daddy

By Noelle Saxton, age 3

To celebrate Father's Day, I interviewed Noelle about the main man in her life, daddy. Here are her responses:

My dad's name is Bryan.
My dad is 100 years old.
My dad spends most of his day sleeping.
My dad is really good at helping me ride my bike.
My dad always says for me to mind my own business.
When my dad picks what we play, we always play Candyland.
I love my dad because he is the best dad in the whole wide world.
My dad loves me because I am so special and so nice to him.

Her interview was the perfect mix of sweet and sass, just like her and her daddy, but she definitely got the best dad in the world part right!

We love you B! Happy Father's Day!

Berry Fine

On Saturday night I had another mom's night themed dinner so we have had two yummy themed dinners in the last three weeks! For our mom dinner we stayed seasonal and went with fresh berries for the theme. We had a lovely evening chatting, eating, and drinking, and everything was delicious. We started the night with wine and appetizers of baguette with goat cheese, blueberries, and honey on the deck since the weather was perfect!

After appetizers we sat down to dinner which included a lovely salad of greens, berries, walnuts, and blue cheese,  a green bean and raspberry hazelnut toss, a barley and rice asparagus, cherry tomato, and cranberry side, and my meatloaf with spicy blackberry BBQ sauce. Everything was delicious. We also had wine and/or the cranberry pineapple rum cocktail Lorena made. Yum!

 

 

After dinner we adjorned to the deck again and finished the night with our strawberry panna cota. Light and refreshing and a perfect end to the evening!

We had a great time and I am already looking forward to our August meal - tomatoes and basil!

All Work And No Play

The first weekend in June is always both one of my favorite and least favorite few days of the year. JSAM weekend is our training weekend at work where we bring our administrative team together from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. It is great to get the team together and really get things going for the summer. What isn't so great? Working 10 straight long days. Or missing out on family. Three years ago Noelle took her first steps while I was working away during the weekend. This year I didn't miss any milestones but I did miss out on a visit with my grandmother and mom and a beautiful weekend.

My mom brought my grandmother through on her way back from the OBX to Philly so that grandma could see the kids and check out the PT cruiser. Her 27, yes 27, year-old car finally stopped working, so she got the PT cruiser as a replacement. On Saturday, Bryan and the kids drove up to Philly while I was at work to get my mom who kindly drove the PT up there for grandma. They all had lunch up in Philly and played with some vintage Mr. Potato Head and were fabulous musicians I hear.
 

When they got back to MD, Bryan and my mom took the kids to the pool. It looked like a great time with lots of friends! Chick-fil-a and Opie's were also on the agenda and I heard a rumor that Kellen got to partake in double doses of ice cream thanks to the super nice workers at Chick-fil-a bringing him and Bryan an extra one they had made!

Sunday's agenda wasn't so exciting as Noelle (sorry about to get real here!) was up for a colon cleansing. Yes Miralax isn't quite as fun as a summer day at the pool. Of course that was the day I got home in time to play with the family for a few hours. Not the same kind of excitement as Saturday! But Noelle was a trooper and I love spending time with my family even if that is the kind of excitement we have going on!

It's summer time now. Although I am definitely going to try to play just as much as I work this summer!

My Hawaiian Love

One of my colleagues gave me a hawaiian shirt when I was pregnant with Kellen. It finally fits and I think he is rocking the beachy look! The Oscar the Grouch socks add a little something too.

My baby boy is looking so grown up (and ready for vacation) these days. Not to mention lazy. Kel you could probably hold your cup with your hands and not just your teeth!