Childhood Is...

Dancing anyway you want


Believing in pirates


Running through the waves


Staring contests


Swinging high enough to reach the sun


Crabbing


Flying horses


Climbing a tree


Building a sandcastle taller than you


An ice cream cone after dinner


Crashing at the end of a full day



Put them all in one vacation and you have a summer you never will forget.

Fashion Diva

Lilypad Princess took a couple of classes at the Children's Museum while we were away. These were classes without parents, but we could keep an eye on what was happening through a little window. During snacktime, I noticed LP look down at the green plate at her place. Then she looked over at the orange plate at the seat next to her. Then her eyes traveled down to her dress. Before I knew what was happening, she reached over and switched plates, explaining to the teacher that the orange plate matched her dress.

The Crossman Girls

(minus 2, Lee and Christy we missed you!)

Shoes On The Beach

Toes In The Sand

And We're Back

Lilypad Princess, Nana, and I have returned from almost 3 weeks at the beach. Lilypad Dad spent a week with us, then came back for a weekend. We had lots of visitors while we were there, Eka, Auntie La, Auntie Diane, Uncle Eli, Baby James and his mom, Jack and Sarah and their family, and as a special last minute guest, Pop Pop!

I will never be able to catch up on all three weeks of events individually, but I will do a few picture posts. Here is a partial list of what made the past 3 weeks so special and full of memories.

1. Visiting
2. Children's Museum
3. Watch Hill Flying Horse Carousel
4. Beach
5. Park
6. Crabbing
7. Walks into town
8. Mystic
9. Dinner Dates
10. Yarn Shops
11. Relaxing in the yard
12. Book Barn
13. Pool
14. Ice Cream Truck
15. Watching the Moon
16. Paperdolls
17. Puzzles
18. Books on CD
19. Angelina Ballerina
20. Climbing Trees
21. Local Fair
22. Music at the Winery
23. Tag Sales
24. Bike Riding
25. Kite Flying

Auctions for a Good Cause

My friend Jenny over at Buby & Bleu is holding some actions to raise money for a blogging family that was involved in a terrible plane crash. Please visit her site for more information on this wonderful family, and to bid on some of the great items that she has up for auction.

Reflections

She loves spending mornings up in the guest bedroom with Nana.

A Movie on the Beach

Popcorn and sand, what a combination.



During our last trip to the beach house we headed to one of the large public beaches for movie night. We packed a picnic dinner of sandwiches, blueberries, and of course, popcorn. We spread out our blanket on the sand in front of the screen, and started eating while waiting for the movie. Which unfortunately never started, the weather reported the possibility of rain so 30 minutes after the movie was supposed to start they just canceled it. We never even found out what movie we were there to see, but Lilypad Princess enjoyed the popcorn anyway.



Luckily we had gotten there early enough to take a couple of rides so the trip over wasn't completely rained out. Lilypad Princess was very excited to be able to go on the bumblebee ride by herself, she waved at us every trip around.

Connecticut Children's Museum

During our last trip to the beach Lilypad Princess took her first alone class at the Children's Museum. We went over earlier in the morning to let her play for a while first, and as usual she spent the majority of her time in the Mexican restaurant serving us rice, beans, tacos, and ice cream.





She also enjoyed blowing bubble, making music and climbing the rock wall outside. The tv weather station also kept her occupied for awhile, she apparently likes watching herself on tv.







After an hour or two it was time for class. Lilypad Princess walked into the classroom without a backwards glance at Lilypad Dad or me. This was her first full class without a parent, and she did a great job. She enjoyed sitting on her carpet square for story time, chose goldfish and water for her snack, and did a great job during the playdough craft time. I had a much harder time than she did, and spent 40 of the 45 minutes watching through the window.

Disney Day 3: Animal Kingdom

Just a few of my favorite shots from Animal Kingdom.

Lilypad Likes: A Butterfly Wing

Fliss over at Photo Adventures took this photo of the wing of a butterfly. I love the detail and the color. I think this would be an amazing photo to have blown up for a wall. Thank you for letting me post this Fliss!

Happy Birthday Aunt Christina!

We hope you are having a great birthday out in California. We miss you and hope you will visit soon.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Across Eka's lawn!

Music, Wine, & Food

Last summer Lilypad Dad and I discovered a beautiful winery not far from the beach house. Every Thursday night they have their Summer Nights Music Series. A picnic, a bottle of wine, and and some music under the stars (or under a tent depending on the weather) is a wonderful way to spend a summer night.



We finally managed to make it one Thursday night. The weather wasn't very nice, so the dance floor and jazz band were set up under a large, white tent. The on again, off again rain apparently kept the majority of people away, but we had a great night. We spread out our blanket right next to the dance floor and enjoyed our picnic while waiting for the music to start. Once the jazz band started, Lilypad Princess hit the dance floor. She quickly made friends with another girl and the two of them ran and danced until the very last song.

Goodbye Kisses

Goodbye kisses for Forster before heading to out for the day.

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

The highlight of our second trip to the beach house this summer was a ride on the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat. Lilypad Dad surprised us with tickets for the Parlor Car, so we took the train ride in 1920's style. Lilypad Princess loved having a little table to put her water on and being able to swivel her chair around to look out all the windows. We took the train up to a dock and from there boarded a riverboat. The riverboat was not as exciting to LP as the train, she was very happy to get back on the train. We can't wait to go back, we are looking forward to the North Pole Express train in December.


showing off her parlor car seat


watching the world fly by


the parlor car


the view of our car from the steamboat


a view of the CT river from the riverboat


back on the train again


a sleepy LP and her daddy


a sleepy LP and her mommy

Happy Birthday Uncle Matty!

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday Uncle Matty, happy birthday to you!

Ice Cream Treats

After checking out the butterfly garden, we stopped to enjoy an ice cream since it was such a nice summer evening. Lilypad Princess insisted on Uncle Dave sitting at the little tables with her while they both ate their vanilla ice cream.



LP offered to share her cone with Uncle Dave. Despite the fact that they both had the same kind of ice cream, they ended up sharing their ice creams until they were done.