Sunday, August 31, 2008

Childhood Is...

Dancing anyway you want
dancing

Believing in pirates
pirates

Running through the waves
running in water

Staring contests
the staredown

Swinging high enough to reach the sun

swing

Crabbing
crabbing

Flying horses
more carousel

Climbing a tree
climbing

Building a sandcastle taller than you

sandcastle

An ice cream cone after dinner
ice cream

Crashing at the end of a full day

crashed


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

Saturday, August 30, 2008

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.

class

Thursday, August 28, 2008

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.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Reflections

Reflection

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

Saturday, August 23, 2008

A Movie on the Beach

Popcorn and sand, what a combination.

Picnic on the beach

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.

enjoying her popcorn

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.

Ready to ride

Bumblebee Ride

Thursday, August 21, 2008

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.

Getting my food

Ringing up my order

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.

Getting the weather report update

playing the drums

Climbing the rock wall

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.

Her first class alone

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

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!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Happy Birthday Aunt Christina!

Aunt Christina

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

Saturday, August 16, 2008

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.

Getting Sleepy

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.

Oh yeah, I forgot

Dancing to the music

Friday, August 15, 2008

Goodbye Kisses

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

Kisses for Forster

Thursday, August 14, 2008

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

Steam Train Engine

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.

In the Parlor Car
showing off her parlor car seat


Cheching out the view from the window
watching the world fly by


Parlor Car
the parlor car


Parlor Car
the view of our car from the steamboat


Looking out at the Connecticut River
a view of the CT river from the riverboat

Watching the world  racing by
back on the train again


say cheese
a sleepy LP and her daddy


Tired after a long morning
a sleepy LP and her mommy

Happy Birthday Uncle Matty!

Jumping with Uncle Matty

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

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Ice Cream Treats

An Ice Cream Treat

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.

You want a lick?

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.

Sharing bites