August fun

So it has been a long time coming. Sorry that it has taken so long to write an August update. Our August started off on a whirl with a trip to Maine for what was going to be one week and turned into two! We had a great time while up there. We enjoyed seeing family that we hadn't seen in many years, celebrated a graduation, sent Kristen, my sister, to her first day of high school, saw a parade and built a patio along with other activities. We spent a weekend at the camp where we had a bon fire, relaxed in hammocks, went fishing, kyaking, made homemade tortillas, played lots of GREED and enjoyed each other. The real shocker of the trip though was how good the kids did since we drove the whole way up (15 hours). Mom and I drove through the night as I thought it would be best for the kids. They were fabulous. I wouldn't be opposed to doing it again. It wasn't a bad drive, especially if you have a good book on tape and person to keep you company! (thanks again Mom!)Mom's garden is fabulous... the kids loved to eat the veggies straight off the vine~ especially Scottie with the sugar snap peas. Unfortunatly, Mom's tomatoes got northern blight or some kind of disease and we had to pull up almost all of the tomatoes and potatoes. She still has some in the green houses though. We enjoyed time together picking blue berries multiple times since we ate all the first ones we picked. Mom made fabulous breakfasts for the reunion at the "lake house" is now what we call the cabin. Some day she dreams of starting a restraunt that serves breakfast~ many different kinds of pancakes, waffles, and stuffed french toast. If it was anything like she served us, it would be a hit!

Tim and I built a patio for their gazebo to go on. We had to dig out crazy roots of dead trees, level the ground as best we could, move and piece together heavy flagstone... I think we did a pretty good job. Unfortunatly I wasn't able to see the completed project but I hear it is very nice!

I had a great time learning how to make lots of fun food. I once again helped with making tortillas for one mexican meal, learned how to make sushi~even though I was not that good at the rice, and of course one of my favorites, you can't go to Maine without eating LOBSTER! We ladies had a good time cooking for the group or for friends. I love to learn from my mom...!

The kids loved playing with all their uncles and aunt. It was the first time that they met Tim's boys- Cameron and Brenden, but they took it in stride. We celebrated Brenden's high school graduation while we were up there. Uncle Jeremy was fantastic with Stephen and Aunt Krissy was a big mommy's helper, so much so that she is coming for 2 weeks during her fall break to help me here in VA! I am looking forward to this so much.

The rest of August was trying to get back in the swing of things.

We were able to get together with Stephen's first friend from San Antonio, go fishing with him and spend some time together at a lake in Maryland as they were visiting "grandma." It was a special time to rekindle a special relationship and see how the boys hit it off like they didn't miss a beat.

We also enjoyed riding bikes with our friends Michael and Nicolas from down the street, every day, sometimes multiple times. We miss them since school started again but look forward to the evenings.

I will update more as time goes by. Our lives are very busy right now with Peter building a shed, training Boots the pup, planning Scott's 1st birthday party and Peter's 30th! Hope you all are doing well and would love to get updates from you as well!