Close Quarters

Spending several weeks on vacations have made the boys closer than ever.  They have always been pals but have become more inseparable because they have had to share close quarters with each other.  Once returning home they decided to continue this closeness and share a bedroom together.  This required a couple of changes to happen, we had to move Colby's full bed downstairs to the guest room and move the furniture in Lincoln's room into Colby's room.  They were, and are, ecstatic with the changes and seem to have no regrets about the decision.

As with any big move, respecting each other's space becomes a factor. For example, Colby has always called out to check  if he can get out of his room in the morning (even with a clock in his room) or called out to us in the night if he needs to use the bathroom (which he has been told he can just go). I was concerned that with his brother in the room with him he would continue to do this and wake Lincoln up even though I had made it very clear that he does not need to call out in the night.

We are two nights into this experiment and so far things have gone well.  Bedtimes have gone alright, Tom and I expected the talking and giggling and the boys finally fell asleep fairly quickly. The first morning I woke up to Colby in my face saying "Mom, do you think it's alright to flush the toilet or do you think it will wake Lincoln up?" I was quite startled but very proud (and tired) all at the same time.  And then last night, again being very startled at first hearing someone in the hallway, Colby got out of his room to use the bathroom.  After telling him for a year he finally does these things on his own so as not to disturb his brother.  He's such a good kid that in the future when he smacks Lincoln in the night to wake him up I'll have a hard time believing his brother but that's what being brothers is all about.

S'mores

Please excuse my absence for the last few weeks. As always the summer is spent relaxing...which means packing, cooking and doing laundry to go away on vacation. I did this in back to back weeks, it was lovely and wonderful but it took its toll on me and the boys.  I could have posted much sooner but Tom and I have started to watch the show Game of Thrones on demand and we are binge watchers so that has also weighed heavily on my absence.  My apologies, so without further ado, let me continue to fill you in on my life....

For the past three years a great group of friends have decided to vacation together.  Of course fabulous times are always had by all but what really caught my attention this year when I downloaded the pictures was the growth in the boys.  They look the same and yet the have grown so much.  The first year we went on vacation Lincoln still had his pacifier and we stuck him in a chair so as not to get too close to the flames when we did s'mores.



2012

2012

And the next year Lincoln upgraded his seat to a tricycle! Colby continued to rock the sideways bite is his own style. 

2013

2013

And this past year we let the kids have a bit more freedom, even getting a good laugh when Tom's marshmallows caught on fire! Again, the changes are subtle but they are maturing into amazing little men.

2014

2014

2014

Vacationing with great friends is a perk to the summer and having wonderful photos to look back on remind me of what fabulous summers the boys and I have.  I'm not ready to let go of summer yet so don't get any ideas New England!

Cousin Love

Happy belated 4th of July.  I hope you and you families had long, wonderful weekends. Tom, the kids and I loaded up the big tan van and headed to Maine with plans to see a wide range of family.

*I did not bring my camera to Maine. I could say that I wanted to really be in the moments and take them all it but the truth is I just forgot it. 

We set up home base at my parents house and had a great dinner Thursday night in and old mill in my hometown that was renovated into a restaurant. It was great to start the trip out with a quiet family dinner, just the 4 of us, for an easy transition into the busy weekend. We, like most of New England, had a rainy 4th but were still able to visit with almost all of Tom's extended family.  It's great to catch up with cousins that we don't see enough of.  Even trapped inside from the rain the kids enjoyed each other's company and the cousins got a chance to laugh together and tell some old stories. The following morning we celebrated the baptism of two of the cousins children (2nd cousins I think, I get so confused with the correct terminology) It was windy from the storm passing out but lovely and was nice to celebrate with the two beautiful little girls. 

The following day, Sunday, we headed out to visit some of my cousins that were vacationing in Maine. Another cousin (and her family) my Aunt, and my sister got the opportunity to all catch up, spend time with one another and see all of our children together. It had been too long since we had seen each other, I hadn't even met one cousin's husband (who was super nice & sweet).  Colby & Lincoln hit it off immediately with their 2nd cousins (or whatever relation they are) and ran around and acted as if parents did not exist. It was wonderful.

2nd Cousins enjoying birthday cupcakes
Photo from my phone (only one I took)
 

I was grateful to get such a great visit in with everyone.  We left and headed for home from there.  The entire car ride home I reminisced about all the great memories I have had with my cousins; 4th of July's in DC, skiing at Sunday River, hot summers on Sebago lake, holding my first baby, Sarah, in my arms, weddings and all the times in the middle.  It was great to make more memories with all of our cousins with promises made to not go as long the next time.

ABC's

It's summertime! Glorious, warm and lazy days have arrived.  We are taking the days in stride, sleeping late, eating fresh fruits and vegetables (from other people's gardens), having water fights and relaxing as much as possible. This is what summer is all about, right? For the most part yes. Colby starts kindergarten in the fall and to help keep what he has learned in preschool fresh in his mind I attempt to make fun activities for him to encourage this. Granted, I'm no homeschool expert, we do our fair share of counting rocks and worms but sometimes nothing beats old fashion flash cards with the ABC's on them.

Flashcards, clothespins and twine hung from the living room across the kitchen was all that was needed to make an ABC adventure.  (Oh, and a dog we were dog sitting for too) I'm sure the clothespins help some motor skills too but I was just looking to prolong the activity and make it fun for both Colby and Lincoln.  If they had a question or got stuck they ran down the hall to Lincoln's room to see the stickers of letters on his bedroom wall.

Colby confidently hung his letters in a row and was quite proud of himself.  Lincoln, like any younger brother, had to do it himself after Colby had completed it. They celebrated each others completion like a victory in a sporting event, running around, clapping and giving pretend trophies. I never said my boys weren't hambones!   It was fun for all and consumed a good morning but tomorrow we will probably put the flashcards away and have a good old water fight! It is summer after all!