Are we there yet?

After being in Florida all week for work I was happy to be home with my family. Cassidy and I met my sister and nephews at the beach on Friday. While driving there... not far from our house, Cassidy said something. I turned down the radio and said "What?" and she said "are we there yet?" LOL Her first are we there yet! 

Busy at work, slacking at home

It's always the week you have plans after work that work becomes crazy busy. But... I still leave work. I may boot up the laptop when I get home from shopping and dinner with my sister but I went shopping and out to dinner so I feel I still maintained my new motto of everything being more important than work.

But yes, work is crazy busy. My Friday off wasn't really off. I worked a bit today. I'm off to Florida for the week but the good thing about that is there's lots of time to work when you're alone in a hotel room at night.

The result of all this craziness is not too many pictures. But in our playtime we've done lots of puzzles. Cassidy is getting really good at them. We bought her some 25 piece puzzles. They are all Mickey Mouse. One is missing a piece and upon finishing it she always says "and we can't find the missing piece" LOL.  I think she thinks we're still looking for it. We're not.

We built a Lego tower taller than Cassidy. I think her favorite part is knocking it over. Which makes a mess.

And watching TV while reading a book. I know she's copying us because we've reached the point where we can't stand any of her kids shows anymore so we read while she watches her shows at night.

Great Weekend!

We had a great weekend! Friday Cassidy and I visited my best college friend and had a lovely lunch and swim in her pool (OK, Cassidy refused to swim but she happily played with Lego’s on the deck while the rest of us swam). My friend’s daughter is the only girl in her family so we also got a sweet Barbie 2 wheel bike (with training wheels) for Cassidy. My friend’s daughter was so sweet to Cassidy. She made her a goody bag with hair ties. Which works out great for me because Cassidy wouldn’t wear her own hair doodads but “Olivia’s barrette” is getting lots of use.

Asleep in the car on the drive home

Big smile for her new barrette (which you can't see in the midst of all the curls)

Saturday we just did normal house things – lawn, grocery shopping. But we grilled (chicken and steak tips) and had a nice dinner. Cassidy loves corn on the cob!

Sunday was great! We went to the Aquarium. We got there on the train because something was going on in Boston and the roads near the Aquarium were closed. It was Cassidy’s first ride on the train and she didn’t want to get on when it arrived at the station. She was crying and had me in a choke hold. But she calmed down and we explained that it’s just like a car but it carries lots of people and mommy & daddy don’t have to drive.

At the train station

The aquarium was fun. Cassidy kept saying “more animals”! She got a pink penguin at the gift shop which she appropriately named, pink penguin. We had an awesome lunch at Tia’s (man that was a good salad!). Cassidy rode on a Merry Go Round with no tears for the first time! I was so proud of her. We walked over to Faneuil Hall but now it was starting to shower (it was unbearable hot & humid) so we headed towards the train pretty quickly. Cassidy slept briefly in the car on the way to ice cream near our house, where of course she got purple ice cream (black raspberry). She wanted to share with mommy, but mommy is sick of strawberry & black raspberry so she declined.

Then we headed home, we crashed on the couch ready to just relax for the evening (especially since no nap was making someone a bit testy). I hugged Bill and said “today was awesome”. I urged Cassidy to hug us both from the other side of Bill. Doing so she head butted him in the eye socket! As Bill writhed in pain I scooted over to make sure her head was OK (it was). Just then I heard the rain come pouring down and I pushed aside the curtain and said Wow look at that rain! I hope we don’t lose power. And one minute later we lost power.

It came back after about three hours, a hundred explanations to Cassidy of why the house had no power (storm, electricity, no TV or light) and a quick dinner out. So it was a super busy Sunday but really very fun. Can’t wait for next weekend!

Last weekend I got some great scrap booking done. June and July. I love the summer colors and the beachy items. 

Okay vacation

I took Cassidy up to my parents cottage for a few days. Of course this is when two year molars start coming in and my normal happy girl was whiny and crying at the drop of a hat. It was a rough few days and we came home early. She's still a little off but at least she's back home and sleeping better.

She relocated all of my mother's garden ornaments into a big line. She was very proud of herself.

My father had just pulled up the street. She had the biggest smile!

Smelling the flowers

She's addicted to the swings and the playground. On Thursday we went to five different playgrounds and went on the swings twelve times!

The dogs enjoy the outdoors too.

When I decided that we were going home she was sitting crying, I was packing and she said "I'm sorry, I'm sorry". I feel bad that she was having such a hard time. Of course it wasn't until our first night home that Bill notices her tooth!

She's been enjoying going outside at night lately. We had some impromptu skinny dipping one night, she went on the swings one night too. I'm pretty sure she's stalling to go to bed.

Bill and I sit with our feet on the coffee table. but she sits in a chair at the coffee table but still tries to put her feet on it. She's too funny the way she copies us!

I'm hoping our next vacation (36 more days!) is happier. I'm not even back to work yet (tomorrow) and already planning my next day off! It can't come quickly enough.

Here is my scrap booking of the 4th of July

This summer is awesome

We've had such great weather. Okay a little hot for Bill's taste but I've been loving it. Last weekend was SO hot we didn't do much of anything. Cassidy went in her pool in the backyard and yelled for me to take her picture.

It was nice to play indoors for a change. We read lots of books, play doh and tickling fights.

I do wish we'd get some rain though because we've had some brush fires in my neighborhood. Tuesday night the fire truck was on our street and a helicopter overhead (looking for more fires). That's a little scary.

I signed up for the Making Strides for Breast Cancer Boston 2012 Walk in October. Some family and friends have said they'll walk with me. Work has been busy so when someone from there called me the other day I know I was short with them. They invited me to a kick off breakfast? I asked what the date was and told her I was travelling on business. I'm sure it sounded like a lie but it's actually true that I'll be in FL that week. She said she'd call me after that to give me my welcome packet.  After I hung up the phone and thought about it I'm wondering...  uh I don't just show up and walk? What welcome packet? What is all that about?  I guess I'll have to wait awhile to find out...

I realize my posts have gotten to about once a week but hey, it's summer. I don't sit at the computer much. I haven't been taking many photo's. I'm too busy having fun! And I have lots planned for the next 10 days or so :-)

Great long weekend

It was so nice to have a five day weekend last week. Cassidy and I kept very busy. We went into Boston with a friend of mine. Saw the swans, baby ducks and smelled the flowers in the public gardens.

We went to the beach. With our giraffe  George. A women stopped and asked us if he was wearing his sunscreen haha.

And Bill bought Cassidy the little Mickey Mouse chair. Mom and I couldn't figure out how to close it so we carried it back to the car open and shoved it in the backseat!  A funny great day!

Over the weekend we went to Davis Farmland. If you're not from around here its a huge petting zoo and sprinkler park. Cassidy loved petting the animals. Mama did too and has a new best friend - Snickers the Llama!

Great long weekend!

Not Crazy Busy

When I began this year I wanted to reduce stress in my life.  I am doing an awesome job!  I read this article this week: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/. I love
" I’ve always understood that the best investment of my limited time on earth was to spend it with people I love". Now I'm not saying that I'm not busy because I am. But I try to be busy doing things I love! A long time ago I read that it's ok to be busy as long as when you look at all the things you have to do in a day, you're happy to do most of them.

We had a nice 4th of July holiday at my sisters. As soon as Cassidy saw the pool she wanted to go in. My dad had his bathing suit on so in they went. Except she hated it. Don't think she realized she wouldn't be able to stand up. and it was cold!  When we got home I asked her if she likes Auntie's pool and she said no. At least next time I know not to bother bringing her bathing suit!

Our lovely hosts

Cassidy also got her first at home hair cut last week. I wish I'd taken a before picture so everyone could see her mullet. I just cut across the back to even things out. I won't ever do that again as I definitely didn't miss my calling as a hairdresser!

Otherwise we've just been hanging out at home relaxing and playing. One of my favorite things about kids is that playing is something they do. I remember Lenny would respond to "What did you do today" with "Play" and now Cassidy gives me the same response. I love it!

my mom gave Cassidy this funny towel for Easter and this was the first time she put it on

Relaxing with a snack in our backyard.

A little blurry but so cute!

Happy long weekend everyone!