Feeling Hot Hot Hot!!! . . .

We've been in the grips of a heat wave here in New York for the better part of a week.  It's been in the 90's and horribly humid.  It's supposed to finally break on Saturday with bad storms coming in the afternoon. 

 We've been keeping cool in the pool with friends . . .

 . . .  and cousins.

This past weekend, we were invited to a birthday party for one of the little boys that Megan goes to daycare with.  His name is Robby (I wrote about him on Megan's birthday and shared that I secretly hope he and Meggie get married someday!!)

The birthday boy, Robby.  Is he beautiful or what??

Sadly, we recently found out that Robby and his family are moving back to his mother's hometown in England in August.  We are truly going to miss this wonderful family but wish them all the best in their new life across the pond!!

The party was held at a wonderful little park a few towns over from ours.  There was a pavilion with lots of shade.  There was also a playground with lots of sun and, you guessed it, swings!!  And, of course, Megan would have been on the swings the entire time if we had let her. 

 Thankfully, I have a husband that doesn't mind pushing his "princess" on the swings while sweating his butt off. 

 And, thankfully, we brought along these two "brothers from other mothers" (as they call each other) to help out with only a little hemming and hawing on their part.

Our "adopted" son, Jakhai, who is with us thru the Fresh Air Fund for the whole month of July.  I can't begin to tell you how much we adore him and his family!!!!!!!!!  This is our third summer with him.  He's growing into a handsome young man and was just accepted into a Charter School in NYC!!  Way to go, Jakhai!!!!!!

 When it was my turn to push Megan, she wanted nothing to do with me taking any pictures of her.  When I tell you she had a smile on her face as long as I was pushing her and started to cry the minute my hands left the swing to pick up my camera I'm NOT kidding!!!  LOL!!!

Serious drama going on here!!!! : )

 My Irish skin and I can only take so much sun and heat and I was finally able to lure her back to the pavilion with the promise of a lollipop.

Meg and her BFF Cybele.

Sweaty AND sticky!!

 Everyone had such a great time and we're going to all get together in our backyard to continue the party tomorrow night!!  : )

 I wanted to share this one last photo.  This is the sunset we were blessed with after the birthday party.  We've been seeing these every night since the heat wave started.  I guess it's Mother Nature's way of telling us to hang in there until the end of the day because it will all be worth it.  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful and peaceful Thursday ~ Wendy

Lots of Photos!!! . . .

Last week, we took a much needed family vacation to New Hampshire.  With Jim's company being on strike for almost a month of the summer, we were looking forward to fun in the sun (well, maybe not me.  I don't like the sun very much, truth be told!!)  and finally getting my Dad's boat back in the water. 

This is where we stayed.  We rented three cottages on Lake Winnipesaukee.  One for Jim, Megan and I.  Another for my sister and her boyfriend and two of their kids.  The third was where all the boys slept. 

Megan and Jakhai (our "adopted" son who was brought into our lives thru the Fresh Air Fund and who is now a semi-permanent member of our family.  I keep trying to talk his mom and dad into letting him live with us all year 'round but for some reason they just won't give in!!  LOL!! )  They're hanging out with Charlie.  That's what the kids named the plastic guy.  : )

Keeping cool with ice pops on a hot New Hampshire nite.

Annie and Brendan.  Cousins born a month apart who adore each other. 

Brendan hiding under the lake dock, trying to avoid the wrath of my lens. 

Muddy handprints left on the dock.

I'm not touching you!!  I'm not touching you!! 

Meggie on the beach.

Annie deep in thought.

Cousins.

Brendan.

Julia on the boat.

Julia, Brendan and Annie tubing in Lake Winnipesaukee. 

My sister, Cindy,  braving the tube with the girls.

Coming in from a spin around the lake.

A beautiful New Hampshire sky.

The muck at the bottom of the lake dried into clay.  My nephew Tristan decided to give himself a facial with it.  : )

Our oldest son, Connor, came to NH for a couple of days and the guys decided to go fishing early one morning.  Unfortunately, all they caught was seaweed!!

Megan, Annie and Julia.

Jakhai playing in the sand.

All aboard!!

It's nice to be blogging again!!  More photos of our vacation tomorrow.


Many blessings for a happy Tuesday ~ Wendy

this moment . . .

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

Many blessings for a happy and peaceful weekend ~ Wendy

Over the Weekend . . .

we had lots of ten year old boys hanging at our house.  After two years of promising to let Brendan have a camp out in the backyard, it finally came to be!!

 Jim was able to get the pool opened up on Saturday with the help of a few friends.  The water was amazingly clear but the water was FREEEZING as you can tell by the look on Brendan's face!! 




 



 After a dip, the kids thawed out on the driveway.  They all wanted to cuddle up to my husband because he was so warm from setting everything up in the backyard.  My husband's new nickname is "Furnace" which was given to him by one of the boys.  LOL!!  
  

Hotdogs, cheeseburgers, french fries, chips and watermelon were on the menu for dinner.  S'mores for dessert.

A tent city was built in our backyard.  It was the perfect nite for sleeping out.  Jim left the tent ceilings open so the boys could see all of the stars ~ in between wrestling matches and scary stories, of course!!  : )


You're never too old to play in a sandbox, especially when it's with army guys and legos!!

 This is where the s'mores were made.  I'm sorry I didn't get a photo when it was lit up at night.  It looked so beautiful and did a great job at keeping away the bugs.  : )

 Our "First Annual Backyard Camp Out" was a HUGE success and great memories were made for the boys.  I wouldn't be surprised if there ends up being another one before the summer is over!!


Thank you to my husband who made it all possible.  And God bless him for sleeping in a tent with all of those 10 year olds!!!!  : )


Many blessings ~ Wendy