The BEST of Times...

Two 3 1/2 year old brothers...one big blue inner tube...warm ocean water (for Maine that is)...gorgeous sunny day...big waves = the best of times for these boys. They are having so much fun!
And to top it all off for them, the house next to us sold and they knocked down the house and are finishing construction on their new house. Yesterday a crane arrived and the workmen used it to bring sheetrock into the 2nd floor window and today a small excavator was working in the backyard - our two construction equipment loving boys were thrilled!
This is the BEST...

We are in Maine!

We are in Maine, enjoying fantastic weather, and making wonderful memories with our two ocean loving boys. Here are a few photos until we get home and I post more photos. LOVE the photo of my mom with the two boys in the water!

Ocean...Here We Come!

We leave tomorrow morning for the coast of Maine (Wells area). Just thinking about the ocean in Maine puts a smile on my face and instantly brings me back to younger days... We are staying at the same house we have rented for three years now, with my mom. (We will be taking two cars, as we bring so much stuff - you would think that after our big trip to China, I'd become a lighter packer - but nope.) Donovan is so excited, and after explaining to Aaron that we are going to the ocean and he'll be able to dig in the sand and run in the ocean waves, he's been talking all day about, "going to Maine."
Not sure if we will have Internet at the house this year, so I might not post photos until after we are back home.
Fingers crossed for good beach weather!!

A Warm Welcome to Aaron all the way from...Australia!

Today the boys received such a special package in the mail, all the way from Down Under Australia! This was sent to us by Rupert's cousin, Teresa and her family, including her dear daughter Christine (who though I have met her just once at a dinner reception held in our honor by Rupert's parents up in Toronto, for which Teresa and Christine came all the way from Australia, I could see she is such a warm and caring person, and she is simply stunning. I only hope my sons find someone like this to marry one day!!) So, Aaron and Donovan quickly opened the package to find two stuffed Koala Bears inside, and each boy quickly claimed one, hugging it tightly, and even asking at naptime if they could sleep with their koalas. Inside the package were also two short sleeve shirts from Australia, one with a koala on it and the other with a kangaroo and koala. They are a great fit (and just big enough to allow us to get two summers out of them) and the boys love them. In the package was also a most special card. Reading it brought tears to my eyes...

To Dear Nicole and Rupert,
Congratulations & a BIG warm welcome to little Aaron into the family. My mom especially picked this card and stuffed Koala Bears for dearest Donovan and especially dearest little Aaron this this special occasion. She would like to wish you, on behalf of our family, all the VERY best for the wonderful thing you have made happen. Dearest Nicole and Rupert, may God Bless you and your two beautiful sons indeed, and keep you all forever safe in his loving arms - the same way little Aaron feels so snuggly safe in yours! Lots of Love, Christine & Family

A HUGE THANK YOU to Christine, Teresa, and the Family. We are so blessed by the support of so many of our relatives and friends and the warm welcome they are giving Aaron! This card will serve as a very special keepsake for Aaron when he is older. We are so lucky!

Donovan's BIG NEWS!

Two weeks ago Donovan was still not crazy about getting water in his face while swimming, and would have to get out of the pool to wipe off his face...and now...here he is, fearless, and jumping into the pool. (And yes, those are his underpants he is wearing. Each boy has SIX bathing suits (we are in the pool A LOT),but after coming home from soccer camp on a sweltering evening, the boys stripped down and jumped right into the pool.)

Probably has to do with Aaron jumping in, going underwater, and loving it.
Probably has to do with our neighbor (11 year old student of mine, who Donovan and Aaron adore), who has been coming over to swim almost every day and Donovan has seen him going underwater.
Probably has to do with Rupert buying Donovan a "diver's mask" and Donovan wearing it to "dive" down to the bottom of the bathtub, pretending to be the diver (dentist) from "Finding Nemo"
Probably has to do with Grandma buying Donovan some PURPLE goggles
But most of all, just has to do with one 3 1/2 year old boy who has suddenly gained the confidence and desire to go underwater.
We are so thrilled for Donovan! Such a huge step for him! Everyday in the pool with Donovan and Aaron is so much fun! This is the BEST!

This. Is. Why. We. Have. A. Pool.

Here on the East Coast, in the middle of a week of absolutely sweltering heat (high 90s), and enjoying HOURS each day and evening in the pool as a family, I looked at my husband and said, "This is why we have a pool." No need to take a big vacation (though we do go to the ocean in Maine for a week each summer), no need to go to a community pool - just walk into the backyard, and there is the pool. It is bringing us so much enjoyment, and so many laughs with our boys this summer.

Grandma found inflatable boats for Donovan and Aaron for $2.99 at a local drugstore. Let me tell you, they have already gotten so much enjoyment out of them and we have all been laughing. They love to play "bumper boats," where we push the boats into each other. Aaron laughs when his boat tips over sending him underwater, and Donovan is becoming more used to it too.
Donovan and Aaron love their waky noodles. Swim with them, ride them, jump over them into the pool, and use them to row their boats.
Our schedule this week has been, in the pool 9:30-12:00, then lunch, nap, and back in the pool 3-5, then dinner, and back in the pool 6:30-8:30. This. Is. The. Life.

Soccer Camp (first session)

This afternoon was the first session of soccer camp that the boys attended. (We were away last Wednesday in Massachusetts, and so they missed the actual first session.) It was HOT (96 degrees and sunny) but the boys enjoyed themselves. I took a couple photos of them before we left. Rupert met us at the soccer field, and we each took a boy. The coach called us "die hards" as last week there were 25 kids and this week...about 12 due to the sweltering weather.
Donovan listened well to directions, did quite well with dribbling the ball and shooting. Aaron amazed us with his comprehension; after being shown the "ready position" (one foot on soccer ball, eyes on coach waiting directions) when we moved from one coach to the next, Aaron immediately got in the "ready position," before the coach reminded the kids to do so. Impressive! Both boys loved "scoring goals" by knocking down cones.

4 Little Monkeys and a "pink monster truck"

LOVE these photos of my two boys and my best friend's two girls. LOVE the one of them in the king size bed, with the oldest one reading to the 3 little ones. Donovan was in love!
When my friend and I were selecting some beach toys in the garage, Donovan spotted what he called a "pink monster truck." He asked if I knew anything about it. I told him it was the oldest girl's and that two years ago when we visited he was too scared to ride in it, but maybe he would enjoy it this year. Oh yeah! He and Aaron both loved it (well, was there ever a doubt that daredevil Aaron would like it!?!). She was such a great sport, driving them around the yard, and the boys were overall quite good about taking turns. And just to clarify, it's really a pink Cadillac, but we aren't telling Donovan that - he's still talking about the "pink monster truck."

At the Beach in Plymouth, Mass.

Tuesday evening (June 30) we drove from Boston to stay with dear friends for a couple of days. This is my best friend from childhood, (who was my matron of honor in my wedding and is Godmother to Donovan and soon will be for Aaron also, and I am Godmother to both her beautiful daughters). Their second daughter was born just two months after Donovan, and we had much to talk about during our pregnancies, as we were both on bedrest. The last time we traveled to their home was two years ago - far too long! We had a wonderful visit at their home. Donovan has fallen in love with their oldest daughter who read the boys (and her younger sister) books before naps and bedtime.
On Wednesday it was a beautiful day and we went to the beach for a few hours. It was Aaron's first time at the ocean. He called it a "big swimming pool," and the beach was a "big sandbox." Both boys enjoyed the morning there very much - we are now eagerly looking forward to our upcoming trip to the ocean in Maine for a week.

Donovan at the Boston Children's Museum

On Tuesday (June 29) while we were in Boston, Rupert took Donovan to the Children's Museum. Donovan was so excited to ride on the "train" (T). It was about a 45 minute ride. He had so much fun at the Children's Museum, especially at the Construction Work exhibit. Here are some photos of him there. Gosh, driving the skid steer he looks to be about 7!