This bad blogger finally posts an update...May through August...

I know, I know...I have become a pathetic blogger. And it's only going to get worse; I'm returning to full time teaching in just a few days.
I've spent the past few weeks getting the kids' scrapbooks up to date, realizing I am done with scrapbooking for the boys, and that I probably won't add anything else to Sarah's until NEXT summer. I just about had a panic attack when I realized I never made a photobook/digital scrapbook for Sarah of our trip to China to meet her. YIKES! Well, that will have to be done NEXT summer. How could I have forgotten to do that? Well, life...life with 3 kids...

These first three photos were taken on Mother's Day. Yes, back in May!

First mothers day for me as the mom of three children!

These photos were before heading out to dinner in Shelburne, with Grandma.

Sarah is an absolute joy!

This photo below was Father's Day in June.

This was Santa's Village in June, before school got out. We had a fantastic day. Sarah LOVED it. She gave Santa a hug and she rode the log ride...NINE TIMES. 

First time on the carousel, she wanted to sit with me on a bench.

The big boys...on their reindeer!

Second time, she rode on a reindeer.

Me, with 3 kiddos on the log ride.

Sarah's reaction, "Oh, came down, got wet. Go ahead?"

Then summer vacation began. We've had a GREAT summer. Here's some of what we have been doing:
- swimming in the pool most every day
- bike rides around the neighborhood most every day
- a great week at the ocean in Maine, with fantastic weather
- 3 trips to Santa's Village (and planning 1-2 more this fall)
- Storyland in Glen, NH
- The boys went to baseball camp, tennis camp, swim lessons, Lego Camp at their former preschool, another tennis camp, and soccer camp.
- The boys EACH read 140 books this summer. Donovan LOVED Dan Gutman's My Weird School, My Weirder School, and My School Daze series of books.
- Sarah transitioned to her childcare provider's house very, very well. She loves it there. Phew!
- Sarah's Baptism and 3rd birthday and party
- a new minivan! (I'm in love with it.)

Here are more photos!

Maine 2014

We spent a wonderful week at the ocean in Maine. It was Donovan's 8th summer in Maine, Aaron's 5th summer in Maine, Sarah's FIRST summer in Maine, and my...27th. We had a week full of fantastic beach weather. Sarah LOVED the "cold ocean water" as she called it. And the water was quite cold the first few days (58 degrees), and then got up to 62-64. 

I have become a total slacker in the blogging aspect of my life - so here are some photos to make up for my lack of blog posts the past few months.

27 years and we just always called it "Moody Beach" and "Ogunquit Beach" - on our first day here, public works was putting up this sign at the entrance to the beach.  

Sarah's first time going in the water in Maine.

3 terrific kids

5 of us

Mommy & Donovan (We could do this for HOURS ,and we usually do.)

Love the expression on his face. Whoa! (Sarah yelling from the shore, "Hold on tight!"

Pure happiness on Donovan's face.

Me, totally screaming (and loving every second of it)

She loved the ocean.

Getting ready for a snack in her pink chair.

And she's off

It's always a good idea to wash your boat.

Wanting to try out the boogie board

Aaron jumping the waves.

2 happy boys!

Big waves

Yes, it was a LITTLE cold - 58 degrees.

heading back out

Another day, another hole to dig. Donovan is the ultimate digger on the beach. 

a canyon

Donovan and Aaron created many games on the beach. This one you stand where I am taking the photo from. You roll a tennis ball across the boogie board and try to get it into one of the big blue buckets, which are placed in holes they dug, or in the small blue scoop, to accumulate points. You can also hit it off the boogie board in the back, like a backboard. HOURS each day were spent playing games like this on the beach.

Goodbye Maine - until next summer...