Pita and the Ducks

My childhood friend Kate decided to move back to the island this summer, and I for one could not be happier about it! It's nice to have a friend who has more in common with me than babies!! She has a super cute little dog named Pita, who she and her mom rescued from the street in Mexico. Isaac and she get along so well, I think it's because they're both so small and have slightly unruly hair.

On this one adventurous day, we walked into town from Kate's house and found some very friendly ducks, and baby ducks too! Great times, and of course I happened to have a container of duck food in the stroller, for just an occasion as this! It's always good to be prepared for anything I always say!

Future Rock Star

Annnnnd, he's TWO!

It blows me away that our little tiny tot is already a TWO year old! I'm not sure how it happened really. I must have taken too long of a blink.

We had two parties for Isaac this year, I thought we'd keep up the tradition. One family party, and one friends party. Both went off without a glitch! I went a little nuts with handmaking everything for his kids party, cakes, decorations and such, so I wanted to take it easy with the family party. Thank you Dairy Queen : )

He got so many wonderful presents this year, including two big wheels! One from each set of grandparents, which I think is so great! A giant cardboard playhouse, which he colored on right away, his very first pair of rollerblades, which we've already put a mile or two on.

My sister Andi ended up coming all the way here from Barrington, NH just for the kids party! She of course brought him one of his all time favorite toys. . . A stand up keyboard, with microphone! It's pretty awesome, it's hilarious to be in the other room, and hear him start to sing into it.

I was really happy to see that so many of his friends were able to make it to the party. Everyone had allot of fun, maximum fun, minimum meltdowns!

My father had made me a playhouse when I was younger, that fit perfectly into the prince/princess theme of the party! Without the roof on it, it looked just like a castle! I made Isaac a special birthday shirt, which is of course in his keepsake box now. I'm not sure, but I think this years party trumped last years!

Fifth Grade, here we come!

I can't believe that Ian is in fifth grade this year! He's moving right on up! And literally too, he's now on the third floor of the school : )

He is adjusting well to the bigger homework work load, and the older kid activity classes like shop class, and home ec. The only complaint he's had so far are the much, much, much shorter recesses. Ha. I love it!

9-4-11 The day I saved a bee

The day I saved a bee. . .

Oh yes, for those who don't know me, I am a lover of all (99.9% anyway) things. Snakes are the only exception. The idea of hunting sickens me, road kill makes me get all teary-eyed, dont get me started on fur coats.

Every day, many times a day even, the pool had to be cleaned, skimmed off at the very least. There were always tons of leaves, a thin layer of pollen on windy days, the occasional caterpillar and some sticks.

On this particular day, I saw something struggling in the water, being a lover of all (99.9% anyway) things, I swooped it up with my pool net and let it crawl onto my arm. It looked like a beautiful, harmless bumble bee, who had taken a tumble into the water.

The poor thing couldn't fly because its wings were so saturated, so I let it hang out on me for a little while until it got it's barrings.

It felt really funny having it crawl over my arm and hand, I guess I had never really looked at a bee very close up before. They have little barbs all over their legs and feet, which kept sticking to my skin. I was like tiny bits of Velcro scratching me.

I felt good that I could save it's life, but it didn't occur to me that my bee allergy would make me have this strange reaction to it even touching me. I broke out in teeny tiny blisters, everywhere it's little feet touched me. Bizarre.

But I was happy to save that little guys day! Next time I'll be sure to wear long sleeves though.

Birthday Prep Begins

I knew pretty early on in the planning process that I wanted his party to be a prince/princess party. He loves playing dress up, and I think that's great! Plus he is the only boy in his little circle of friends, all the girls get to have princess parties and dress up really pretty, and he doesn't know that society thinks he shouldn't. So I said the heck with it! Let him be a prince(ess) if he wants to!

I took advantage of that faux hurricane day to hand make the invitations, I went with the more glitter the better theory. And then I spent a few sleepless nights putting together custom, jeweled crowns for all the tots. I also made all the goodie tote bags, with my favorite medium, felt and hot glue, with a few touches of jewels, buttons, and fabric paint for good measure.

Alexander was very paws on with all the preparations, I think because he knew they were all for his boy.

And the baby showers continue!

My good friend Claire just actually welcomed her second baby girl into the world last week, but since I'm so far behind on my blog, I needed to post her baby shower!

She has a two and a half year old named Maddie who is simply precious, and great friends with Isaac. (she's the blonde beauty in the first photo, with Isaac)

Claire is the fourth mom in our mothers group to have her second baby, so we've become quite good at throwing these baby showers, not to toot my own horn or anything. She was just radiant, and we were blessed with a very beautiful day. Things couldn't have gone better : )

(and yes, I made that Sweet Baby banner!)