Vitamins and Minerals

Today's sunrise:


JD, recently you have been excited about watching advertisements on TV. actually you've always liked them. We were in the grocery store this weekend and you asked if we could get chocolate chip cookie cereal. Mom and I just kind of looked at you and said asked you why. "Because they have vitamins and minerals," you replied. A few days earlier we were brushing our teeth and you asked if we could get Sponge Bob toothpaste because, "It's nice and sweet and it doesn't hurt to swallow", you said. You had us cracking up pretty good.

We found a new beach last Saturday. It is gorgeous. Mom has suggested going here many times this summer but each time I said, "Why don't we just go to York?" Anyway, we went here for my first time and I loved it. It's my second favorite beach now. It's called Parsen's Beach. You drive down this long road and it comes out around a bunch of pretty marsh. Ducks, gulls, frogs and everything are there to greet you upon arrival. Adam and I walked around and looked for ducks until we finally found some. Ad, you said, "Duck" before I even mentioned it by name.

We stayed for about 4 or 5 hours until it was time for Adam's nap. The waves were as high as I have seen in years, maybe 8 feet. I was body surfing and a guy from NY came over to ride the waves with me. He was a Yankee fan unfortunately, but nice enough. He was up for week and apparently just stumbled on this hard to find beach. JD, you made a friend as usual. You both had boogie boards and road them all day long. Last year I helped you ride in the waves on the board and this year, you were out there taking them in all on your own. On our way back you said, "Daddy we both made friends today!"

Then we came home and Mom went to work. We played with JD's spy kit for quite a while. JD, you have a decoder in there, glasses, a moustache, secret pens, binoculars, and a few other spy things. Adam's favorite thing to play with was the glasses and you got a kick out of the moustache.

The next day was very nice, much cooler than Saturday. We got out the long sleeve shirts and jeans for the first time in a few months. I have to say it felt nice. All of us seemed to enjoy the break from the heat. We did spend that morning at the beach too, to get away from the early morning humidity.

This week came quick. I have been running again and this morning JD came with me for my morning jog. I love having you accompany me in the mornings. You're so fun along the jaunt. Swinging your wheel back and forth, chattering the whole time, and racing when we round the home stretch. We didn't see the swan today, but we'll keep looking for her. Every morning this week, there has been a beautiful sunrise in the backyard. Different colors of pink, purple, orange and yellow.

Tonight Mom worked and the three of us decided to make calzones for dinner. JD, you spread the flower over the cutting board and on the dough, then you and I rolled the dough. JD pulled a chair over from the dinner table and hopped up to help.
I heard Adam struggling the other room with something and I went in to see what was wrong. You were trying so hard to push your own chair all the way into the kitchen, Ad. I helped you and will remember next time to help you out sooner! Adam, you ate peperoni, and then you ate cheese and then some dough. Eventually we put all of the ingredients in and rolled up the dough. It was very tasty and fun for all of us to do! We had dinner out on the deck as JD requested.

Tonight's sunset:

Growing Up

After our trip to Fenway JD was off to Gramma and Grampa's house bright and early the next day. Gramma and Grampa had asked a few weeks earlier if we minded if they took you and Livy to Southwick Zoo.

JD, Ad and I dropped you with them in the morning and off you went to Meg's house to pick up Liv. Grampa told me that you helped Livy so much, both at the zoo and on the way. He said that you asked him for a map of the park so you could show Liv where you were going. You held her hand around the park and she rested her head on your shoulder on some of the rides.

Gram and Gramp had a great time taking you both on this trip. Its nice to see you both grow up. I can remeber when Liv was just born, it seems like it wasn't that long ago. She really looks up to you and you are starting to have just as much fun with her as she gets older. I thought it was nice that they took just the older kids so you could spend time together.

While you went off, Ad and I had other plans! We went back to Nana's first and hung out there for a good portion of the day. It was such a nice, relaxing, catch up visit. Gramie and Grampie came over for a while and were able to play with Ad for a while. Adam, you were sleeping when they arrived so it was very nice for me to have some quiet, 'talking' time with them. I can't remember the last time I just sat down and chilled with them. When you woke up you played ball with Grammie and she brought a stuffed animal for both of you guys.

Shortly after G and G left, Nana and I took you to the park to meet Jim, Noah, Jordan, and Mark, Denise, and Riley. This is the first time I have met my friends at the park (at least that I can talk about in public). My friends and I joked about how much things have changed. It was very nice to see how you all interacted with each other. It will be interesting to see how you change and grow up throughout the years.

From here Ad, Mark and I went to Jim's for a cookout with his family. The food was great and, Ad, you played with Jordan and Noah out back. You played in a little car and chased Jordan all around. They live next to a house that was "Made over" on TV and it was has little Fenway Park wiffe ball park in their backyard. It was AWESOME.

After quite a bit of time here, I dropped you back off at Nana's and I went out for the night. We all came back to Maine the next day. I enjoyed this weekend thoroughly, it was perfect for me. A game with JD, sharing Adam with my friends and playing with their kids, having great visits with Nana and Grampa, and ending the weekend with some much needed adult time with my friends. I was refreshed and tired by the time we arrived home.

JD's first trip to Fenway

JD, Friday night was your must anticipated first trip to Fenway Park!

I left work around noon on this day and came home to pick up you and Ad. We left shortly after and the Sox were actually playing a double header so we got to listen to the day game on the way down to Massachusetts. We arrived at Nana's around 2:30 and hung out here for a while with Nan and Grampie B. You and I left Addie with them while we left for the "T" in Needham around 4.

We arrived at the "T" stop and got our tokens from the machine. Trains kept going right by us, headed outbound. You kept saying, "Daddy why won't it stop, we are going to miss the game!" I explained that we were going inbound and soon enough the proper train arrived.

You were so impressed with how fast the train went on the tracks. We were the last two people to get a seat but you asked to sit on my lap instead of by yourself. We arrived to the Resovior stop and got off to take an express bus right into the Fenway. We didn't get to sit on the bus, we had to stand as the seats were taken up! You loved this! As the bus began to pull away, you looked up at me and said, "Um Dad, we're standing on the bus." I explained that it was OK, that's what people do when its full. About this time, you had a big smile on your face that didn't leave until your head hit the pillow, about 7 hours later!

We got off at Fenway and walked a few blocks to the Park. You were in awe of the city and the amount of people that were downtown. You realized quickly that we weren't in Maine anymore! We immidiately found the sausage stand. Somehow this is always the first place I find when I arrive at the Fens!

You wanted to walk all the way around the park, which we did. You spent time in the sovenier shop and got a cool Sox wrist band. It took you about 25 minutes to pick out what you wanted. We also picked out a baseball with a Red Sox logo on it for Ad. Adam, your time is soon to come!

We spent about two hours around the park before we went inside. I asked if you wanted to get dinner, but you said that you would rather eat when we got to the seats, so we could walk around some more.

We eventually made our way into the Park. We walked right up to the seats and sat down. We had super seats that Nana got for us from her boss. We were not 20 rows from the field. They are right up there with the best seats I've had. I watched you take a second to look around and take in the biggest stadium that you have EVER seen. I remember being young (not sure if it was my first game) and walking up the ramp with my Dad. I remember seeing this gigantic field and bright lights and you said what I remember thinking, "The Green Monster..Wow!"

We sat in our seats and I explained to you the Pesky pole, the old screen that used to be where the monster seats are, the home and visitor dugouts, Wally the monster, and you found your favorite player in the field, Big Pappi. We bought a program and got some "K" signs to hold up when Josh Beckett struck out some Angels.

The night could not have been any better. We talked the whole time about the game and what was going on. It amazes me how much you understand and how many players you know the names of. We also ate, and ate, and ate. You had cotton candy, pretzels, peanuts, a hot dog, ice cream, and a coke.

We left in the 8th, about 9:30, and took the bus to the train to the car, back to Nan's. During the car ride home you asked if we could go back tomorrow to get the player's autographs. You said that Grampie B told you about autographs. You chatted the whole way home. You and I both had a wonderful first of many trips to see the Red Sox together. I hope your first experience to the Fenway was as memorable and meaningful as it was for me to take you.

The Islands

Last weekend kind of started on Thursday for JD. You were picked up by The Waldenburgs on their way up to Gray. They were going up to see Pop Pop and Grandie. About a week earlier Grandie asked if it would be OK if you went up a daily early so that you could partake in canoeing the Saco river on Friday with Donna, Steve, Chris, Steven, Catherine, Grandie and Pop Pop. Mom and I decided that if you wanted to go up a day early to do this, we would allow it.

While JD went up on Thursday night Mom, Ad and I went to Chad and Cadens for dinner. Ashley, Chris and Tara were there too. Adam, you played with Caden on the swingset. The summer is hard for people to get together so it was nice to catch up with some people we hadn't seen since the 4th of July.

You had a great time on the River and partnered up with Steven and Chris. You stopped to swim and one point and had some snacks and lunch on the river. This weekend was a tradition Grandie started last year with her cousin, Donna. I think its one of Grandie's favorite weekend's of the year. Mom, Adam, Az, and I came up mid-day on Friday and Jen and Uncle Mike arrived Friday night.

Saturday we decided to go to "The Island." This is an island on Little Sebago not far from the cabin. We obviously needed to take the boat and it was nice to have the speedboat to get there for the first time. We arrived around noon and it took the big boat, the tin can, the canoe and the kayak to get all of us out there. We had lunch, and went tubing mostly. This is the island that had the BIG rock that we all jumped off last year. We didn't spend much time at the rock this year, but both Mom and I managed to jump off the high side a few times.

Adam, you were quite the character on the island. JD was on the boat with the tubers and you were on the island hanging behind. You were hamming it up with everyone. Eating cookies and chips out of your little Solo cup. Grandie brought sunglasses for you and JD to wear and you thoroughly enjoyed your pair.

In the evening after a huge dinner, JD and Steven built a fire in the pit outback. You enjoyed hanging out with him, Chris and Catherine very much. We roasted marshmallows and made Samores. There was a meteor shower that night too. You and I walked down to the dock late at night and laid down for a while to see what we could see. You were so impressed by how bright the starts were. I don't think we really any shooting meteors!

The next day we all got up early and had one of Pop Pop's famous breakfasts. I stuck to the bagels from New York and everyone else had pancakes and bacon. I only get to have those bagels once or twice a year and there is no comparison anywhere.

Afterwards Mom had the idea to take the boat to a sandbar in the middle of the lake. The sandbar is connected to another island in the other direction on the lake. It was SO fun. This was one of the most fun parts of the weekend. A whole bunch of boats pull right up to the island and park as if they are cars. Its pretty small so only about 10 boats can park. Then the sandbar goes out about 100 feet from the island. From a distance it looks as if people standing on the sandbar, are walking on the water.

JD played football with Michael and I, jumped around in the water with Grandie and even went tubing! JD, you were a bit apprehensive of tubing the prior day and rightfully so. You saw Michael and I go pretty fast jumping over waves and stuff. We decided that this day we would talk to you about going first (before everyone else) so you wouldn't be as intimidated. It worked! I told you that we were actually going to go float tubing. You and I climbed on together and off we went. You had a blast. We hit some little bumps and stuff and you laughed and laughed!

Adam, you built sandcastles almost all day long. You spent some quality time with Donna and Grandie too. Donna really seemed to enjoy watching you play. You also enjoyed throwing the football in the water and watching the small waves bring it back. That kept you busy for a good 20 minutes or so. We talked about putting you on the tube but decided not to in the end. We let you float on it but didn't tie it to the boat. Next year!

At night we had a nice lobster bake back at the cabin. A perfect ending for a great weekend. I noticed that Grandie was so proud of both of her daughters kids. She talked about you guys often and was sure to make an effort to share what she loves about you both with her cousin and her family. She was also happy to have Michael home. He's talking about coming back for good, which will probably happen sooner rather than later, but he hasn't been home for a long while. Its nice to see Grandie "In her element." She deserves to have weekends like this that she can completely enjoy as she carves memories for herself and for us.

Dipping

I can't believe that August is here already!

Last weekend continued to be very muggy outside. Friday night Mom made sandwiches and we went to the beach for dinner. It was just too hot to be home in our sticky house. It seemed about 15 degrees cooler on the beach and it was quite a bit less muggy.

We ate ham and cheese sandwiches, had grapes, chips and juice. I was surprised at how few people were there on this night. It was a beautiful night in many ways. The tide was pretty far out so there were quite a few tide pools waiting to be played in. JD, you brought your favorite truck with you. Its black and lights up when you press a button (or at least it used to). Your Uncle Michael gave it to you two years ago. Adam, you have truly taken to the seagulls. You follow them around and JD has taught you how to chase them and make them fly away. You also like the temperature and the depth of the shallow tide pools. You spend quite a bit of time splashing around, digging, and just sitting in them. Adam before the night was out you had your diaper off and were running all over yelling and hollering. You seemed to think it was pretty neat to be nude at the beach!

The next day, we went right back to Long Sands. JD, you made another friend here, and played on your boogie board, built castles, tossed some rocks, and played wiffle ball. We had lunch in the afternoon and left shortly after. Mom had to work at 3:00, so we retired home. Despite the heat the three of us played outside for quite some time. We played soccer for a good chunk of time, and you both splashed around in the $5 pool that Mom and I splurged on!

At night Chad and Caden came over for dinner. We grilled some burgers and steak. JD, you and Caden went off to play on the slide, ride your scooter, and catch grasshoppers. We were talking about grasshoppers and all of a sudden Caden came up on the desk with a BIG one on a shovel. You grabbed your bug catcher and you both kind of slipped him in. Afterwards, you mentioned that you were impressed with how quickly Caden caught that hopper. You both get along very well, and it was nice for Chad and I to catch up while you an Caden were out and about.

The next morning, Sunday, we decided to take a drive up to Sebago in Windham. We have been here a few other times. Its a beautiful beach right on the "Big" part of the lake.
I forget what its called, but it's long and narrow which is nice because you nobody can sit right in front of you. The view couldn't be better. We arrived around 10:00 and brought lunch here too.

It was quite windy and it didn't take long to realize that it was warmer in the water than out. We actually spent more time in the water here than at any other place this summer. You both swam with a mother duck and her babies too! The ducks came over looking for food, which Adam obliged them with. They stayed for quite a while, and were fun to watch.

JD, you and I were in the water for over an hour. We played wiffle ball and 'catch' mostly. I started to teach you how to dive, both off of my shoulders and simply by me throwing you! You had a ball. Each time I threw you, I was worried that you weren't holding your breath well because you laughed so much while you were in the air!

From here we went to Grandie and Pop Pop's house. They only live about 20 minutes from here and we planned to head over there for dinner after we were done at the Lake. Mom and I practiced driving the boat. Typically I hit the bottom of the lake and Mom did just fine. The lake is so shallow that it's difficult to get away from the dock. It will just take some getting used to. I look forward to practicing more.

We stayed for dinner and Pop Pop cooked up some great chicken on the grill. We had a tomato salad, and potatoes and bread. Adam, you're learning how to 'dip' your food into sauce, ect. JD has been a dipper for as long as I can remember and you are looking to follow suit. You were sitting on Grandie's lap dipping anything you could get your hands on into the balsamic vinegar. You were so focused too! We all got a kick out of how much you enjoyed yourself!

By the team we reached the highway you were both sound asleep. Another weekend in the books.

The Fog

Hi Guys,

It has been HOT and HUMID lately. I am not what you would call someone who likes this type of weather. I would much prefer a long sleeve shirt, jeans and flip flops. Adam, I think you might be heading down this same road too. You enjoy to be outside, but when its like this, I have noticed you finding your way to shade whenever possible! You and I have very fair skin. We have to lather up when we go to the beach with some heavy duty lotion while Mom and JD don't really have to put much on at all. JD, you have quite the bronze tan going this year!

This past weekend we decided to fight the heat at Long Sands Beach. Gramma and Grampa came up from Massachusetts to join us. This beach day was the strangest beach day (weather-wise) I have ever seen. When we arrived, around 8:30 the fog was so thick that we could barely see the water at all! We were only about 20 feet from the water but couldn't see a thing.

The forecast was for rain and thunderstorms but we figured that we would give it a shot. Grampa and I played soccer with JD when we arrived. JD was the goalie and we tried to score on him, the net was the ocean but we still weren't very successful. Adam, you played in the tidal pools and on this day, you walked into the water, all of the way up to your waist. You are becoming confident and sometimes daring.

Throughout the morning the day cleared up and the sun came out! We couldn't believe that this not-so-good looking day turned right around. Before we knew it the fog had passed and we could see the whole coastline! I had a great time talking with my Dad while we watched you two in the water. I know that Mom had an equally nice time talking and catching up with Gramma. Gramma brought lunch for everyone and Adam devoured his, and everyone else's grapes and chips. Ad, you will eat anything that falls in the sand. Sometimes I think you use it for dip with chips. It can be completely covered and it makes no difference to you!

We got off the beach just in time. As we got into the car and got settled, the thunder and lightening came quick. We said good bye to Gramma and Grampa and headed home.

Mom was off to work around 3:00 and JD, you and I played treasure hunt around the yard. I put some coins in a bag and buried them somewhere around the yard and then drew you a map of the yard with an "X" marks the spot somewhere on the map. You had a great time looking for your treasure!

Later in the week, Mom had both of you do a painting project at home. You all sat at the table and painted a section of a large piece of paper. This was the first time all of you had painted on the same piece of paper. Adam is really catching on! Mom hung this 4.5 foot section right in the main room after it dried. We just moved it into the playroom yesterday. She is always displaying your art in the most focal places.

Tonight was a fun night too. Mom is working so after dinner the three of us went outside. We played basketball, road our bikes, and drank soda. Then we came inside and did some wrestling. You both like to jump on the couch, and that usually turns into you jumping on each other. Adam this week your have been saying, "Ready, Ready, Ready???" You say this just before you do something that you consider to be big, like throwing a ball, dumping water on JD's head when you're in the pool, or running and jumping onto a cushion.

I should note that yesterday the Celtics completed the biggest trade in NBA history. They traded for Kevin Garnett. This is a huge deal because it means that for the first time in almost 20 years, the Celtics will again be relevant. Some of my greatest memories as a kid are of Larry, Kevin and The Chief. I remember listening to them on the radio before falling asleep in bed. I remember before my Dad left for work in the morning, I would ask him who won the game the prior night. I am looking forward to introducing you guys to the Celtics more so than I probably would if this trade hadn't been made. Boston, right now, is the greatest sports town in the country. There is no better place to grow up. I am looking forward to sharing memories with you both as we all get older.