It’s the middle of August and this weekend is the weekend that Mom’s second cousins come up form NY to spend time in Gray. Its always a good time and you both are looking forward to their arrival.
This summer has been exceptional. Weather-wise, not so much. Just about ALL of June was filled with rain. No kidding, something like 21 days of rain, rain, rain. I left my wipers, “On” in my car for a few days in a row. It was a Looong month! As always, we made the best of things.
We did manage to get to the beach a few times in June, but we spent a lot of time at the Dover Children’s Museum too. You both enjoy it there so much. I hadn’t been there, so I made my maiden voyage there in June. I was completely impressed. We only made it half way around that place and we spent a good 3 or 4 hours there one day!July brought Lincoln and little more sun. Still rained a bit. We spent a lot of time with friends in June and July. JD, you spent time with Reagan, Evan, and Jacob and Adam spent lots of time with Marin, Aiden, and Lucy. Mom and I hung out with Chad and Ash, Chad and Stacey, and others quite a bit throughout these months too.
We had a delayed 4th of July party with real fireworks, many cookouts, and went to see Pondering Judd play a few times.
JD and Adam, you guys went with Grandma and Grampa to the Cape for a weekend. You went on a Pirate Ship, swam in the pool, and had an excellent time. You both came home dressed as Pirates!We spent some time in Massachusetts this summer too. A few weeks ago, Adam and JD came down with me so that we could give Mom and Linc some relaxing alone time. Little did we know, Linc would give mom a run for her money on this day! When we arrived down in Mass, we all went right over to Jimmy’s where we swam with a bunch of his brothers and sisters kids and Cauf and Riley were there for a while too. You both had blast. At night I went out with Dunph, Mikey, and Jim. I needed it! You guys went out to dinner with Grampie and Nana. They took you for ice cream at Friendly’s!
The next day we got up and went to the town park to play. Christo was playing in a baseball game. JD, you especially enjoyed watching him play 3rd base and hit. He came over in the middle of his game to say hello.
We also spent time shooting hoops at the town courts. The same courts that I used to play on for hours and hours when I was growing up. Nana and Adam blew bubbles.We also spent a few nights at the cabin in Gray with Grandie and PopPop. Last weekend you guys spent ALL of Friday on the sandbar at Little Sebago. I came up after work and PopPop picked me up on the boat to meet you. We cooked out on the sandbar before heading back to the cabin. The next day we ended up spending time at Sebago Lake. At one of my favorite lake beaches called Tassle Top (I call it Hasslehoff). It’s a beautiful beach, the water is always nice, and the sand is even comfortable.
One thing you guys have really enjoyed this summer has been eating our homegrown veggies. Mom and PopPop planted a nice garden this year that has provided us with lots of great tasting vegetables. JD, you could live on those snap peas.
Many nights this summer when you have said how hungry you are, we’ve said, “Go out to the garden and see what you can find.” It’s been good for everyone! Adam helped Mom pick onions and tomatoes the other night.
Liv, Dave, Meg and Greg came up for the day not too long ago too. We met at Long Sands and had a great day. Greg and I had a nice beer or two on the beach and the four of you got along great. You always get along so well, it’s a pleasure having you all together. It was fun to watch the four of you take off for the water together and build castles in the sand. Afterwards they came back to our house. We had some dinner and lit up some sparklers afterwards. It was their first time using sparklers, which made for a fun time for us all!
I guess when I look back over the last two months a few things stand out, other than the birth of your brother:
Beach – We’re at the beach all the time, I love it and so do you guys.
Your accepting of your brother – Both of you couldn’t be happier to have Linc as our new addition. You always ask about him, look out for him, and want to hold him. You have also not given Mom or I a hard time when we have to take time out to tend to him. It’s been easy and great.
Friends – Mine. My friends, and Mom’s too, have been SO supportive of us this summer. Offers of support with Linc were completely overwhelming, from both Maine and Mass. I don’t know how to say thanks for stuff like this, but I think people know. (Coolest gift to Linc: Chad M gave him a card deck of the 2009 Red Sox so he can look back on his birth year and see who was playing)
Rain – I don’t mind the rain, but so many days in a row sucked.
Adam – Ad, you’ve just seemed older this summer. Maybe its cuz we have a new “Youngest boy”, but I tend to think its more than that. I went to tuck you in the other night and I just looked at you for a minute. I can’t get over how big you are. You are also a smart, witty kid. And you’re so dang fun. (You have been telling me that you like the Yankees lately, just to see me get angry)
Buds – For the first time, JD and Ad, have really become buds. You guys go off and play together, help each other out, and ALWAYS without fail watch out for each other when the other gets in trouble with mom and dad or with others.
You two are going to be an interesting pair! You still fight like cats and dogs sometimes, but this camaraderie is a new facet to your relationship.
Gram and Grampie – They have dipped below the scale of being okay. Tough to watch if even from a far
Jogging - I remeber growing up my Dad said that is was a dream of his to go jogging with both Meg and I.
Adam, JD and I go jogging together all the time. JD, you ride you bike and I push Ad in the stroller. The other night we all went in the POURING rain. You both had the best time! It was so much fun, we went for an extra long run!Mom – She’s worked hard this summer for you guys. She’s trucked you off places almost everyday, while keeping you entertained and fed. One day you’ll appreciate this but it won’t be for a while. Some days she runs solely on fumes, but she continues to run..
Again, its only mid-August, summer isn’t over yet but it sure feels like its winding down. It’s been a good one. Thanks for sharing it with me.
