A week at the coast

Last week we rented a coast house from some friends in Waldport, just a bit south of Newport. Jeremy was able to be there for just the weekend before coming back to work. Cindy & the girls along with Marie and the girls & big sister Aly were there, as well as Sharmila and new baby Gracelin who just came home from China on the 4th of July! It was a fun and rambunctious weekend!

It's good to know that even now that I'm a Mama, I can still be the big girls jungle gym (maybe it's a good thing???)

Maddie Loved the beach! She really really loved the water- I learned the true meaning of the word "parental sacrifice" when I knowlingly went into the icy cold water in 60 degree days for several days in a row....repeatedly losing feeling in my toes in order to see the laughter on my daughter's face...

After everyone left, Maddie and I took a trip to Newport to check out the butterfly exhibit...Maddie's first day back to school this week turned out to be a very special day. It was her day to pick what went into the sensory table. This is my girl through and through: Sand, purple glitter, pink and purple tissue paper, pink and purple feathers, and sea shells. Or, Exploded Fairy as I like to call it.

And finally the summer has really hit and our garden is producing nicely! Maddie is holding the contents of our salad that night, carrots from seeds purchased in Scotland, peas, green beans, lettuce, radishes, and a hydrangea for atmosphere!

The Kennedy Update

We were at the beach for a week and just back to daycare yesterday. Almost first thing Kennedy saw us and said very strongly in her "I own the world voice"- MY MAMA! And this time I was a little less patient. I didn't yell, but I strongly said "NO Kennedy! I am NOT YOUR MAMA. I am Maddie's Mama, Not Kennedy's mama!" And she repeated it and I repeated mine again. Then Maddie and I went off to the side of the room to read a book (our morning custom) before I left, and Kennedy started crying to the teacher (after the teacher wouldn't let her come over to where we were) "No my Mama.....no my Mama, Maddie Mama...no my Mama...." I felt bad, but at the same time I was really glad she was verbalizing it, and I think Maddie heard it. And this morning, when we went into class and Kennedy was there? She said "My Yogurt!" You go girl, have all the yogurt you want. But this Mama is not yours. This is Maddie's Mama!