Really??

(Yes Heather, I am stealing your favorite line )

I can't believe that later today we will be on our way to my BABY SISTER's college graduation!!! It is crazy to think how fast time flies...it seemed like just yesterday she was born and just hours ago her and I were on looking at colleges together! REALLY??

Heather, I hope you know how proud of you I am. You are a wonderful person, sister and aunt. Jeff, Matthew, Luke and I wish all the success and happiness in the world as you graduate and start the next phase of your education. We can't wait to see you and share this occasion with you.

I also hope you know how proud of you Mom, Nanny Johnson and Nanny and Grandpa Couser would be. They are there with you in spirit and watching from above.

Hmmm...

WHAT DO

this baby

AND

this guy

HAVE IN COMMON???

Memorial Day '09

We had a fantastic yet busy Memorial Day. The weekend started off with Jeff working and the Boys and I going to a good friend's BBQ...Matthew had a great time running around with his buddies and I had a good time socializing with mine:)

By the time we got there Jeff already had the window in and the trim put back up on the inside. The weather was a bit cool but we were still able to grill some steak tips and walk down to the "puddles"...Matthew favorite place to throw rocks.

Matthew loves pushing his little brother in the stroller

The weather on Sunday started off ok but lunchtime brought a bit of rain. Luckily, it cleared up in the afternoon. I kept Matthew busy by bringing him to the playground and candy store while Jeff continued to work on replacing the bathroom window. He was able to help Daddy for a bit though. After nap the kids played outside, ate an early dinner and then, as promised, we headed down to the arcade and got ice cream (now possible as Matthew is old enough for Lactaid and it seems to work). After the boys went to bed, Jeff and I celebrated my birthday (a bit early)with a lobsters and wine:)

Daddy's big helper

Again, the pacifier is needed to prevent Luke from eating sand!

Matthew helping me give a VERY sandy Luke a bath

Monday was spent playing outside, cleaning and finishing up some little projects. The weather was AWESOME and it was tough to leave!!!

BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

So, the 2 big projects we've been working on this Spring at the cottage were replacing the bathroom window and redoing the walkway to the sand. Here are the final products;

Happy Memorial Day everyone...thanks to those who have served our country and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for it.

Already??

Matthew is officially done with his first year of preschool. I can't believe how quickly the year went.

Just to refresh your memory here is a visual of the first day....

And today... The school ended the year with a super cute program in which the kids sang songs and then each one of them got either a certificate or a "diploma" depending on whether or not they were graduating or returning. I was secretly happy that my baby was only getting a certificate:) They also each got a flower and a really cool apron to paint or cook in.

Luke was very proud of his big brother!!!

And speaking of graduations...a big shout out to my step sister Ashley! She graduated from Quinnipiac College on Sunday...GREAT JOB!!!!:):)

'Tis the Season...

So get ready...the cottage is open again so we all know what that means...every post will contain pictures of us in Maine...hahaha. At least until June:( Jeff went over early on Saturday to get a head start on the work that needs to be done is the downstairs bathroom. The boys and I met him there around lunchtime and to our (very pleasant) surprise it was REALLY nice out on the beach. Matthew was able to dig and play in the sand. He even braved the ocean and went in up to his knees!

Today wasn't quite as nice but still decent enough to be outside and both boys experienced something for the first time...

Matthew and Fishing: The four of us went over to the harbor first thing this morning to take Matthew fishing for the first time. As much as we tried to prepare him, he was disappointed that he didn't catch anything. Maybe it was the location? Maybe the bait? But, I suspect he may have had better luck with a different fishing buddy!!:) Jeff...not too knowledgeable in that department...but since fishing is something he would really like to do with the boys, I think we'll see him improve. He did catch something though...seaweed!!!!! Hahahahahahaha!!!:)

Luke and Playing in the Sand: Since Luke was a newborn last summer and then napped through the nice weather yesterday, today was actually his first time being down in the sand and playing. He had so much fun and was not at all deterred by the feel of sand nor being covered in it. We also quickly learned that he didn't mind the taste of it either!!! But, we were able to keep him from eating it by letting him have the pacifier. His favorite was smashing the castles that Jeff made for him.

Aside from spending the weekend at the cottage and having fun with the boys, I also took a side trip to Boston with my sister. Heather drove 14 hours home and back to go to Spring Awakening with me. I really enjoyed the show (btw, it was fantastic) but I enjoyed spending alone time with my baby sister even more!!:)