Monday, October 6, 2014

Summer of Dreams

As if the first half of the summer wasn't enough to spoil two toddlers, we were fortunate -- and adventurous -- enough to spend the majority of August on the East Coast with beloved family & friends. To me, one of the most beautiful places in this world is Martha's Vineyard, a place that I first visited with Nick several years back when living on the East Coast. My memories of this island paradise involved cocktails on the deck, skinny dipping in the ocean (shhh), running on sandy roads & most importantly quality family time with my Aunt/Godmother & her tribe. I was so excited to be invited back -- with the twins -- to share this amazing place with them.

After a memorable week on the vineyard, we had a brief stop in my former stomping grounds of Brooklyn before heading upstate to stay in my sister's friends house in Saugerties. Saugerties is a small town in upstate NY, very similar to the town I grew up in -- just on the opposite coast. It was great to take an extended holiday in this quiet, quaint little town -- proving to all of us siblings that our bond is quite unbreakable.

The twins continue to develop their own personalities, not unlike who they were when they were first born. Lucy is so obedient, so vocal & such a good listener -- and she has this little spark about her that just lightens any room she enters. Her looks & personality continues to remind me of my older sister Meaghan, with her ability to command attention & feel very deserving of it. Lucy still absolutely loves reading, sometimes demanding we read up to 50 books a day. Her favorite animal is a bunny, just like her Grandma, which she fondly calls "Hoppy".

Hunter has become a full on boy & boy-oh-boy is he a lot of work. He wants to expand his world any chance he can take, even if it means running across parking lots, through parks or around airports. But he has this very sweet side to him too, similar to Nick, where he sings to himself each night & each morning -- his songs are his own little version of "Twinkle, Twinkle" with his own words added -- "Momma, momma, little momma" or "Papa, Papa, where are you", they just melt my heart. And after a year or more of being second fiddle to his big sister, he finally demands solo attention from me -- where he just likes to sit & lay on me while holding my hand. My love for this little boy is just beyond.

The twins are starting to talk more & more, Lucy is working on her numbers "one, two, three, JUMP" & Hunter is working on sentences "NO, I don't wanna". They talk to each other, play with each other & make our home so lively. Seriously, and anyone who visits can attest to this, in our home from 7am-8pm are two little beings that just light up the room -- screaming, laughing, tickling one another -- you can barely get a word in edgewise.

While outside, they love going on walks with Nick to pick blackberries & to watch planes fly overhead (we live very close to a seaplane water strip). Each plane that goes by, they look up & say "bye, bye" as they wave the passengers on. They love playing with dirt, going on hikes & are very into puzzles, drawing & dance parties. A typical night for us is spent watching the kids jump off the sofa that turns into a dance party that turns into blanket slapping that turns into horse riding -- all in 20 minutes or so. I knew there was a reason God gave me so much energy & I also know that once they are more grown up I will look 30 years my age. But I wouldn't change these moments for anything or anyone, my time with them is such a blessing. And I can honestly still say this after several 5+ hour long flights with the two of them.

East Coast Adventures

Vineyard Arrival

Auntie GeeGee

Beach Day in MV

Vineyard Swing

Cousin Love

THE Godmother

Pie Porn

Vineyard Twins

Photo Booth

All Smiles

Cousins

Family

Flying Horses

'Nanda & Hunny

Cocktail Hour, Vineyard Style

Prospect Park

Brooklyn Brunch

Saugerties Moment

Daddy Daughter

Lucy Goosey

Sisters

Upstate Twins

The 3rd & 1st

Sisters in Saugerties

Bennie Bday Celebration

Papa & the 7

Cousins

And In-Between

Playing at our club with Brynn

Wet kids

Raspberry Smiles

Naked Raspberry

Park Playdate with Lia

Running Girl

Butt Butts

Drawing, Drawing

Reading Girl

8 years

Little Driver

Little Reader

Backyard Playdate

Styling

Saturday Mornings

(Almost) Daily Hike

Lake Sawyer Playing

Wonderful Auntie Jenn

Edmonds Beachtime

Besties

Boy in Sunnies

Water Park

Beat the Blerch

Garbage Pail

Twins

Puzzles

Girl in Sunnies

Hoppy

Papa

THIS Girl

Brownies & Milk

Library Time

THIS Boy

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