Summer...finally

{lucy...i guess it's safe to say we are being very responsible about sunblock...just look at how pasty white we have kept her skin!}

{gabriel}

{max}

{mini-max, i mean...anna!}

{sonia enjoying some watermelon}

We had a great, great day today. It was finally sunny, warm and dry all day. A true summer Saturday...and they have been rare this summer. We decided to stay at home and enjoy our yard and pool and to see who wanted to join us. To our delight, Lucy's pals Max and Gabriel came over, with their adorable little sisters and parents. It was so enjoyable to swim in the pool with our fantastic friends -- Ellenor & Mike and Rachel & Michael -- and just to soak in a bit of sun.

The kids napped well in the afternoon after everyone left, giving me a chance to go back in the pool where I just drifted around on the big blue float...heaven. After naps, our neighbors came over -- a little girl named Maya who is four and gets along great with Lucy, along with Maya's sweet baby brother Ryne and, of course, their parents who are super-nice new friends for us. We had another swim in the pool and Lucy had a breakthrough -- she was finally willing to "swim" on her own holding on to the noodle without us holding her or the noodle! I am sure that watching Maya do it inspired her. It was so cute, I was holding the noodle and she just said to me, "Mommy, I can do it now." She was ready. She spent the rest of the day asking if I was proud of her, and I was so overwhelmed to be able to give her what I consider one of the greatest gifts you can give your children...to tell them that, yes, you are overwhelmingly proud of them. (Of course, she doesn't need to do anything for me to tell her I'm proud of her...but she really does thrive on hearing about it when she does something new.)

As I said, a great, great day. Thanks to all who made it possible :)

Tuesday morning with Phoebers

Lucy is in school five days a week now, but I work only three days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Phoebe goes to school on the days I work -- leaving Tuesdays and Thursdays and "Mommy & Phoebe" days. This fine Tuesday morning, we're just hanging out in the living room, listening to some Lady Ga Ga on the stereo. There are dirty dishes in the sink, laundry in the baskets and a beautiful day outside just screaming to us to come take a walk. But, for now, we're just going to hang out a bit longer and enjoy each other's company. And when I read this in 20 years, guaranteed I will say, "Good girl, Sara. Those days went by way too fast. Those dirty dishes don't mean a damn right now. And that Lady Ga Ga...she was awesome."

Scenes from our morning:

Separated at birth?

Let's hope so, 'cause I'd really looooooove to live in a palace!

Playtime

{swinging}

{sliding}

{giggling all the way down}

Miss Lucy & Miss Phoebe

I know, I've been a pretty bad blogger lately! So here is a very quick little ditty on a few of the latest goings on of Miss Lucy and Miss Phoebe. Read it once through and you'll know the tune...

Miss Phoebe got a haircut

Miss Lucy got a skirt

Miss Phoebe got an ice pop but she put it in the dirt!

"Ouch!" said Miss Lucy

"Out!" cried her sis

"Our parents are so happy when we sit so nice like this!"

Finally...some Fourth Fotos

Just plum delicious!

Should I take a maternity test?

...because I really just don't see how any of my genes have made it into this child!

But this one...well, I think I can finally take credit for passing along some of my DNA:

Either way, they are the two most beautiful girls in the world. I'm just sayin'.

Good humor

When the sun shines for a total of five minutes in the entire month of June, you just gotta celebrate with your first visit to the neighborhood ice cream truck, right?

The Graduate

{post ceremony donut mouth}

Lucy had her preschool "graduation" last week. Now, before you get all choked up wondering where the time has gone, she is not starting kindergarten in the fall...or even the fall after that. (Heaven help us, we've got two more years until she qualifies for kindergarten...i.e., two more years of tuition bills higher than they will be until she's in college.) Nevertheless, she had her very first graduation ceremony and it was adorable. I got there right before it started, Phoebe in tow, so in my haste I ended up taking some really bad photos. I have to remind myself that even though I am starting to take better and better photos, I still need to not be afraid of posting photos here that document our lives even if they fall far less than "perfect." In fact, I think that here the imperfection makes these photos kinda sweet.

{goofing around with her teachers}

{receiving her diploma}

{watching her classmates receive their diplomas}

Which one's it gonna be?

Her?

Or her?

{or maybe both?}

Lucy has decided that some day, her children will be named Gabriella and Dylan. Yesterday, she told Jeff that they will actually be twins. When Jeff told her that twins are a lot of work, she replied, "That's ok, Daddy...I don't mind the pushing."

What on earth am I going to do with this child of mine? Maybe I should just call Harvard Medical School and see how early is too early to apply for early admissions. Either that or I should call Saturday Night Live to see if they have an apprentice program for three-year-olds.

What the heck, I think I'll just do both.

Ribbon of girls

Lucy's first official school photo

{sweetie pie!}

Feeling woozy

Many times every day, my heart just overflows with love for my children. So I find myself asking Lucy, "Do you know how much Mommy loves you?" to which she always replies, "Sooooo much!" The other day, when in one of those moments, I said, "Lucy, I love you so much my heart could...what?" She was quiet for a moment, then replied, "barf." I'd like to think she meant burst, but either way, the sentiment from her heart was pure.

Anyway, I took these photos of her before going to a birthday party on Sunday and, well, she looks so beautiful that I could just barf. Couldn't you?

Happy Anniversary to Nana & Poppa

65 years...unbelieavable and truly inspirational. We love you so very much!