Tuesday, August 9, 2010
Many beautiful weeks again, this time with some rain, but overall a fabulous summer. The days are flying by and it’s hard to believe that school will be starting in just 3.5 weeks. I get sad just thinking about Bella and jack being away, especially bella who will be gone all day now.
Activities since Jluly 18 have included: play in rain; watching storms; playing with trains; reading; playing on porch; playing in little pool; Isabelle’s 6th birthday; picnic at Interlaken park with the Loves; b-day party at the Quiles’ house; play at cottage; swimming lessons for Isabelle and Jack; blueberry picking; playing in rain, swinging; chris and the 60 day challenge; Laurel Lake swimming and picnics; Richmond pond cookout with Larrivee’s; October Mountain hike with larrivee’s; Lilac Park with Helen; biking around Lenox.
Mom ans Seamus at Laurel Lake beach
The summer has been a great one for the kids and I. No pressing engagements, so hurried schedules. School will be quite the adjustment. Bella is buddies with Jack again. They play together all the time with little fighting or the fights do not last long. One will ask the other to do something and off they’ll go: playing Go Fish, playing in pool, playing in Sandbox (which mike jsut fixed iwth new cover); playing trains, reading; telling each other stories; hanging on porch in fort; playing dolls; treasure hunting; collecting flowers, etc.
Isabelle: Continuing her reading of Level 1 books. Each day she picks up a bit more. Swimming lessons coming along very well; She now can swim using a bubble and she’s able to put head in water…still tentative, but coming along well. Right now she’s loving to play with her dolls and polly pockets. She’ll play for hours. She’s giving me lots of hugs and is sweet to me, Jack and Seamus. There are times of dramatic scenes where she’ll exclaim “I’ll never talk to you the rest of my life…” and then stomps off. Two minutes later she is back. Bella is also coming along really well on her bike. I’m hoping we can take off her training wheels soon!
Jack: plays with trains; loves Go Fish; playing in sandbox and making rivers under the maple with water from pool. He’s the first to ask if he can help and loves to work. He has not been playing ball so much but loves to be outside. I’ve discovered that if I hug him a lot more, he’s happier, less combative, and more eager to please. Hard to do when my dander is up, but I’m trying.
Seamus: hitting of face has stopped, but he has reached a new level of mobility. He wants to climb everything, and once there must be watched. He especially loves mikes old stool where he takes the cushion off and climbs up on top to standing and holds on to couch. I”m waiting for him to launch himself over the couch edge. Seamus pushes himself up to standing position from floor and is able to stand for a few seconds by self. His crawling is very fast and is always on the lookout for the stairway to be open. He loves to play on porch and will put the matchbox cars over the gate on porch. He’s happiest outside; Inside he talks, babbles, and comlains. Lots of noise out of him lately especially when he’s eating. Another tooth (top front left) has come which makes it his fourth. Glad this one broke through. He has started this laughing technique that sounds like a maniac…it’s long and low and he wrinkles his nose. As my mom says, he’s a clown. He wrinkles his nose, tilts his head back and giggles; He’ll throw his sippy cup when he’s done. He likes to make the kids laugh, which he does all the time. He’s aware of everything and every sound, especially the kids. He’s at the stage where he’s a bit more tentative of people and loves having mike around too. He walks from furniture to furniture and has figured out how to open the cabinets. The kid is smart.
Seamus loves the water and beach and will play in mud for hours. He especially loves to knock down any castle walls or to sit in the little pools the kids make.
Seamus is happiest when we’re all around. He giggles and laughs and wants to be a part of it all. He’s not afraid to hit Jack back or push his way into a situation. The kid has determination.