July 4th

Our town had a wonderful 4th of July parade, and Seamus celebrated with some school friends.  Our town is just a magical place to be!

Eve's birthday was incredibly difficult.  She would have turned 11 this year.  I spent the day crying a lot, and Seamus was wonderful and kept hugging me.  Family and friends reached out to us to comfort and share love.

Seamus has been making me laugh on the regular.  I was playing ball with Seamus when I hit the ball too hard and it bounced off the roof. He got very upset and shouted, "Not cool, man!! Not cool, yo!!!" Apparently, I'm raising a hipster.  Then, yesterday, he was talking about a song called the "hookie dookie."  I was confused until I realized he meant the "hokey pokey."  He's too much! 

OCNJ

My parents have been going to Ocean City, NJ for the past 34 years.  I have such wonderful memories of summer vacations there and when I think of OCNJ, my soul aches.  I've said many times how bittersweet this summer has been.  We've been able to do so many new things as a family because we are no longer tied to the house.  My emotions are very conflicted about this.  I grieve for my daughter, and I'm happy that my son is having such wonderful experiences.  One of those experiences was getting to swim in the ocean for the first time.  My brother has been going to OCNJ for the past several years with his family.  This year, we crashed at his place and joined the fun.  Seamus had a blast!!  Spending time with his cousins and being on the beach made him so happy!  Jim was in his element (having grown up on the beach), and my soul was both aching and soothed. 

End of the school year and beginning of summer

To celebrate my birthday, Heather and I went to the casino.   It was a wonderful trip and made me think a lot about my grandmother.  She would go to Atlantic City twice a week from Philadelphia to play the slots!  I think she was smiling down on me because I came home with more money than I went with.  Winner winner, chicken dinner!

 We enjoyed the warmer weather by continuing to go on our "woods walks."  Here are Jim and Seamus behind the Clark Museum:

 It's hard to believe, but Seamus finished his year at Pine Cobble.  He's off to WES in the fall and will be in Kindergarten with our fabulous friend, Erin.  I'm not sure who is the most excited: me, Erin, or Seamus.  :)
It was sad to say goodby to Pine Cobble.  It is an amazing school with incredible faculty and staff.  We are so lucky to have been members of that community for the past two years.

 Summer began and Seamus and I are spending it together.  We joined the local pool, and that has been a wonderful decision.  It gives us an activity to break up the day and Seamus began to learn to swim.  He has since taken swim lessons and has learned so much in such a short time.  In a two week span, he went from being afraid to dunk his head in the water to doing cannonballs off the side of the pool. He no longer uses the flotation device in the pictures below.  He can swim underwater better than above water and loves dunking his head below water. 

Spring 16

I've been terrible about updating the blog, so get ready for lots of pictures.

Seamus has been getting his hair cut at the salon.  He recently agreed to the shampoo.  Although he looks in  pain, he liked it a lot!

 Lordy, Lordy; Sharon's 40. 

 My lap is prime real estate.