Lemons

Lemons from Sheryl Konopack on Vimeo.

Boating With the Livingstons

Last Friday, we joined Nicole, Rodney, and their kids, for a trip on the boat. Her parents live in Forked River where they keep the "Trikki Nikki". We drove around on the bay and went out to Island Beach State Park together. (The map below allows you to move it and see where we were!) Everyone LOVED the warm August temperature of the water.

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The kids did some crabbing from the grandparent's dock. Oliver got used to wearing his life jacket while the boat was in motion... but he didn't like it.

Trenton, Gabe, Kendall, and Connor loved climbing in and out of the cabin below.

We finished with an afternoon ice cream treat at Mrs. Walker's-- Jim has fond memories of this ice cream!
Great day! Thanks again for taking us along, friends!

Readers

"Beautiful girls, all over the world, I could be chasin' but my time would be wastin' 'cause they've got nothing on yooooouuuu baby. Nothing on yooooou baby!"

(Sing those lines, but insert the word "boys" when appropriate. That's how I feel! Literally chasing beautiful boys! ;)
Trenton absolutely loves that song.

***

I know I blog often about how we're a family of readers... this picture brings it all home. Jim and I voraciously read every chance we get. Magazines, books, mail, blogs... The boys totally know that they can always bring us over a book and no matter what we're doing, we'll stop and read with them.

Trenton can read basic readers now on his own. Some favorites include the Otto series, Biscuit, and all the books in the Brand New Readers series. He'd read some of those when I got them from the library, but I was lucky enough to find two sets to purchase at a consignment store (a great place to look for books!) For many of these, all I have to do is read him the title and he figures out 90% of the words on his own. He uses great early-reader strategies such as looking at the picture for clues, using initial and ending sounds for support in guessing the words, and re-reading when the word he's chosen doesn't make sense. He'll read just about anything-- stories, informational books, listen to books on tape, magazines (Your Big Backyard and High Five are favorites).

One of our goals for this summer was to continue our "school" play, as we'd done during the year. Some days we learn from the Core Knowledge Activity Book, some days we practice handwriting using Handwriting Without Tears. Most days I read to him, and he reads to me. He's always interested in the world around him, especially natural science. I'd like to have time to do more experiments with him.

He knows he's smart, and he tells us. It is such a pure, honest, happy, proud statement when he makes it. Makes all of us smile.
We know you are, buddy. We know.

Lovin' the Bells

Taking the picture above last week reminded me of taking the picture of T below, two years ago.
Which again reminded me of the picture of myself, at Keansburg, in 1980.

Gotta love those boats and cars with bells...

Staycation 2010

"Mom, I can't wait until my cousins get here!"
Much better weather this year than in years past... a sampling of what we did:
- Blueclaws game... kids eat free, gymnastics night, character night




















- quiet time practicing handwriting while the baby sleeps













- first day at the beach... warm water, lots of fun. We're amazed at how well behaved the kids are and how happy!

Sea glass discovery

- an evening at Point Pleasant... T's first time in the batting cages... Oliver loving the train
























- one table for the kids, one table for the adults, for sure




















- the older boys tackling the rock climbing wall... Shairna and Chris documenting it all


















- a trip to the Liberty Science Center










- playing pirates is more fun with friends than with mom








- peach picking at Eastmont Orchards
































- lots of time in the backyard, with the pool and Slip N Slide

- guys find time to exercise









- one night out for the parents at Sawa... beach bonfire in Long Branch, thanks to Gold's Gym

Jared on the SlipNSlide from Sheryl Konopack on Vimeo.

- final morning at the beach... group shot!



- kite flying in the evening... then Surf Taco for dinner

Jared Pushes Ollie and T on the Swings from Sheryl Konopack on Vimeo.

- Strollo's for dessert as we watch the drawbridge go up

- chalk drawing on the sidewalk... we love you guys!

Our Song, Boys Version from Sheryl Konopack on Vimeo.