Beach Sweep

Oh, sweet boy. How fast you are growing.
You've asked about going to the beach every week since October (the last time we were probably at the beach).
Today we went to Asbury Park to join the hundreds of other volunteers who teamed up with Clean Ocean Action to participate in the Beach Sweeps all over the Jersey Shore.
We found whatever kind of trash we could and gave it to a volunteer, who put it into a bag and kept track of what kind of trash it was using a data collection sheet.
Pretty fancy.
You thought it was "awesome" to find a popped red balloon, two drinking straws, and a cigarette butt.
Yes, you wore gloves. (Proof below)

You also made me build "five" sand castles with you and then proceeded to top them off with pieces of seashells and sing Happy Birthday. To Anthony Wiggle. Because it was his "workshop".

I love to play along with you.
You cried when it was time to go, but I appealed to your constant rumbling tummy and gave you a fruit strip and a granola bar.

Got some good pics, too, eh? See behind your head? That's Madame Marie's "Psychic Temple". Actually, it is her granddaughter working it now... This is significant because she was mentioned in a Springsteen song. (Something I've got to start playing more of now that you are old enough to remember words to songs.)

Don't worry, buddy. It will be summer soon. :)))))

***
UPDATE:
Tonight at the dinner table, I had Ollie lying on my lap. I asked him, "What's your name?". He responded, "Oliver Allen Konopack". I then asked, "Where do you live?" and without missing a beat, he answered
"At the beach!"

Easter Sunday, 2011

Outside our new home.
Matching shirts, caps, and ties.
(Yes, you have seen that cap and those ties before. You should know by now that we love hand-me-downs. And the shirts were an absolute score at a great consignment shop!)


It has been wonderful to discover what kinds of beautiful flowers the previous owners planted. The boys love looking at the tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and bluebells.

Thank you, stable garbage can lid, for making this picture possible ;)




The church service was beautiful. Oliver broke out into an all-out cry when I went up to the altar to do the reading. Afterwards, this is the best shot I could get...

They really weren't up for too much picture-taking.





Mom and Dad hosted the Lacinas for dinner that afternoon. The weather was remarkable-- mid 70s, at least. Everything looks so green and alive!

Jim shows the boys pictures of Trenton's first Easter, in Illinois.
Can you believe he was this small for his second Easter? Akk! Now he is big enough to climb trees!Still needs help getting down ;)




Mom organized an awesome outdoor egg-hunt for the kids.
Mary helped.



It was really nice to see all of my uncles and my aunt & her kids. Everyone was relaxed and grateful for the fantastic meal.


And dessert!

HAPPY EASTER!

Easter Morning, 2011

"Dude! Did you hear? The Easter Bunny came last night! Get your basket and get ready!"

"Wha? That was an easy find!"


"Ahh! Lots of toys, books, and yes, candy!"


OK, so we let them eat chocolate for breakfast.
I had baked strawberry muffins, and they barely ate any.
Just chocolate and jelly beans.

Insane, right?
Yeah, but that is Easter ;)
Meanwhile, chocolate bunnies BEWARE! Someone gave up chocolate for Lent again this year and is now on a mission to take out any delicious rabbits that get into her way... two down, three to go, and Easter was just yesterday... BLAH!

Decorating Eggs With Friends

A whole week off from school & a big paper to finish for class... a computer that had to be totally wiped out and reconfigured... and crappy weather.
By Friday, we'd had enough of it all. Laura, Harrison, and Jonathan came over to dye Easter eggs. The boys were actually able to do it with minimal mess and a lot of smiles.

Egg dyeing is fun every year. They get more into it each time.

All of them love to play dress up while they are over here. Thank goodness for the playroom.
Get this-- there is a lovely crack in the foundation of the house, right in that room. There is also a musty smell. Uggh! I have a professional coming tomorrow to check it out. Let's hope it isn't a huge problem... All part of the territory with owning a home!

T-Licious Tee Ball

He's really enjoying Tee ball. Especially when he gets to wear the uniform.
He spends most of his time checking out the grass and making various loud sounds when he is out in the outfield. Not much concentration there. But the ball hardly comes to him.
Coaches switch up positions often, which is good.
No one is the catcher.
Running in cleats is a new thing. They must feel a bit funny on the feet.
They don't keep score, but he doesn't know that. Keeps telling us, in amazement, "It was another tie game!"

Home Run for Trenton! from Sheryl K. on Vimeo.

If you hit last in the inning, you get to round the bases and come home. So, that is a Tee Ball home run you got there. Go Trenton!
They finally started letting the coach pitch to them, and Trenton can hit the ball a LOT further. I'll get video of that next week ;)