Anders & Jakob

Post Vacation Musings

We've been home for three days now and summer continues.
I was sad that vacation ended but I feel determined to have just as much fun at home as we did at the cape. My summer time off is limited.

The photo's I posted are from vacation too. They are just not photo's of my family, but instead, things I saw that I thought were beautiful.

That is the other thing I am determined to have...a beautiful life. Now that I am fifty, the reality is that my life is probably more than half over. Sobering, isn't it? I have so many ideas about my one life and how to live it - things I haven't achieved yet and I'd like to. I am gently yet fixedly finding my way to an even more kind, poetic, creative, life and family.

It's complex. It means not only living with my immediate family in this way, but in a larger community of people also determined to lead a full life of reaching and shaping and being very present and in the moment. Perhaps it's a little Zen, but I like that too. I feel so very eager about it.

I remember turning 40 and being sort of freaked out about that age. Yet, here it is ten years later and I just feel eager. Having kids really changes everything.

So, if you are reading this, feel free to join me on this journey. I would love to talk, plan, create, and build a big life with all of you. I think some really wonderful things are headed our way.

Beach...Day Six

Last day at the Beach
Early morning croissants in Provincetown
playing at home base and then heading out mid day
HOT HOT HOT
absolutely positive we were all burnt to a crisp,
but not a spot of sunburn
playing in Puma playground
Sandy went home
Rain expected tomorrow
Heading to Boston Children's Museum tomorrow

Beach...Day Five

High Head at low tide
hundreds and hundreds of grey seals (those are seals behind the four of us)
Bike ride up to Head of the Meadow
Anders racing, and chanting "What's the word? Fast. Bike Bike Fast"
Rock gathering sorting and art making on the sand
No boys take naps and Kuba goes into a tail spin due to complete exhaustion
Both boys sound asleep by 7:30- but it should have been hours earlier
Lobster dinner and a pedicure for me- thanks to my sister!

Beach...Day Four

Race Point
big blue sky with a hot sun
wild Waves and whipping wind
kites everywhere
playing in the surf
painting on the beach blanket
NO sunburn! miraculous on such a hot day

Beach...Day Three

Fiftieth Birthday
Morning birthday gifts and singing
Whale watching on the dolphin fleet
Pods of humpback whales - close...really close
Surf jumping at low tide at Head of the Meadow
Sandy arrives
Corn on the cob, grilled steak, and yummy birthday cake
So much gratitude

Beach...Day Two

Race Point
body surfing
kite flying day
five hours on the beach
tiny bit of sunburn in odd places
evening bay side collecting
hermit crabs, sand crabs
and equally thrillng assorted crab body parts
fireworks at bedtime
happy tired children

Beach...Day One

Herring Cove and High Head Beaches
grey seals at high tide
collecting rocks, shells, crab claws
swimming
thunder and rain
playing monopoly junior
grilling dinner
rescuing a moon snail
climbing dunes and then sliding dunes
sand stuck between toes and other sensitive places
soapy showers before bed

The 5 Chicks Have Been Named

Clementine
Henrietta
Freckle
Darling

and last but not least.....

Efi Dufi Dye (Kuba's choice)

Vacation!

Finally, my summer vacation has begun! Three and one half weeks of extra work, but now I am done. Summer school, even though it was totally great, was long! I feel like this will be the most well deserved summer vacation of my life.

We are headed to the cape this weekend and I could not be happier. We rented a small cottage right on the ocean (a priority for us) so that really all we have to do is wake up and head for the beach. I keep imagining long days on the beach filled with sand play, shell gathering, wave riding, reading, ice cream eating, and relaxing. I am so looking forward to playing and just being with my family. I have a monumental birthday coming up smack in the middle of the week, and this vacation makes it so much easier to take it on.

HEAT WAVE!!

Neighborhood Children's Parade

Happy Fourth of July!!
Here is our adorable neighborhood children's parade....
we had a trombone player this year, a whole bunch of kids and families, and a fun afternoon of games and potluck in the park next door. Anna really went for the gold when she built the wagon float this year. The kids painted this fabulous structure, complete with an american eagle that they could fly as the wagon rolled along. It was really so much fun!

And here are some shots of Anders first experience with a sparkler!