Jamming

Lisa gave me a thoughtful birthday gift- a kit with jars to make homemade jam. Then she gave me a jamming lesson on a Saturday. We made strawberry, peach, black raspberry, and mixed berry jams. MMM....good. Come over and have a piece of toast and jam with me.

Amelia Learning and Growing

Amelia is growing up on us. Learning to paint...



Dressing herself (here in her favorite hat- a diaper if you can't tell)...


Loves to color and follows Natalie around everywhere.


Here she is in our favorite shorts for her, shrieking away like she does as she learns how to use her voice. I hope it turns into a beautiful singing voice soon. Otherwise, I'll be deaf before I'm 35.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Natalie had been asking Matt to build her a doll house. So one night, Matt surprised her with a doll house (turned into farm house now) built from cereal and diaper boxes out of our recycle bin. The kids then decorated the outside of it (still do occasionally). Perhaps you can make something with your recycle goods as well- post a picture- we'd love to see your creations.

Manhattan Dinner Cruise

Matt started a new job a couple months ago with a company in Manhattan called Mcdonough, Bolyard, and Peck. He basically does the same thing he used to- consulting and claims work in the construction industry. For their summer work party, they took the New York branch of employees on a dinner cruise around Manhattan. It was one of the coolest things we've done since we've lived here. The pictures here do not do the city lights at night justice. Food was great, it was fun to dress up a little, a night out with my man, his coworkers were easy to talk to and fun to be with, and kids were safe at home with trusted friends. It was a beautiful night (weather) too. If you've never done the dinner cruise in NYC- you should.

Scouts

I liked this picture of Matt, Clint, Wayne (two of Matt's good friends) and some scouts he works with here.

Natalina Ballerina

Natalie took a dance class this summer. Ballet and Tap. This is why having girls is so much fun, seeing something like this.





Natalie with her teacher Miss Trish.

Sheets and Friends

The one picture has nothing to do with the other. They're just on the same post.

Perfectly folded crisp sheets

Matt cracks me up. He is one of the most laid back people I know. He will live until he's 100 because he is so good at not stressing over things, and letting them just roll off his back. I am more apt to worrying way too much about things I don't need to. I can hardly leave my bedroom in the morning without making the bed and putting my pajamas directly into their drawer when getting dressed. Matt, on the other hand, has no problem throwing his clothes on the floor and leaving them there until the millenium.

HOWEVER, when it comes to laundry our personalities flop. I fold and fold fast, not paying attention to straight lines. My goal is to just get it done and done as quickly as possible. The beautiful sheets above were perfectly folded by Matt, my throw- his-clothes-on-the-floor-and-let-things-roll-off-his-back-Matt. This wasn't just a one time special occurance either. When he does get a chance to help with laundry, he happily does so and astonishes me every time. I thought I should share it with the world to prove there are men who can help with household chores in very impressive ways. So meticulously done, the Plaza or Ritz might mistake him for their sheet man. One of many reasons I am perplexed by the man I love and consider myself very fortunate.

Fieldtrip to Brookhaven Animal Preserve




I love this one with Natalie in the face of the piggy.

Northshore Beaches

This is the first summer we decided to take advantage of the beaches here more. I must admit I was prejudice at first, due to my love for the beaches in Southern California. However, we have enjoyed our excursions to beaches about 10 minutes away from our home on the North shore of Long Island. Amelia loves the water and Natalie loves the sand.







We've been loving Amelia's little curls.