Morning Ritual

We've had a morning routine going for a couple of years now.

We get ready to go, brush up, hugs and kisses all around. The boys strap in to the car and roll the windows down. Daddy-O stands on the front stoop and waves good-bye.

From the back seat they call...

Olii: "Daddy, there's a skunk on your head!!"

Daddy-O feigns shock and horror, hands on head, shaking about...

Bii: "Dad! There's an alligator in your pants!!"

Daddy-O does a frightened, over the top dance trying to find said alligator...

Sometimes multiple rounds ensue until we drive off. Big grins all around.

A similar chorus began as we pulled out the driveway this morning, but ended with an extra bonus:

Bii: "That never gets old"

You're right Goose, it doesn't.

Another Day In Paradise

God, we're lucky to live in Maine. And even luckier to have a boat!

We didn't get stranded at the Fort this time. DaddyO dropped us at the beach and the boys and I explored while DaddyO tried, but didn't catch fish. He did pick some lovely fresh mussels which we brought home and steamed. Yum. It was a perfect summer day and it wasn't even officially summer yet.

Bii starts round one of summer camps today, the official start of summer. Happy Solstice!!

Patooties

My sister-in-law (#3-of-5) is an amazing photographer. She has a knack for bringing out the best in people (and not just with her camera). When we visited last weekend she took some wonderful shots of the boys. This one, though silly, really captures them well. My two goofballs. Oh how I love them so.

Change of Plans

Saturday was a glorious day and we were going to make the most of it.

We set out early with a plan: On the boat at 9:00. Head out to Fort Gorges to explore for an hour or so, then get back on the boat, fish a little; find a sandy beach to romp on, have lunch, swim and head home before it gets too hot. Perfect!

9:15 arrival at Fort. Picture perfect morning.

We anchored and set out to explore:

Fort Gorges is a very cool place in the middle of Casco Bay. The boys love it.

We found new nooks and crannies and spent quite a bit of time looking around.

Finally deciding to move on with our day...

When...

Umm... Houston?

We have a problem...

When the tide goes out, leaving you marooned, there's nothing you can do but make the most of what you've got and wait it out until it comes back.

Six.Hours.Later.


so

we

did

This is what makes my boat float.

Thank God we were prepared. We had sunscreen, snacks and lunch and shovels and pails and a cooler full of cold beer. What more could anyone need?

I Ain't Got Much

'Cept these two, cute, happy the sun is finally out again, boys...

Hope you're all enjoying the weather...

Finally!

Despite the lousy cellphone camera picture, we had an absolutely lovely day out on the ocean. It's scheduled to start raining again any minute...

Anticipation

We have a new nightly activity at Chez Goose: Bat Watching


Just as the sun starts to go down, the boys start getting ready for bed knowing that the bats will soon make an appearance in our back yard. They get in their jammies (OK, truth is they've probably got in them 5 seconds after they got home. These kids love to be cozy!), brush up and run out on the deck taking their place next to each other on the picnic table. It's so cute to see how excited they get waiting for them.

Here they come Mama!

I Scream, You Scream

We All Scream For Ice Cream!!


Damn cell phone camera! It really is a cute picture even if you can't see it very well...

Early Morning Conversation

I felt his tiny, warm body sneak under the covers next to me. He settled in the crook of my arm and pulled my hand around his waist. He purred a simple contented sigh. We lay there for a few silent moments, enjoying the sound of each other's breath.

Mama? When will it be time to get up?

In a bit sweetie. It's a family day so we can stay in bed as long as we want. (I said hoping to stay in our warm nest the whole day...)

Another minute or two of rhythmic breathing passes. Then...

Mama? Can we get up now?

But why Goose? We don't have to go to school today. We don't have anywhere we need to be.

But Mama, there's so much excitement in the world! So many places to go and things to do. Can we please get up now?

Of course Lovey. Of course we can get up.

We're Off to Camp Grammy!

Happy Easter and Passover everyone!

What Everyone Needs

A swing in their kitchen.

We put this up when our addition was just a shell. It never came down. Daddy-O has made several variations of swinging apparatus. The trapeze bar is the current favorite, but the plastic baby swing is the all time classic. They both still fit in it and they're less likely to fall on their heads, so it's tops on my list for good clean fun.

I highly recommend adding a swing in your house.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

It's not the Patriots, but we're watching anyway!

Go Cardinals!

Snow Day!

People look at me like I have four heads when I say I love the snow. But I do. I love winter.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of sub-freezing temperatures and ice storms. Nor do I much care for patchy, old, dirty snow. But there’s nothing like a foot of fresh powder to blanket an otherwise dreary view.

And as long as the temperature is above freezing and there's no snow in my boots, I’m a happy camper. So are my guys.

My Baby

A text from daycare today:

"Owen just woke up from his nap with a dry pull up and asked to go pee...his undies have been dry all day."

More reason for rejoicing at Chez Goose!

I'm trying to get in to the holiday spirit...

This is helping!

Ho Ho Ho!

Gotta Change Things Up

We have to figure something out. This is getting O.L.D.

The boys look SO forward to family days (weekends). We do too. With one exception:

Bii and O wake up too bloody early.

I don't know how to adjust their internal clocks so they'll sleep later. Both of them woke before 5:30 on Saturday AND Sunday.

Then, this morning? I had to haul their lazy asses out of bed at 7:00!!!

What I would give to sleep until 7:00!!

I have tried everything I can think of: Put them to bed later. Put them to bed earlier. Teach them that they can't come out of their room before the clock says 6:XX. Turn on their music. Bribe them. If they wake up, there's no playing quietly in their room (note to self: look in to installing doors upstairs). If they're up, they're up and so is Mama or Daddy-O.

I'm tired. Anyone have any suggestions?

Traditions

My grandmother bought a house on Nantucket before it was cool and expensive. Summer was amazing out there - especially as children with nothing better to do - but the best time to go was Thanksgiving. The weather was usually still mild and the throngs of tourists had long since gone. It was something I looked forward to for most of the year. Sometimes I would fly out - it's a hop, skip and a jump from Boston - but other times I'd take the ferry and soak in the salt air.

When Gaga passed away, we had to sell the house. It was a very, very sad day. Thankfully, the neighbors bought the property and for a few years would rent it to my father for the Thanksgiving holiday. Even though the house was no longer "ours", it remained exactly the same - furnishings and all. It was good to have the family all together at Gaga's.

Of all the usual Thanksgiving traditions - Turkey and all the fixings, Graber Olives, Cribbage tournaments and endless walks on the beach - we usually had a full on lobster feed. When Gaga was still with us, we'd get 3 Lb'ers and split the pieces between us while my grandmother feasted on the bodies alone, quite contented. It was always a happy time.

It's been several years since we've been to Nantucket. It's been harder for us all to get together for the holidays. But my father has a new home this year and new traditions have begun. We were all together this year and it was something quite wonderful. I look forward to making new memories again - as long as some tradtitions never change.

The Secret Swing

We went to Grammy and Grandpa's new house for Thanksgiving. It's an old, incredibly beautiful home surrounded by trees on a rolling hill. It's still so new to G & G that they didn't know about the swing at the top of the hill. It took all of 6 seconds for the boys and their cousins to find it.

Aside from being away from their normal surroundings - which is always fun - and being with family, this was certainly what they were most thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Early New Year's Resolution

I had to do it now. It was too important to wait.

I've stopped yelling.

I hate myself when I yell at my kids. They're just being kids after all. It's their job to push all my buttons and drive me insane. It's their duty to try to kill us as soon as they can. If we're not around they can eat Skittles for breakfast.

Oh. Wait. That's what they had this morning. Hmmm. Whoops.

Anyway, I've found myself yelling a lot lately. I don't really know what it is. I'm just a lot less patient these days. Stress? Economics? Holidays looming just over the horizon? It's a combination of things for sure and it's ugly. It's obviously effecting me and more so the boys. Poor Bii has taken to curling up in a ball - usually crawling under the table or behind a chair when I raise my voice. O just starts crying immediately and dives in to me seaking comfort. It's not fair to them. They really are just kids being kids.

So, I have changed my evil ways and now refuse to get pissy when they don't do as I have asked. I vow to take deep breaths and count silently to 10. I will actually LOWER my voice when I want them to listen. I will practice patience and understanding. I will put myself in their little shoes and try to remember how hard it is to be small.

There is no reason to yell if they refuse to brush their teeth. If they fight over a toy, they'll learn that they have to work it out for themselves. I happen to like the way Green beans squeek in my teeth, but it doesn't me everyone else should. Pots and pans were meant to be used as drums. The news can wait. It's all gloom and doom anyway.

I've been focusing on this for the better part of a week now and I'm amazed at how much more calm I am. Getting out of the house this morning was a bit of a challenge - it always is on Mondays - but I kept calm and actually laughed at the comedy that it really was.

Thanksgiving at Grampa's could prove to be a challenge. But one I'm ready to take on.

I just hope this is a resolution that lasts.

Harvest Time

Sprouts!!

Mama loves her some fresh sprouts!
You can't make us eat them!!