An Even Playing Field and Pretty Girls

I love the beach. For anyone who has read this blog you know I spend a lot of time at Humarock Beach. It is my favorite place to be. I grew up there. My parents bought a small cottage there 43 years ago~6 months before I was born. I have wonderful memories of summers spent there.

Now my kids enjoy it as well. They LOVE it really. They love the beach like I did, love the ocean and even can dive right in to the frigid cold Atlantic Ocean water like I did when I was their age. They spend hours in it like I did as well. It is their second home and from the first sign of warm weather in the spring they ask when we are going back.

For both the reasons I mention above, I love Humarock Beach. As a mom I have a new appreciation for it. It brings an even playing field and days together that are enjoyed with almost no fighting at all. The beach, with all it's beauty, brings an even playing field for all kids~but especially siblings! Another friend of mine made this observation while we were there earlier this summer. Last week Brian, the kids and I spent our vacation there. I noticed what she meant during our vacation. It's hard to fight with such a wide open space to play. Don't want to build a sand castle, then go into the water, don't want to ride waves anymore, then get your skimboard, float on the tube, read a book, or just sit and soak up the warm sun. The house is so close to the beach, and the older boys just old enough, that I can now send them back to the house for a snack or if they just need a break. There's so much room to split them up or let them play together. It makes for such a fun and relaxing day for them and, sometimes more importantly, me.

As with last year, we had another wonderful week at the beach. We are so fortunate to live near the water and have a summer home to go to and a place to go to when we all need to have some space from each other~which inevitably brings us all back together when we get there!

On another note~my oldest has a crush. He has had this crush for two years now. He is the sweetest, kindest boy. Today after lacrosse practice he asked if he could put the BTR cd in the car stereo. The other day I skipped over the boyfriend song because I find it annoying. Tonight he asked if he could listen to the cd and made it a point to let me know he wanted to listen to the "boyfriend" song as well. I asked him teasingly if it was because he liked someone. At first he wouldn't say, then he told me that I knew who it was. The same girl he has mentioned a handful of times. To back up a bit~I honestly can't believe they have crushes at this age. They seem too young. This girl would tie his shoes in second grade. I think the attention is what he liked. When he told me tonight that I already knew who it was I said to him that I thought she was a sweet girl and a "good catch". He asked me what I meant by "good catch" and I told him just what I said~that she is a sweet girl. His response was, "and she's pretty too." So flippin sweet!

I Like Apple Picking!

We took the kids apple picking yesterday. It was such a beautiful fall day to go. We go every year~but our weekends have been very busy since September started and I was in a panic that this year we wouldn't be able to fit it in. To add to it~tomorrow is Sean's birthday and we always allow the birthday child to pick an activity that we can do on their birthday. He did not pick apple picking, so rush we did today after getting flu shots and getting in two soccer games.

We did it~by the skin of our teeth~we drove over an hour because most places were picked clean~to apple pick for about a half hour. Although we were rushed because we got there very late, it was worth it though because Audrey walked around the apple trees, following behind me, saying "I like apple picking, mommy" over and over. They all had a lot of fun~although I noticed Patrick became bored a bit quickly (too old for this family tradition??? I hope not.). The twins were really into it and it was so easy with them this year~as I'm finding most activities are now.

We also chose pumpkins~a little disappointing that the place we went too this year didn't have a pumpkin patch. The kids were excited all the same.

We had a great time and I'm glad we fit it in, even with all the rushing.