Long Time No Write

Just as I predicted, I've let these postings fall way behind.  After our wonderful trip to NC, which was about 3 weeks including travel, and the off and on (mostly on) sickness b/w both Connor and Aidan before and since then, any free time has mostly been taken up by shameless lounging. 

I have to say, it's nice to know that already it's the middle of August.  Only about two more months until (please oh please) we'll get some relief from this oppressive heat.  We're working on several weeks now above 100 degrees and a heat index of 110 almost everyday. 

I took the boys and we met up with a friend and her two girls today at the zoo.  Even at 9am, I was ducking into the shade of trees.  Just looking at the tigers and monkeys with all their fur made me feel so icky. 

I'll post pictures later from our trip to Grandma and Pop Pop's in NC.  Like I said, it was a great trip and none of us wanted to leave.  But, like all good things, it had to eventually come to an end.

Here are some high and low points looking back on the summer:

1.  Both kids had at least one ear infection this summer...among other upper respiratory ailments  (and Aidan won the award for most vomit and diarrhea during one 24 hour period this past July as well--actually, the diarrhea was many 24 hour periods, followed by a bodacious diaper rash, relieved only by prescription strength butt cream called Happy Heiney!).

2.  Aidan has become obsessed with cars and trucks--fascinating to me that boys really do like boy things, even this early.  He pushes them all over the floor and table and grunts "uh, uh, uh"  (vroom vroom or buddin buddin).  This was a surprise b/c Connor was not at all interested in cars at that age, but just now has started to enjoy his matchbox cars.

3.  Connor saw and swam in the ocean for the first time and.loved.it!

4.  When doing #3, we avoided any sunburns (except Daddy got a little roasted on his feet!).

5.  Connor and Aidan got lots and lots of grandparent, Aunt Gretta, Aunt Marjorie/Uncle Herb, and cousin time!  Sooooo wonderful!  Connor, especially, was on top of the world. 

6.  Richard and Pop Pop took Connor fishing for the very first time.  And, after catching about 5 or 6 catfish, he and his second cousin, Andrew, became much more interested in the cooler full of capri-sun and eating goldfish--can't say that I blame them! 

7.  All totalled, we spent close to 60 hours in a car.  I still don't know quite how we accomplished this one.

8.  We visited good friends in the mountains (the boys first time there, too) and Connor saw his first close-up snake.  He kept calling it to come back out of the bushes to play.

9. Richard and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary with a stay at a posh hotel (the same as the first night of our honeymoon).

10.  I started back to work---part-time.  Monday's and Wednesday's.  Somedays, I have a little twinge of regret for even doing that, but, mostly, I'm just very thankful for the mental and physical outlet.   

11.  As of August, Aidan is officially an almost-exclusive walker!  No more infant.  I'm the proud mommy of one preschooler and one toddler!

I know that there's a lot more to say. I'll have to fill in some of the gaps later.  I'll leave this with just a couple shots of Connor and Aidan from July.