We survived!

In just a few hours Nate and I will reunite at a hotel in Boston after the longest separation in our marriage!  Nate has been in Croatia serving on a team reaching out to Roma children while I have been with our kids traveling all over mass and nh.  To say we are excited is an understatement.  Thought I would post a few pics about what the kids and I have been up to.  

Nate left Sandy Cove early to fly out of Boston.  My mom stayed the rest of the weekend with me where we got extra pool and playground time.

A snake Olivia and I found on a walk!

Olivia really leaned how to swim the last couple weeks!

Once we made it back to amherst Olivia had a week of vbs while the boys and I shopped, took Isaac to the dentist, napped, played...

Trips to Groff parkAnd a trip to the doctor for SAMs cold:(

Many afternoon play dates in our friends' backyard.

A day trip to NH to see my best friend from college and her family.  Long day but totally worth it!

And we didn't watch any tv till Thursday...  And then we did...lots!

Olivia sang the vbs songs Sunday at our church.

Then we spent a few nights at grandmas.   We had dinner with all the aunts and uncles at friendlys and a trip to grandma'a church playground.

Then lunch with our other side of the family at small farm and dinner in Bolton.  

On a rainy wed we lunch at Chickfila - so fun!

And splashing in puddles once the rain ended.

Coloring together while brothers napped.

Those puffs may still be on my floor... Please don't judge:)

And ending with a trip to nana and papas.

4:30 AM

So in the last 4 years I have seen Probably every hour of the night go by while awake, but last week was one of the most memorable.  

On our last night at Sandy Cove everyone was fast asleep - including Sam who was having a great night for my not sleep through the nighter when we woke up to the fire alarm!  

My mom was with me at this point as Nate had already headed to Croatia so she grabs Isaac and I get Sam and Olivia and we head out into the hall-  my mom a bit ahead of me.  We get to the first lobby-  almost outside, when someone fully dressed says good morning to us.  

We pause.  The alarm is not going off.  We are the only ones in the hall.  In our pajamas with three sleepy kids.  What?!?!?

We go back to the room.  No alarm.

I call and go to the front desk.  No one is there.

Pretty sure there is no fire.  So we decide we better try to get some sleep.

Just as we are drifting off-  it goes off again!  Just our room!!!

I find someone downstairs who had no idea what to do.  She suggests I take the battery out?!?!  Finally she calls the on call maintenance and no answer:(

We try to go back to sleep and I pray it won't happen again.  And it doesn't...  Till 7!

At that point we get up and go to breakfast.

What a night!!!

My little sister got married!

Just over a week ago we were packing up and heading out, me and the kids for almost three weeks and Nate for a month!  Made it seem like "summer" was ending but in many ways we are just in the midst of it!  First up was my sisters wedding.  I'm still on cloud nine about it- I am just so happy for them, our kids were amazing (is that because I stressed about it for months?!) and it was fun!!!!  The pics are amazing- yes the photographer already has them up!  Here are a few that I snapped:

We kicked off the weekend at my parents for Liz's Bach Party-  a private paint nite event!

Friday morning all the ladies got our nails done- even Olivia!  She did great!!!  And had so much fun with the bridesmaids and especially Clio who was her best friend the next night.

Friday night Nate's parents took the kids and Nate and I had a date to the rehersal!  Finally saw this gorgeous venue in real life and it did not disappoint!  Andy's parents hosted a lovely dinner afterwards where I caught up with Nanny:)

And finally the wedding!!

And a huge huge huge thanks to our cousin Arlyn who helped make this wedding possible!!! (At least from the matron of honor with three kids perspective!)

Can God change his mind?

Today was our last full day down on the Cape with Nate's family.  We spent the morning at a wonderful lake where Olivia was a fish and Nate got to build sand castles.  Isaac convinced papa to carry him into the water over and over again and Sam didn't eat too much sand.  After a rest at home we headed to a playground to get out that last bit of energy before dinner, baths and bed.  As we got ready it started to turn cloudy and Olivia wanted is to hurry up to beat the rain. I didn't blame her one bit until I looked at the weather report and it said only 10% chance of rain.  However as we walked onto the playground, it started to drizzle and Olivia matter of factly states, "I guess God changed his mind and that's ok." :)

We played at the wonderful aug round for about an hour while God wavered on whether or not let it rain.

Sadly no photos at the park-  but this one from this morning of SAMs hair-  I love it!!!

And we tried successfully but shortly to nap the boys At the beach today.  I read a few pages of a book!

 Walked in on this sweet moment this week-  these moments give me hope for the future in the midst of our crazy that's all too fleeting.

Sam loves to take anything out of something and this bucket did the trick at the beach this week.

Cousins-  I believe this is called parallel play

Last one from the cape...

Corn on the Cob

Sam enjoyed finishing my corn last night