August!

I can't believe it is August! Here are a few updates from the past week. Here we are getting a little shade on a hot day:
Martin and Ryan are taking a nap on the hammock

I am pretty sure Ryan can sleep anywhere at a drop of a hat - not a bad trait to have!

Uncle Dan came home for a visit and he and Lizzie had some fun flying a kite. They do this quite often when he is home and it is a lot of fun, once we get it in the air!

This past week was Lizzie's soccer camp. She had a great time in her group of 3 and 4 year olds. Here she is on the last day with "Coach Kev" from Ireland. He was great with these kids - they had fun! What a lot of energy!

Mimi came to watch camp on the last day before taking Martin for the day. Lizzie loved having visitors at soccer camp!

Tuesday was rainy and cold, though Martin and I braved the field just the same - he made a great spectator!

Illinois family, egg festival & heat

What a busy summer we have had so far! This past Sunday, we had a nice visit with our family from Illinois. Uncle Tom and Aunt Char brought their boat again and there was tubing and fishing done. It was so fun to have all of the kids around!
Cousin Allie, Sarah and Mike with baby Martin:

What fun the younger ones had playing on this old tractor tire tube!

On Saturday, I took the kids to the egg festival parade. Here is Maeve getting good use of the ear protection - thanks Royce!

Lizzie had lots of fun watching the parade. Here she is with Trudy waving at the parade floats.

Martin watches from the stroller (doing his own wave, without realizing it):

Grampy enjoying the company as well as the parade. We were so glad to be able to watch from Trudy and Royce's lawn - prime parade viewing space!

During the heat of the past week, we spent a lot of time in the shade. Here are some pictures that Mom asked me to take of the baby birds on the line - our prime entertainment from the shady spot.

Martin was so glad to be in the shade without his outfit - much cooler for him!

Look at those arms!

On Friday (this is out of order), we went to Bucksport to visit the Illinois cousins - here are some of the family enjoying the float toy.

Lizzie started soccer camp this week - I am sure we will have a soccer post one of these days.

Hot hot hot!

It is hot around here! These pictures are mostly from last weekend, so you won't see how we have been beating the heat with the kids (Ryan called it a baby nudist colony, so you get the idea). Here is Martin - so asleep I was able to change his diaper without him waking up.
Last weekend we had our annual bookclub BBQ - thanks to Becky and Dana for always hosting! Kate can always be found on the trampoline at these parties. Here she is showing Lizzie how to use it with Nora and Ivy watching.

Martin spent a good deal of the party stretched out on a blanket in the shade - he was very happy!

Martin also got to meet Nana for the first time.

Martin has been having fun with his bumbo these days. Here he is watching me braid Lizzie's hair. Mom came down to entertain him so I could focus on braids, though he seemed pretty content for a time to watch us work.

We are in the time of year when we have to start processing all the garden food for winter. Here Lizzie is helping Ryan with some peas. We have been eating most of our meals right from this spot - you can't beat the view!

Here Nene is giving Martin some shade with her hat (and likely giving him kisses and getting smiles):

Last weekend, Kate taught Lizzie how to plug her nose before jumping - Lizzie will jump over and over if there are enough grownups around!

The weekend

What a great weekend! We had wonderful weather for most of it - a great time to be on the lake! Here is Ryan water skiing (Uncle Tom and Aunt Char brought their boat up for the fourth).
Grampy took a turn on the tube.

Lizzie decided to go for a ride too! Her first time on the tube - Ryan said she is actually standing here - apparently she stood up the entire time!

Michael was the first of the youngest generation to brave the tube - he even went by himself!

Maddie took a turn too! This is how Martin spent most of the day (with various adults).

A little out of order, but here is Michael's first ride on the tube.

Maeve didn't want to miss out on the fun. She stuck her toes in the water too!

Nene and Grammy Orrie took Lizzie for a ride in the paddle boat.

Earlier in the week Grampy brought a different fridge to the camp - Lizzie was a big "help" to him as he put the doors back on (we love having the fridge!)