Where Did I Leave Off?

Well, it's been quite a summer:

Mom got hit by a man running from the police on the way home from work,

He landed on her trunk!  Thank God she wasn't hurt at all, and she left for England the next day!

The water main in front of our townhouse had to be replaced...so happy we were renting!

We picked lots and lots of blueberries..

Charlie kept saying "Kaplink, kaplunk" like in Blueberries for Sal...

The zoo is always popular with these boys, I think they feel right at home...

I love this little face!

William and I spent some time with the Calabrese kids again this summer.  We took a visit to a nearby cave and it was so cool!  In more ways than one...

We made a trip to feed the calves one last time before we left Maryland...

Grandpa finally for a chance to come out and see us.  He and Charlie got along great!  Will and Charlie were both very excited to see "Gampa"

Charlie is such a serious little man.  He takes so much more time to warm up to things, this expression says a lot about his personality...
 

We have had such a whirlwind summer.  I haven't had a second to blog.  Things are finally falling into place and I should be able to get on track again.  I know I will regret not keeping this thing going.  The boys grow so fast, I want to not let it all pass by undocumented!

Summer....

Kitty has become Charlie's constant companion.  He will drop blanket and his binky, but he insists Kitty is always along. 

Kitty also gets the first bite or drink every time!

May 24th was William's last day of Pre K!  Here he is with his best friend Towa.  Towa is the one who William told Santa Claus about last year...

William and Annabelle.  Such good little buddies!  They kinda look alike...

William and his two teachers.  Mrs Wikman on the left and Mrs Yazurlo on the right.  William was so lucky to end up in this particular class this year.  We couldn't have asked for 2 more loving, patient, and experienced women to help us help William.  They really, truly cared about him, and enjoyed him for all he is.  All the while taking care of 11 other kids!

Charlie and Will went hiking with Daddy and Charlie was insistent on pointing to every trail blaze along the way. 

Looking for Badgers...

Charlie climbed in the basket of the stroller and stayed there for a long time...

My nature loving boys...

Chincoteague Pics...

Charlie wasted no time in choosing a building site...

He looks so serious here, like a real lifeguard!

The pure joy, pictured here, is why I will drive hours and hours so they can have a few hours of this....

Charlie decided that the tracks from the park police jeeps were train tracks, and he was the train, it was hard chasing him in the sand!  Daddy had to be called in.

William wanted to ride a pony, so I found a place to do it.  He killed us all though by stating "I only want to go around 2 times." to which the lady answered, "But you paid for 3." and Will said " I didn't pay for it!"  So funny!

Charlie had his first pony ride! He liked it, as long as kitty and Daddy were right there with him...

I have no idea what he was seeing in there, but it must have been shocking! When William was looking in it, he said he could see God.  Powerful telescopes. 

Will at the Tom's Cove Visitor Center.  This is the gift shop where he bought his new Horseshoe Crab named "Horny" which he then accidently forgot at the Chincoteague Museum the next morning.  They were kind enough to mail it to us, so we were reunited today!  William was very happy to see his friend again...

The second day was very stormy and rainy.  We went to the beach for a little while, but it was pretty miserable.  It reminded me of the trips we made to Ocean Shores over the years. 

Charlie loved the ocean this time.  He loved to run down to the waves and then run up the shore again just in time.  So cute!

Charlie took up William's old favorite activity of letting the waves hit him over and over, I love his expression!

William graduated up to the boogie board this year.  He was so good at it.  He rode in wave after wave and got tumbled around many times, but was always willing to get right back on.  So resilient!

Footprints!

A whale rib...

And, lastly, Misty of Chincoteague herself.  It really freaked me out that the horse featured in the book was right here, stuffed in front of me.  Kinda gross. 

A River Runs Through It...(and the river is made of snot)

We have spent the last month dealing with one virus after another.  Charlie ended up having to go get his ear irrigated at Children's after it wouldn't clear up with 2 oral antibiotics and a round of ear drops.  The irrigation and a second round of drops finally ended it.  After that Will got very sick and missed a week of school, then Charlie caught it and both boys ended up with croup and on Prednisone again. Charlie has had fevers on and off for over 2 weeks and is now on an antibiotic.   I caught it, but mine seemed a little different and ended up with a mild case of mumps.  My throat is still sore, but we seem to be slowly coming out of it.  I am so happy to maybe have a glimpse at normal living again! Charlie still has a cough, and still isn't eating well, but at least he isn't croupy anymore.  Other than sickness, we haven't been doing too much.  A few trips to the towpath, a few park outings, but mostly just staying home.  We are still struggling with what life is going to toss us next.  Still no job offer, and I am feeling like there is no end in sight.  So frustrating.  The kids are great at making you live in the moment though, and you tend to forget all the other stuff when someone just threw up on your shirt.  I am in full on survival mode and I am really hoping we get to live again soon.  Blech.  In the meantime I am trying to hold on to all the good things around us and all our blessings.  It's all too easy to take your healthy kids for granted...

My Two Crazy Boys...

One of the Lockhouses on the towpath.  These are the parts of the DC area I will miss...

Charlie's favorite activity is throwing rocks, even when they hit him in the head, he just keeps going.  I am not sure what to think of this...