so yeah, we spent A LOT of time in the pool. personally, i missed having the beach across the street. i took, at times, absolutely nothing with me, applying sunscreen at home. i could run back home to use the bathroom, bring back aiden when he was done, or get a bag of popped popcorn if the kids were hungry. i could also squeeze in a solo or partnered (nonkid) trip, plan on but never catch a sunrise or do a predusk jaunt. the boys though, they don't share this love with me. they like the ocean but in small portions. they seem to absolutely LOVE it on the first day every year. kinda like me and the winter snow. being used to the lake they think the waves are too nosy and powerful, especially last weekend with hurricane bill. they also wish they could swim in their own space versus in a gaggle of people in front of the lifeguard. i get it. so this year as i said, it was nice having the pool.

big pop and his cold beer shirt. i think he wore this everyday. no doubt peggy washed it in between wearings, but hey i'm actually glad he did. one night a fireman came to our (everyone's) door looking for a man, "...in his seventies, wandered off...". the facts were unclear and i wasn't yet sure if they had found a man and looking for his home or they were looking for a man. eddie was out walking with one of the boys. i'm listening to this guy like "yea...?(!)." he then described what he was wearing and once i heard it wasn't a gray cold beer shirt i was hugely relieved. i still felt bad for this guy, who they did find fine, but for a second there... it was just weird to have been able to recall exactly what my father-in-law was wearing and be happy about it.

"wookit me mom!"

brett and my new signature (easy) dinner. flank steak over grilled bread with carmelized onions (and blue cheese if you're brett), corn on the cob and homemade cole slaw. "Bon Appetit!"

colin loves his daddy. he wants only him to do many things. it's a win-win for everyone.

uncle kevin sent aiden some transformer... trading cards.

we love our walks to town.

and cashed in all our change at the bank for the arcade before we left.

Thursday: mini golf

peg and i did surprisingly well. pop cheated taking score and aiden got a hole in one!

and on a hole he played all by himself, so did colin!

midweek the boys and i found the best time to go to the beach was when others were cooking dinner, naturally.

brady's pencil.

and cannonball.

"JULIA!"

brett's can..non..BALL!

(i love that splash in the picture!)

(i love that picture too!) back again later.