Lake

Yesterday we got home from a little lake vacation.  We rented a cabin at a state park, and spent the days at the lake: either through walking down to the lake on the little path next to our cabin (where there were great shells that the kids loved collecting) or at the beach, where we spent many hours playing in the sand, wading in the water, and having beach races (take it easy on the kids, Ben!).  There were so many butterflies on the sand (drinking, maybe?) and the kids just ran around yelling "Hi! Butterflies!" "Bye! Butterflies!" or just the abridged "Hi! Bye!" if you're Hugo.

  We had the place just about to ourselves, with a few neighbors trickling in over the course of the morning.

We were all so happy: even Selma (who at heart, really is a water dog) came along and enjoyed the water.  We didn't even minded too much when our air conditioning broke on the car ride home.  We rolled the windows down, Hugo went to sleep, and we enjoyed the breeze in our hair.  Well, we might have been a little overheated by the time we got home.  Is it safe to say that summer is here?

After we got home, we went to pick up one of our favorite people from the world from the airport, and all felt right with the world.  Last night, as I was going to sleep, I had the image of the beach fresh in my memory.

Mother's Day in Pictures

Happy Mother's Day!  Highlights of ours included:

::a beautiful day for a picnic at the park

::enough wind to get the kite going

::having both of our mothers, both of our fathers, and my godmother there to celebrate with us

::a sour cherry cobbler made by Ben

::and enough leftover cherry juice to make some sour cherry lemonade

::a balloon that made Hugo so so happy

::the joy of seeing so many families out together enjoying one another's company

I hope you had a beautiful day too, whether it was with your own mother, or with your children!

Tea Time

Every afternoon Lily and I have a bit of time just us two ladies.  After a brief reading lesson (Lily is so eager to start learning!  We have loved using this book with Zosia and Lily as we're getting started), but before we pick Zosia up from the bus stop, we have some free time.  And what better way to fill free time than with a tea party?

Lily is quite the proper lady.  When she passes you something, she is sure to say, "Here you go, Madame."  She loves to exclaim over the fine quality of our tea, and is eager to pour a cup for any friend or sibling who might be in the vicinity.  Yesterday, our tea blend was one bag of calming herbal tea (think sleepytime), and one bag of licorice tea, poured over with hot water from the tap, and sweetened with a teaspoon of sugar.  It was delicious.  I love that photo of Lily closing her eyes while drinking her tea.  She is not blinking, that is actually just how she drinks it.  Closing her eyes, she takes a long sip, just to relish the flavor.