Strawberry Delight

With the mild Winter, strawberry season came early for us here in Maine. We were lucky to be able to sneak out during the peak season and partake in the ritual one late afternoon along with our good friends the Porada family. It was tough to pick strawberries, let alone take pictures (while also attempting to keep my 3 kids from trampling the berries), so most of these were captured on my iphone.

James showing off his strawberries

I know you are thinking that Heath is in the stroller for a lot of photos. Unfortunately, when I'm running solo, that's the only way I can handle all three at some venues... (sorry Heath!)

After filling our cartons we sat and had an impromptu strawberry picnic. They were melt in your mouth good, but you can see that from the their faces.

Outnumbered

We've been planning and waiting and planning some more for months now for our first "real" vacation in years.

The vacation: Cape Cod. Specifically, Wellfleet, MA.
With our good friends from Chicago who motivated all the way out East
A full week (Sunday to Sunday)
Oh - and with a nanny (now called our babysitter) in tow

(Above photo shows the view from the back deck of our rental house.)

Couldn't be a better idea, right?

Well, we were so excited for the trip that we didn't really think through what it would mean to be outnumbered with our kid to parent ratio. No less, we had 5 kids under the age of 5. Oops! We were blessed with incredible weather, but the Lennon clan was not at it's best, particularly Heath. It was still great to be away and we had a fabulous rental home on the ocean and we were able to spend time with great friends. We also had a surprise visit from my brother, Sunny and Freddie.

Our week was full of beach going, ice cream eating, nights out for the adults (wow!), and bike riding.   I wasn't able to capture many of our outings on film, but here are some I was able to snap at the house we rented.  Thanks to Eric, Keri, Beatrice and Harriet for their patience and friendship!

Darling Beatrice.  

Low tide.  If you look closely you can see a car and two people clamming. They came every day at low tide.

Checking out the sights from the back deck

Irresistible Hattie!

Cheeseburger face!

Best buds enjoying being together again and 7 nights of sleepovers!

 

Cute cousin Freddie

 

I came out on the enclosed porch one afternoon to find this...Had to grab my cheap point and shoot to not miss the moment. 

 

And then it became this....

 

Here's what Lex thought about it...(we love our Lennon boys)

Father's Day 2010

What a guy Patrick is.

Everyone who reads this already knows that though, right? Anyway, I asked him what he wanted to do for Father's Day this year. It's busy with 3 kids as young as ours, so I thought he might want some time on his own--perhaps to golf or sit and read a book (!?). Instead he chose something he knew the kids would really be excited about--a boat ride. Actually, it was a Ferry ride to a nearby island called Peaks Island. Perfect for kids, as the Ferry departs from the Old Port in Portland and 15 minutes later you dock at Peaks Island. It has the feel of the Vineyard in that it's definitely a destination and a place where people go with a purpose. You don't just end up on Peaks. That said, there's also not a ton to do and the weather was so, so. After a really great Ferry ride, we walked up and down the main street and waited until 10AM ( for the local ice cream shop to open) so the kids could indulge. Hmmmm, father's day or kids day? The kids were super excited to indulge in ice cream that early in the day (and "Smurf" ice cream that tasted like cotton candy).

Ferry going over to Peaks Island

Smurf Ice cream

I almost forgot that we kicked off the day with breakfast in bed for Patrick - our tradition on special days for parents. I asked Lexi what she thought we should make Patrick for breakfast and she said, "Well we just made him pancakes for breakfast in bed on his birthday so we shouldn't do that. I know, let's do something he really loves. Let's make cereal!" She couldn't have been more excited. We delivered a huge bowl of cereal to Patrick in bed. He was, indeed, very happy. It just feels funny to serve cereal for a "special" breakfast.