Best. Party. Ever.

I thought I would be further along this month, but this weekend was a whirlwind of activity. We started on Friday night at a friend's for crabs, food and fun. Their garden is truly amazing. The waterfall and friendly koi fish were highlights. So was the game of hide and seek in the yard at sunset. Saturday night was spent at your first musical, Annie. This was put on by a local theater group and it was amazing!! It was a professional show for only $15 a ticket. Local actors, kids. They were sooooo good. I can't even believe how good this show was. They even had a real dog who played Sandy.  Your Daddy had to come with us. He said he wouldn't miss your first musical for anything (I thought this was sort of odd but sweet at the same time. Your father does not like musicals. But he sure loves you). Nora, you were so excited telling people about Annie. You said, "I got to see Annie this weekend! Not the movie but with REAL people." Uh. So. Cute. Then yesterday, Sunday, you went to the Nationals game with Nonni, Aunt Clare and Nick. You rode on the Metro and ate peanuts and ice cream and lemonade and watched baseball for an entire 7 innings before throwing in the towel for the cool air of the metro. You were exhausted by the end of the weekend. But it was all so much fun. A perfect summer weekend. 

OK! But LU's 2nd Birthday. Poorly planned. Well. Not really planned at all. Turned out? The. Best. Birthday Party. Everrrrr. 

Lucy, I love you so much, I gave you a party to celebrate your 2nd year with...

Mule Wagon Rides. Wave to Nonna!

Uncle Same made an appearance. 

A moonbounce!

Picnic Foods

A peacock!

A REAL MONKEY! 

There was a live band. 

Dancing to the live band.

Lots of dancing. 

Ok, we were the only ones dancing. 

Learning the Y! MCA

Swinging with Becca

Lucy pooped out. 

Mini mouse cupcakes were shared.

We had friends come too! 

Good friends. Best friends. 

Sweet momma and son.

Family came too! 

Even Aunt Kaarn from VA!

Nonna came, of course!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! So many people love you!

It was a gorgeous day. Shady, breezy, cool. It was amazing for July 4th.
This was our "encampment" for the day.  

A rare photo, although blurry of a lighting bug landing on Nora's arm.

Look at all I did for your birthday, Lucy! I spared no expense. I didn't even post pictures of fireworks! Those were quite pricey. Or I was just damn lucky you wanted to come on your actual due date and our town is so quaint and lovely that it puts on an "old fashioned fourth of July" celebration. Eh. I like to think I am just super mom and put together the best birthday ever. With a monkey! 

What better way to end a post about Lucy than with Lucy pictures. Although her hair is lighter that charm and those dimples just keep getting deeper. We can't love her anymore than today, this moment. But then tomorrow comes and our hearts just swell with more love. We are completely and totally under her spell.

How did two year pass already? How has it only been two years? How perfectly you fit in our family and make us complete. I can barely remember what life was like without you. Love you, Lu.

Vacation Week

We went for a week to Deep Creek Lake with family. A week can be a long time when you're with family, but it went by so fast and before we knew it we had to say goodbye to a beautiful place where we had a very good time. Unfortunately, we don't get to see this side of the family as often as we like, but when we do, we know how to make some awesome memories!

Maryland's largest waterfall.

Our hike leaders.

First to the base of the waterfall.

Hiking along the raging river making me nervous!

Oh no! Daddy slipped off the rock and Uncle Peder will only offer his pinky to save him!!!

This little diva wanted nothing to do with actually getting wet.
She just wanted to strut around in her swim suit and Aunt Kaarn's sunglasses.

helping Grandpa make salad for dinner.

Riding a ski lift in the summer, Lu's in the middle.

On top of the ski mountain.

Riding the ski lift down the mountain was much more scary than up!

Here they come! I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when this "ride" ended.

Boat giggles. 

Daddy needs help driving the boat.

My favorite picture of Lucy. Maybe ever.
This is exactly how it was taken. No effects for this picture!
Her eyes and hair have lightened up so much this summer. Crazy!

Tubing with Grandma and Aunt Kaarn. Lucy is on there somewhere too.

Daily swimming occurred. 

Flips off the dock.

Dock Jumping Brothers.

Family dinners and 2nd birthday celebrations.

Laughing good times!

Train ride!

Grandpa rented the caboose! How fun!!

Riding with Grandpa.

A top the caboose! 

Authentic Steam engine. Came home filthy!

Crabs for dinner!

Final Family Photo from the Summer 13'

Lucy met a bear. Better than the one that ran past the house!

State park beach

Sister love.

Getting our feet wet.

Finally got Thisbe on the tube!

Double rainbow. Hard to see but it was there wishing us well on our last night.

Tranquil.

Daddy-daughter s'more making.

There's nothing more fulfilling than spending time with family. And we certainly had our fill during the last week in June.

Next up, 4th of July and Lucy's 2nd birthday bash!

Preview

Oh my. Summer is more than half way over. We have been so busy. This is my first time working in the summer since... I don't know, college. We have done lots of fun things too. Vacations. Weekend getaways. 2nd Birthdays. I want to catch up. I have plans to catch up. Work is quite busy and the consignment sale I run is coming up soon. But this weekend will be first we will be home since mid-June so... I have high hopes to update with more detail. At least on the big events. Yes, Aunt Molly, the birthday festivities will be documented in it's own post. So to wet your whistle, here is a preview of the last six weeks:

Parade Time! We recycled the outfits for the 4th, this was Memorial Day.

Messy hair, messy face, summer night. Perfection.

Vacation with those crazy Jothens.

Fourth with "Fairy Wands"

Someone turned 2.

Nels almost killed Nora in Teddy's weekend house pool.

Nonni and Nonna love.

Caught fresh from the bay! Watch out, they pinch!

Beach time with friends. 

Boardwalk ice cream. Mmmmmmm

Firehouse Carnival Ferris Wheel Wonder. 

One more day of the work week from hell. And if you happen to work in a school, go to a school, or know of someone in either of these categories, find out the person who schedules the students, teachers and classes and THANK THEM. Scheduling is a giant headache that people only complain about. No one ever thinks to express their appreciation to that person who was cooped up in a tiny office for weeks trying to create the ideal schedule that fits everyone needs. As you can probably tell, I have had some stress related to this whole process. Here's hoping to a relaxing weekend, uploading pictures and reliving a great first half of lucky summer 13.