Ryley's 30!!

This handsome, amazing man turned 30!  He wanted apple pie instead of cake, and a couple weeks after we had friends over for a big celebration barbecue.  I am the luckiest woman in the world to get to call this man mine.  I'm not sure how I ended up winning the lottery, but I thank God every day for blessing me with this loving, hardworking, compassionate guy that I get to keep forever.  He also happens to be our kids' biggest hero.  Happy Birthday to my forever!

Mud Season

Springtime in Maine is referred to as "mud season"....lots of melting snow + lots of rain = lots of mud :)  Here are some pics of us enjoying it all...

We have a family of cardinals that live in our backyard...such a pretty site to see!

Ryley trimming our trees.... a few minutes after this I looked out and saw Logan trying to hand him a saw... from about 10 feet below.  No worries, I saved Ryley's leg from being cut off. :)

Logan is the family fire starting expert. 

How my kids usually look after playing outside...

They rediscovered the dress up box... I looked outside and thought some neighbor kids were using our trampoline! 

Because playing in the dirt in the driveway is way cooler than playing in the sand in your sandbox.

Beautiful weather + lots of toys= lots of quiet time for mommy :)

This is Logan's "experiment"...it is a piece of asphalt in water with a control of just water.  Logan thought it up all by himself, set it on my countertop and said, "Mom, come get me if this explodes." :)

Back to the Beach

Words cannot even come close to expressing how happy I am that it is warm enough to picnic on the beach again.  So, here are some pictures. :)

Nubble Lighthouse

Ry had a day off so we took off to York, Maine to explore

The main reason we went was to check out Nubble lighthouse.  It was super rainy and foggy, but if you look close you can see it in the background!  Also, notice how my jacket it barely zipping up these days.  The weather better improve soon!

We also stopped at Stonewall kitchen and spent about an hour "sampling" their famous jams and jellies.  And then buying them.  And then eating them for dinner. Mmmmm  

Luckily, Mia needed a bathroom break, so Ry ran her into a small Italian bakery... and came out with this Neopolitan.  So. Good.  

More pictures from the Nubble....

Ry was so excited when he thought he had caught a lobster... until he reached down to try and grab it. It was so rotted that it fell apart in his hands.  Ha!

Logan's first lost tooth!

Logan lost his first tooth!  I still can't believe it.  I seriously feel like I was just spending sleepless night after sleepless night waiting for that tooth to come in!  But really, whenever I look at my bike riding, gap toothed kid, I think, "How did time go by this fast!?"

He really wanted to pull it out with a piece of string.  Logan is so brave!  I tied it to the tooth, and he tugged it as hard as he could... so hard, the string broke. :)

We were at the mall the day after this, and Logan asked Ry how to get his tooth out.  Ry said, "Twist and pull."  So, my no-fear child grabbed his tooth and twisted and pulled and out it came.  Funny kid.  

He really wanted to write a note for the tooth fairy.  It says, "Hello, Tooth fairy.  I'm so glad that you can take my tooth.  I want you to have it forever.  What's your name?  I'm so happy that you came to my house.  I wish you very much luck and I wish you would never get tired.  I wish that someone in charge will be very proud of you.  I'm just so happy that you could come.  Love you.  Bye.  Love, Logan."

Love this kid's drawings!

Easter

Ry had to work on Easter, and with family 3000 miles away, I wasn't looking forward to another holiday alone.  Luckily, we have been blessed with wonderful friends who had us over for egg dying and more wonderful friends who invited us over for Easter dinner.... on the beach!  We are so grateful for our Savior, and His life.  Because of Him, I get this forever.

The Easter Bunny brought a trampoline!  Best decision ever.  The "boing, boing, boing" has been moved to the outdoors. :)