Sounds of Summer

Since it's unlikely that we're going to experience the sounds of silence around here any time soon, we've decided to focus on the sounds and images of summer instead. We're still out east, awaiting the fallout from Hurricane Bill (probably nothing too interesting in the end), and munching on more blueberries than we can count. We've had fun filling our days with visits to our old neck of the woods (I was too sad to drive by our house but John went by and saw our neighbor, which I'm glad about since we didn't get to say goodbye), yummy treats, devilish activities, the beach, and some alpacas (what girl should ever reach her second birthday without seeing an alpaca? If only Molly would call them alpacas instead of llamas. Jeesh).

Grammy and Grampy are redoing their kitchen, which involves moving the pantry. Molly decided to "help out" by removing the baking supplies from the conveniently located temporary bottom shelf onto the floor, and then into the living room, but then not finding much excitement in moving them back onto the appropriate shelves.

Maybe she's just excited to bake her first pie?

Hmmm... where to put the molasses... next to the salt? corn starch?

There's no such thing as summer without ice cream. There is, apparently, such a thing as pregnant/mommy brain because why I let her get a cone instead of dish is beyond me. It was dripping hot and Molly seems to enjoy holding onto the coldest part of all treats (popsicles aren't held by the handle but rather by the actual popsicle). Since all trips outdoors seem to be accompanied by picking up rocks, we experienced something akin to tarring and feathering once we were ready to get back in the car.

Our trip back to Newburyport was on a gorgeous day and we met up with our pals at the beach. Kate, Olivia, Sadie, and Molly reunited for some fun in the sun. It was great to see Molly's partners in crime and run into some unexpected friends as well!

Summer means good carefree days with friends and Molly and Sadie got to spend some QT together (Sadie was having a bad hair day post nap [before her nap, she had adorable pigtails, which naturally made me jealous] and Molly was once again having a nearly no hair day despite everyone's cheerful comments that her hair was growing. A mother can dream, right?).

And yes, we did visit an alpaca farm. These creatures are so cute and apparently garments made from their wool is warmer than warm. I have to say that I think they are a little cuter and less smelly than llamas. Molly was even quiet enough for half a minute to let one of them come nearish to her. Silly alpaca.

We're here through early next week and then will head back west for our longest stretch out there without visitors or a trip back home. Luckily, we've got some good things lined up for the fall -- a Doyle family vacation to Chelan, Columbus Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving (both the Canadian version and the US version), anything else? Right... a newbie somewhere in there. Good times.