POLAROIDS AND PORT

I had a visit from a friend who I have not seen in far too long, and his lovely wife and daughter (who has the best hair, ever). Steve bought me an old polaroid camera and a bunch of different film. I'm totally hooked! He also brought up some 20-year old port which we all sipped on while watching the sunset on the poop deck along with some milk or dark chocolate (I'm a milk kind of gal).

It was so great to reconnect and catch up and meet each other's families.

Clara making yet another crumble:

BEST GUESTS EVER

Last weekend, some of our besties came up to the Island for a visit. Not only are our kids around the same age and play the entire time together, but they also showed up with a menu plan and all the food for 2 days (and some new flip flops). It was such a perfect, fun, (very hot) and relaxing weekend...and the shooting stars, were crazy amazing! The only thing missing, was my husband. But Mike did a good job of pouring champagne and playing music on his behalf and Clara cuddled with me at bedtime.

A new wharf was built:

Some dancing on the table:

Some apples were picked in the orchard:

Followed by a naked swim (the kids):

Good times in the Gator:

And the loveliest belly ever:

Lots of nature pees:

Me (the one with the square face) with one of my "top 5":

(*Annie, thanks for making me my own bowl of guacamole after the boys licked the bowl clean from the first go around)

DADDY'S HOME

Jake returned to the Island after being away for 8 nights. Needless to say, we were all very happy to see him. He stuck around for a couple of days before sadly having to go back to work this morning.

After a string of visitors, it was just me and the kids today. It was a quiet and an abnormally yell-free day, and without friends to entertain and play with my children, I spent some one on one time with each of them which I enjoyed immensely. I played cards with Sam and Spike (his imaginary friend), Clara and I drew some pictures together and wrote a story, Will and I cuddled and read in bed, we stole Grandma's stash of M&M's and made cookies, and then practiced flips on the trampoline. We ate the leftover crab for dinner and made some fresh squeezed lemonade, and ate the cookies we baked earlier...all of them. We had an evening swim and then cuddled again in bed, in front of a movie.

Sam's latest 2 party tricks...First, "pull my finger" which ends in a fart or a burp, which is gross but equally impressive and funny.

Second, swing the bucket around really fast so the water doesn't fall out...

US AND THE DEER

When we acquired our cabin 7 years ago, we promised the original owner that we would love the place and that we would continue to feed the deer that came by after dinner looking for some apples.

We love Pasley, that was easy. And we love our daily visits from the deer. Though a deer sighting on our lawn is commonplace, the kids continue to love watching them and tossing them our beaten up fruit and veggies.

One deer, we have fondly named Philip, is particularly bold and eats watermelon right off the table we are sitting at and waits on the deck outside the kitchen door waiting to see what I have discarded into the compost.

Philip, the bold deer:

On this particular night, 7 deer came for some scrounging, including 2 little spotted does. Will was very excited to see "twos...babies...deer" (also his first string of 3 words together).

TRUMAN'S 5th

We "went down" to Vancouver for our cousin's wedding and stayed down to help celebrate a couple of birthdays, stock up on Pasley supplies, listen to 57 voice messages, enjoy the first rain of the summer, visit family and friends and I crammed in a handful of photo sessions as well (fun).

We were happy that we got to help celebrate Truman's 5th birthday. Candiss always puts on the best parties and serves the best food. Even her hot dogs taste good.

Truman wants to be a construction worker when he grows up. It is the best! When we see him, he normally has some kind of work gloves on, a tool belt and is engaged in some kind of hammering, digging, piling, lifting, etc. activity.

So, what to get a future construction worker? Apparently a drill, some rope, a bungee cord and some work signs. I love his look here, while checking out his new bungee cord.

Happy Birthday sweet Truman. We love you!