So full

Our days have been so full that I haven't had time to write about our first camping trip, taking the kids to see Peter Pan, which Makili loved, or even to write about our frequent trips to the ocean. Makili is learning to jump in and let his head get wet (a huge accomplishment!), we're trying to teach Remick not to walk to his death in the waves (that kid is a menace!). Makili got new shoes today (though I don't know that this would fall into the "need" category) and my god, you should have seen how excited he was. He was jumping up and down saying, "I can jump better in these!" I wish I could find more time to capture these gems, but alas the flowers keep blooming, the kids keep growing, and the weather moves us to the water almost every day.

I don't know how people do it.

I don't know how anyone can endure watching their children go through painful medical procedures. Both of my boys had routine shots today at the doctor (please don't leave me comments about your opinions on vaccinations. Each and every parent must make this opinion on their own and I don't judge anyone else personal decisions, please don't judge mine.) This is tolerable. They are quick and over before they know it.

But they both also had to have blood drawn today. I decided to have Makili tested for Lyme because he had a known tick bite a few months back and has had three otherwise symptomless fevers since then, and I also decided to have both kids screened for lead. We learned this year that the garden closest to our house is full of lead. We mostly grow flowers there (now exclusively flowers) but in the past two years we've grown a few vegetables and I wanted to make sure that the boys don't have high levels of lead, though honestly I don't really know what you do about it even if you do? Anyway, Makili was scared, but was so brave and it didn't take long. BUT Remick was just awful. Unfortunately, the poor child inherited my deep, small veins which have been awful for me my whole life. Phlebotomists frequently miss and leave me with an armful of bruises. Three women worked to restrain his writhing, screaming body for EVER to get a tiny, vial of blood that was nearly not enough. They tied that rubber tourniquit on countless times, feeling around, put on a warming pack which Remick hated, missed once with the needle after moving it around all over the place in his arm trying to make the stick come up with something. Remick eventually tired out and was there sweaty from screaming. I talked to him, asking him if he wanted to go see Daddy, or eat blueberries, or have milk, and he would grunt desperately at me hoping I would free him from the torture. It was an hour of absolute AWFUL. I really don't know how either of us could have possibly endured more.

Outtakes

Photographing seven babies is not easy.









These were the best we could do! (Sorry Rudy)

Goodbye Grampy

Raph's grandfather Rudy passed away yesterday. Like my own grandfather, he was optomistic to a fault. Just last week he told us that the doctor had told him he could live to be 110. He was a man who was proud of a job, and spent the last years of his life working at the Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota, FL. We went and visited him there once and he was so proud to introduce us to his coworkers and show us around. He lived his older years with total dignity - driving and working until the very end - a condition not all of us can be lucky enough to endure. We took this picture of Makili with Raph, Larry, and Rudy in 2008, but I wish Remick could have met him too.

(A lot of) Scenes from Our Fourth

We had a GREAT Fourth of July party. The weather was blissful and we were so lucky to see so many friends and family. Thank you so much for coming and spending a splendid day with us.

In no particular order are some of my favorite pictures, and sadly, I've already pared this down. There are just so many. So many cute babies.

Gabrielle.
Zoia.
What do three and four-year-olds talk about?
Gardiner doing some shucking.


Kids making felt balls.
Remick giving Rudy a REALLY BIG LONG hug. (we had to pry him loose)
Happy Birthday Makili (thanks Ann-ma for the Lightning McQueen cake)

Happy Matty with Rhiannon
Clyde (coolest name ever.)
Stephane.
Costa and Edie.
Will.
Watching the baby birds (who might have gone hungry that day as they were right above our heads.)


Grandma Gina
Jack using wool to insulate his ears and to embellish his chest hair.
Lucy.
The Swann family.
Remick tasting the icing on the lighthouse cake.
Rachel.
Gabrielle.
Beal Representation!
Oliviann
Matty and Tim and Rudy.
McCall clan.

My big 1-year-old.
Fullerton Fam.
Remick and his Opa.
So cute.
Laura and Oliviann.
Nicole looking much more serious than she is.
Oliviann...
Painting themselves.

Self-painted boys.
Caroline and Suzanne.
Tim and Rudy.