Almost like Hawaii

One of my favorite things we did with Brittany while she was here was to take her surfing. It isn't quite like Hawaii, but it was lovely. I rode a few waves, and I think Brittany got up once. Makili donned his own little wet suit and in general we all had a lovely time at the beach. I miss Brittany.

Lucky two (soon to be three) times over.

We were lucky enough to get to stay with the Ainsworths in Connecticut on both our way in and out of New York. And not only that but we surprised them by bringing the other Mattys. Nice aren't we? And they're still letting us come back this weekend:)

We had a blissful summer time there, eating desert on the back porch, jumping off the dock, taking walks, eating Suzanne's amazing cooking. Yum. We are so grateful and lucky!


Oh, and by the way, this is what you shouldn't do: Give a 2-year-old access to markers on a long drive.

The Matty's take Manhattan (or Brooklyn to be precise)

We had a great time on our quick trip to NY. Raph helped Gabe build a bike out of bamboo at the Bamboo Bike Studio while Laura and Ann and I managed the kids through NY. I got to meet up with my good friend Evan and her boys too which equaled a lot of boys 4 and under. They got along quite well though. It was really nice to see them. Makili LOVED the subway. I loved the fountain we ran through after the children's museum and the roti we got nearby at Glorias. There was ice cream in Chinatown and you know, a mellow and not-so-mellow NY trip. The best part: off of work!

Nothing so soft

There is nothing so soft as a newborn's head. And nothing more special that being able to see them so tiny before they were who they are. Our newest friend Daniel was born July 3, and I was so lucky to meet him last week. Good thing I got those tubes tied or I would be vacillating. I offered Amy to take him off their hands...

Cousinly Love

We've had a terrific week with the cousins and more pictures than you can imagine. Here a few I can squeeze the time in to post:) Makili and Gabrielle are so cute together. They get along SO well. They're are into being competitive (I can eat faster, run faster, sing louder, etc. than you) but actually they don't really care. But they think eachother's jokes are hilarious and that is pretty funny.
Oliviann and Remick largely ignore each other's existence when antagonizing the other one, as Remick was doing below by trying to get Oliviann to hug him non-stop.

Such unbelievable cuties...

A good chance meeting at the beach

We had a really nice chance meeting with the Fullertons at the beach the other day. Makili and Lucy had a swell time running around in the water together and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Amy is actually due today so we're anxiously awaiting the big news. So exciting. Summer time is here.

Not exactly how I saw things going down...

Makili turned 4 last Friday and he tells everyone he tells he see that he's 4. I was really pumped about it and when they were at Ann and Larry's last Thursday night, I decorated a little bit, and made and cooked cupcakes for nine hours until they were charcoal bricks and then Becky helped me make more, and I made him a card and picked him a bouquet because he's always asking for one.

But alas, the poor kid barely was able to enjoy Cars 2 (nowhere near as good as the original and FULL of guns and violence) or his gifts because he was so sick.

But he's the cutest 4-year-old that ever existed. Just so you know.

My little one turned 2.

Seeing these pictures just breaks me down, because for some reason I feel like I can see all at once how he has grown. My baby is no more. Intellectually I know this, but somehow I just saw it for the first time. Remick chose his birthday activities (except for the big block of the day in which I had to go to work) and it included cereal, the beach, rumble tumble (postponed until the next day), popsicles, and pizza. I love this crazy, willful thing so much.

He got a box from Grammy the night before his birthday. He opened the gifts with gusto and when I asked what was it? He would answer "It's mine! It's someping and it's mine!"

UPS

When the UPS truck arrived the other day and the woman got out, Makili screamed at the top of his lungs,

"Dad, the man that sells boxes is here."

Farewell to a good group

We had a send off party for this year's exchange students. They were a really great group. I will miss them!