Week at Nay-nay & Pop-pop's (July 29 - Aug. 2)

The last week of July the kids went home with Nay-nay and Pop-pop to enjoy a week at Grandma(pa)'s! after our time in South Boston at Memo's house. Nothing like coming back from a weekend away to an empty cupboard and having to take your three grandchildren to the store. Luckily Nay-nay navigates the task with ease!

During the week Nay-nay took the children to Tuckahoe Elementary a couple times. I believe the second trip was a bit more successful due to the fact that Meghan's shoes were remembered and Lucy was there to figure out how to open the scooters. Nevertheless the kids enjoyed both outings.

Trying out the new musical equipment.

Meghan desperately tries to join in the noise-making fun.

Jack and Clara practice their monkey skills.

Another day, another trip to the playground, this time following an excursion to Buttons and Bows for some new footwear. Thanks, Nay-nay!

Jack showing off his "clean" tennis shoes, not new ones.

Meghan's new sandals gleaming against the wood chip background

Meghan's not going to be left out of the climbing fun.

Impressive! Plus I love his "cheese".

Apparently everyone is wiped out.

Back at the ranch a raid on Nay-nay's closet is always a good time.

And no visit to Nay-nay & Pop-pop's would be complete without a "haircut de Delshade".

Looks like everyone had a good time; they're ready to go back and do it again! ;) Thanks, Nay-nay & Pop-pop.

Summer Trip To SoBoVA (July 27 - 29)

After our three week stint in Raleigh, we were off again on another adventure. This time we packed up on Saturday morning and headed to South Boston to visit Memo & Augs and met up with Nay-nay & Pop-pop, who were also visiting.

Upon our arrival we headed to the family favorite, O Sole Mio, for delicious steak 'n cheese sandwiches, the best this side of the Mason-Dixon line. Afterward Meghan went down for a nap, Nay-nay, Memo, & Clara headed out shopping, and Pop-pop & Daddy took Jack to the park. He had a good time swinging with Pop-pop.

Meghan enjoys the spoils from the shopping trip after dinner - creamsicles!

Sunday morning we all headed over to the park. The big kids rode their scooters while Meghan was in the stroller.

Meghan seemed to enjoy the twisty-spinning pole before she was distracted by all the fun her brother and sister were having. 

"Fun in the Sun" - the title says it all.

A soggy Jack drying out on the swings.

Meghan going down the slide, then back up. And to think we were worried about her going down too fast, pshaw!

Jack slides down at an equally blistering pace.

As it turned out, we had a very busy Sunday. After regrouping for lunch at Memo's after our park trip, we proceeded to the Halifax Country Club for some pool time. We went in the early afternoon while Meghan was sleeping, and then when she woke up, Nay-nay brought her over to join in the fun.

With all the extra hands on deck, I was finally able to get a video of Clara swimming. Here she is exhibiting her backstroke.

Mega-tron-trick-a-doo jumps into the action.

Perhaps not the greatest picture, but this bush is covered with Monarch butterflies.

Cocktail hour on the patio, I tricked Memo into smiling, for the win!

The picture is a little dark, but nevertheless you can see that things have gotten a little more lax over the years at Memo's breakfast table. Apparently now it's ok to rest one's feet on the table whilst dining. Memo's gone soft.

And the highlight of the trip was that on Monday Clara, Jack, & Meghan departed with Nay-nay to embark on their week in Richmond!

First Day of School

It's so cliche' but it's true, so I'll say it anyway: I can't believe the summer is over, and we're back ready to start another school year. Where did the time go? It feels like yesterday that we were celebrating kindergarten graduation, and yet today Clara marched out the front door as a first grader. Crazy!

We are lucky to have the wonderful Ms. Shaw again this year, as Clara is part of K-1 split class. Can't wait to see what the year brings.

First day of school picture!

 Meghan joins in the fun.

Perchy faces for the win!

Dog Days of Summer: Rest of July in Raleigh

Nothing like posting about the middle of the summer vacation on the eve before the first day of school!

Somehow after July 4th, I didn't take a picture for the next 8 days, oops! I actually have a halfway decent excuse for this lack of photography. Much of our time was spent under, in, and around the water. Beginning Monday the 8th of July, we started "swimming lessons". These turned out to be a wonderful summertime activity to occupy the three weeks in July we remained here in Raleigh with no plans. Every morning at 10-ish (i.e., aimed for 10, never made it there before 10:15) we met Rosalind & Orson and William & Emmy at the pool. Moms Liz and Carol agreed to watch Jack and Meghan for me while I taught the three big kids how to swim. It was a win, win, win! The big kids did great, each one of them able to swim back stroke and the beginnings of free style by the end of our "lessons". So no pictures, but great progress!

After it was all said and done, Clara made me this cute thank-you poster. To me it was extra clever because the "Mom" was made out of blue-green-yellow blend of play-doh (ocean colors, if you will) and to me resembled an old school stick-man butterflyer.

My proud artist-swimmer

Jack shows off his play-doh collage. There are some intricate squiggles on the right side.

Swimming in the mornings made for some tired kiddos in the afternoon. Meghan joined her big sister reading on the couch.

A favorite activity of Jack's has been "washing" his clothing. With all the rain we've had, there has never been a shortage of a stray bucket of rainwater, and he's been in heaven. Here's a shot of him twirling his undies, fresh off his body in a bucket spin-cycle.

On the following weekend we took a trip to the park for some scooter time. Look how far they've come!

The ever-safe game of scooter soccer.

Meghan for whatever reason wasn't in the mood to scoot and insisted on dragging it around the track.

In the middle week we went over to Clara's preschool friend Blythe's house for a playdate. The kids had so much fun riding the zipline in their backyard. Jack couldn't quite reach the handle, but he was determined not to let that stop him taking a turn.

Clara's extra inches helped her ride it the way it was intended.

Blythe and her family moved back to Nashville in the middle of August, so it was good to get these three girls together. We've been friends with Blythe since the girls were three years old, and we'll miss seeing them around Raleigh.

On another late morning start Meghan opts to read under the kitchen table.

During this time we also took a trip to the mall to buy Clara a new backpack. The kids inspected the fountain.

Clara takes a turn. Check out that shiny purple leopard print.

Waiting for some tasty eats at Chipotle with Daddy, Jack tries on his sunglasses.

The last weekend of the three-week period, Daddy shows off his skillz in the backyard.

Hanging around on a Sunday morning, Meghan works on a puzzle with Daddy in his socks.

Jack (re)discovered these magnetic shapes (b-day present!) and has really enjoyed playing with them over the summer.

A common pose to find Clara in this summer - reading & rereading her favorite books.

A little refreshing lemonade on the picnic table.

Cheers!

Rounding out the weekend with dinner at Player's Retreat. Meghan rocks her new purple cowboy boots.

Clara & Jack cool off in the misters.

Ready for dinner.

Delicious Locopops for dessert.

As if the cowboy boots weren't enough, Meghan constantly is wearing Jack's & Clara's shoes around the house.

Tuckered out after a busy morning playing.

Devouring some peaches and yogurt for second breakfast.

Our weather this summer has been crazy. It has been as cool a summer for North Carolina as I can remember. I don't know if we've had any highs over 100 and very few in the nineties. Most days in July were partly cloudy, high-eighties, with on and off rain showers. At the time this video was taken, it was the third time we had had a rain shower lasting 10 to 20 minutes with the sun shining for the duration. I always searched the sky out our front door for a rainbow to no avail, and I couldn't figure out why. It was raining, the sun was shining, there should have been a rainbow. The last time, however, I gazed much lower at the trees and spotted one against the greenery. The elusive rainbow was captured on video, it is visible between the two power lines, as well as the sun shining during the pouring rain.

Everyone snuggled into bed reading books.