Viv had a little bit of stranger danger which happily didn't apply to Lili.
Tolton was a little shy, but he warmed up in the end. Audrey and Tolton continue to have a special little affinity for each other which warms my heart, especially when I remember how she used to call him "my big boy" when he was a baby...
...and this little dynamo right here on the right kept us all entertained.
The whole Speier fam got to be together again.
It was a gorgeous week.
She actually got to celebrate her birthday twice this summer. The first time was when her daddy and all her Aunts and Uncles were in Scituate to celebrate with her. These wonderful aforementioned Aunts and Uncles were so kind and generous and made her birthday dinner a great night.
I was so happy that she wanted Toy Story Toys. Eight seems like it could go either way, and so I am relieved that she is still so into little-kid stuff and not asking for clothes or anything.
Audrey had some beginner's luck.
Kateri didn't play too many holes, but she loved exploring.
The girls capped the evening off by making pink cupcakes with Nanny and giving them out to the neighbors. Happy birthday Lili!
As you can see, some of the headstones are tilted and uneven. One of them, weathered and fading, survived the centuries only to have my Audrey step off the path and lean the full weight of her husky five-year old frame on it to "straighten it out." Luckily, I shrieked at her to stop before the ancient stone crumbled or snapped. Luckily, none of the five or so Freedom Trail guides in full costume saw her. These dudes take their job seriously, and if they had seen us and yelled at us, I'm pretty sure Lili would have died of embarrassment right then and there. Anyway, that's why Kateri looks ashamed...
Getting their fishing gear ready...
Fishing at the reservoir for little perch...I realized that I am far more squeamish than my little girls during this trip. I couldn't bring myself to break off segments of wriggling earthworms for the hooks, so I had to ask Audrey to do it. "Sure, Mom!" She replied, taking care of business while I averted my eyes. "No problem."
Lili took care of removing the hooks and throwing the fish back to be caught again another day.
He caught this beauty of a bluefish from it after it took them for a Nantucket sleigh ride down the beach.
It was heavenly. The girls swam, played, ate, swam and played happily for hours and Nanny and I got to sit and talk and watch the colors change.
Kateri loved evening at the beach, too.
My second favorite time of day: morning at the beach. The sun would be sparkling on the water like it does on the Pacific, and the beach would be empty except for a few dog-walkers.
My third favorite time of day: midday at the beach. Okay, I guess I just love the beach. Can you blame me?
My kids and I are so blessed to be able to spend our summer in such a beautiful place. I suspect that many Scituate residents take the astounding natural beauty around them for granted, because I am always surprised at how often we have the beach completely to ourselves.
I'm just saying I know how lucky we are. Goodbye, beautiful Scituate beach! We'll see you next summer!
The girls were trying out the swing Joe had rigged in the side yard,
with help from Jon and Bowker.
There was an intense game of Polish horseshoes going...
The sky turned dark and threatening, and then it started to pour...
But manly men don't go inside when it starts raining...they keep right on playing.
And sometimes, if they're extra manly they take their shirts off...
