Smarty Pants

Today was a little chilly so we broke out the pants and I LOVE these pants that I got for Liam! So cute, wish they made them in my size :)

Since Liam has his first day of school tomorrow I thought we'd go over our animal sounds . . .

He's been doing lion and dinosaur for a few months now, but we teach him a new one as often as we can. He still says "Murr Murr" whenever we ask him about a dog - I think that one will take awhile

Happy Birthday Pop-Pop

Today was Grandpop Murray's Birthday so we had our annual family dinner on the beach at Midway (you can drink there - you can't at Ortley). Here is Liam and "Pop-Pop" having a good time . . .

Mommy and Aunt Jac broke out their surfboards for the first time in over a year and we both actually were able to stand up. The water was perfect and it was the nicest beach night all summer . . .

Liam and Grandmom Murray after watching people flying kites. Liam would clap every time a kite hit the ground - as if that was the goal of the kite flier.

Uncle Adam and Grandpop relaxing and Jared and Aunt Jac in the background after getting out of the ocean. . .

I thought that Liam needed to get on the surfboard too, I caught some little waves with him in the shallow water . . .

Daddy is missing from the photos because he had to take a Red Cross class at the country club tonight for high school swim season . . . he was missed!

Music Class and a Play Date

Today Grandmom Murray took Liam to a music class at the Brick Library. He apparently loved it and was helping the music teacher sing her welcome song by accompanying her on the piano. The rest of the kids are sitting across the room nicely and listening, but Liam is trying to take charge. He fell asleep on the way home with Grandmom and then took a 2 hour nap while Mommy got ready for the play date. Liam slept so long that he missed the beginning of his playdate with the neighbors. Here he is with Jenna who is 2 weeks older than Liam.

The kids enjoying ice cream cupcakes that Ava brought over with her . . .

Garage Sale

We had our first ever garage sale today and it went pretty well. My mom took Liam to church and kept him entertained during the morning and then he napped for 2 hours and woke up just in time for the end of the garage sale. And we cleaned everything up in time for Hurricane Bill to blow through with a big rain storm. Liam and Murray watched from the front door.

He also has a new phrase . . . "How much?" I don't know exactly how he picked it up, but it seemed to be fitting for the garage sale.

Sunny Days

The weather has been beautiful the past few days and we hit the beach again on Sunday. We had Grandpop Murray come with us and Liam enjoyed showing him how much he loves the beach. Daddy took a little break to sit with us because the water was so calm.

Liam had just woken up from his nap under the umbrella - so he's still a little out of it as you can see on his face . . .

Yesterday was another warm and sunny day so Brynn and Patti came over to swim. After swimming, we enjoyed DunkinDonuts for dessert and the kids loved them!

Liam always knows how to relax . . .

Growing up

Today was another perfect day at the beach. I went just with Liam and we had a great time. We watched Daddy in the boat . . .

He played in his pool . . . and then I went to the mall with Aunt Jac because she said that Liam would need a backpack for school in September. (he will be going 2 days a week 3 hours a day to day care)

So now my baby has school shoes and a backpack! This is too crazy. I didn't think I'd have to do this until he started kindergarten. (here he is modeling his new purchases)

To make things even more unbelieveable, he's on his way to riding a tricycle . . .

The bike is from Grandma & Grandpa Scallon and he can almost reach the pedals.

I may be having a hard time now that he's becoming a little boy and not a baby, but he seems to be loving every minute of it! Look at that face.

Mommy and Daddy got to go out to dinner tonight too, Aunt Jac graciously babysat for us. Thanks again Jac!

Pizza Night

Pizza night at Grandma & Grandpa Scallon's is our favorite night of the week for lots of reasons:

1. In the summer - we can walk over which means we can bring our cocktails with us :)

2. We don't have to cook! and Liam loves his pizza (and my sunglasses)
3. Liam loves hanging out with Grandma & Grandpa

4. and then, of course, there is the cocktail for the walk home

Liam's Lunch Date

Today was a very rainy day and our plan for a pool party was squashed, but we still had our friends over for lunch. My friend Patti from MonDon and her daughter Brynn came over. Liam tried to put the moves on her all afternoon, but she wasn't buying it . . .

This is at the end of lunch . . .notice Brynn still looking nice and my son covered in food (in his hair and all).
Liam's new thing these days is putting on Casey's old lifeguard hat and walking around the house saying "Dada" . . . super cute

Ocean Mile Swim

Yesterday morning was the Lavallette OCY Mile Ocean Swim. There were over 200 swimmers there and Liam got up early to come watch Mom and Aunt Jaclyn compete. Grandmom Murray came to take care of Liam and drop us off at the start and pick us up at the finish.

Here we are after Mommy (he's starting to drop Mama and call me Mommy) finished - 1st place in my age group! - and yes there was more than just me in my age group. Liam thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast on the beach after the swimSince it was such a beautiful day we drove a little south and had our usual spot on Ortley Beach. Daddy thought it was time for Liam's first rowing lesson . . .

. . .and Liam wanted to show off his cannonball to Grandmom

another wonderful day!

Midway Tournament

After our wonderful day on the beach and lunch at surf taco with Aunt Jac and Uncle Adam we headed back to the beach (Midway this time) for a lifeguard tournament. We got there a little early so that we could get a front row seat. Here is Liam eating his dinner on the beach.

The perfect conditions: Liam decided he needed to be part of the pre-tournament meeting and ran over to Dad
My boys:

Casey competing in the line pull - and winning 1st place of course!

(yes, he's in his speedo again)

Cannonball!

Today was a perfect beach day! Aunt Jac and I headed over early and we sat right next to the trough that formed as the tide went out. Liam was having a blast jumping up in the air and landing on his tushy in the water. He did it repeatedly and the people sitting near us thought it was hysterical. . . I don't know how it doesn't hurt.

He played in the sand with some shells and refused to look at the camera. . .

. . . here he is saying 'cheese'

me and my tan boy - such a beach baby!

I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't in love with the beach.

. . . and enjoying lunch at Surf Taco with Uncle Adam and Aunt Jac.

he ate all of his food, waffle fries, and Uncle Adam's leftovers - and then he tried to pick up food that he dropped on the floor to eat as we were leaving - I don't know where he puts it all

Swimming in the Tub

Things have been a little crazy around here lately. Swimming is wrapping up this week and then I have the rest of the summer to finally enjoy my evenings with the family. We had a big storm the other night and the pool needed to be vacuumed so Liam missed a few days of swimming. He decided to keep practicing in the bathtub.

Here he is after his bath in his Monster towel. Excuse the look of the back yard, we hadn't cleaned up from the storm yet.

Back to swim championships for the day and night!