Hunt Boys

One of the most loving and patient mothers I know, is my dear friend Niki.  Three boys and she is still as calm and nurturing as she was back with Colson was born. The Hunt boys came down for an overnight visit to our house.  With our 5 boys, ages spanning 5 months to 9 years, it was a bit rowdy at times, but it was a blast!

Big Boys Taffe, Colson & Finley at the creek

Putting Colson to work!

This just says summer to me!

Taffe and "Baby" Saylor... this kid can roll with the big boys, no problem!

Fin out to catch minnows. I just love how he dives right in!

 We invited our other JMU roomies, Lauren and Kendra, over for dinner.  Life has changed since the college days, in a good way!

Baby Brooks getting his toes tickled

Kingston hanging with Auntie Kendra

 And while it was crazy, we did have some delightful after dinner music.

Colson and his flute

 Evening topped off with some sundaes!

Crazy boys!

Thank you Hunt family for entertaining us and making the trip down!

Earthquake...Say What?!

What a week!  We have been busy with end of the summer fun in between recovery from the earthquake and the aftershocks!  My boys were unfazed by the quakes other than the interruption to naptime (Taffe was pleased, but Kingston does not like his sleep interrupted!)  I, on the other hand, have been a bit more shaken... mostly since I didn't know what to do during the quake.  Fire drills, tornado drills and shelter-in-place have been practiced since the start of my teaching career, but never once a drill of an earthquake.

Anyway all is well as we had no damage. Here are few pics from an outing to the Sprayground in Arlington.

The beginning... he left soaking wet!

Spinning with Aunt Ceci & Charlie
(baby blanchard will be here in a few weeks!!!)

 Kingston also recently had a check-up.  Now, he is always a sweet baby, but he really turned on the charm at the doctor's office.  He had all the nurses coming in just to say hi since he was cooing, laughing and smiling for everyone.  They loved him and he soaked up all the adoration with a big smile!

My Social Butterfly... weighing in @ 17 lbs, 5 months old!

Happy 60th!!

 The birthday song is one of Taffe's greatest hits so he was completely delighted that we had a party for Grandma's 60th birthday. Taffe made Grandma a special heart-shaped cupcake with blue frosting, and he helped to blow out all of her candles!

Aside from the excitement of cupcakes, candles and balloons, cousin Charlie was here too! 

 Charlie was enamored with his littlest cousin Kingston, who received lots or kisses right on the lips from Charlie.  Kingston was the happiest little baby!

Happy Birthday Mom/Grandma!  Hope you have a great trip!!!

Just Another Day in Vienna

You know those days when you just vaccuumed and then your child empties an entire shoe of sand on the floor?  Or you just changed both crib sheets and then the big one pees on his, and the little on spits-up on his? I think the next time I attend a baby shower I'm giving cleaning supplies and a bottle of wine to the new mama.

On another note, we are having lots of good times as summer winds down and the weather is just perfect.  When Kingston is napping, Taffe has become quite the artist.  Sometimes he even paints on the paper. :)

We are spending time enjoying all of the local treasures.  I am on a mission to run a 5K this fall, so the running shoes are actually being used for running.  Our newest favorite spot, and the prefect running distance away is "The Creek." 

 Two boys allowed to throw rocks in the water...best .place.ever.

Baby Kingston is loving the exersaucer these days!  He is super social and just loves when anyone talks, looks or smiles at him.  Being in the exersaucer gives him the perfect position to be part of the scene.

5 months

Happy 5 months (and a few days) to our Kingston!

Do you see my brother stealing my sticker?

"Mine!'

Luckily Kingston is pretty relaxed and happy to share!

Fireman Frank

A big highlight of our Kingston trip was seeing cousin Frank who happens to be a fireman, and who happened to bring up the fire chief truck. Someone was quite in awe!

 So cool to see McGarrigal on the fireman's coat!

Fireman Frank, as we now call him, made quite an impression on Taffe.  We talk about him all the time!

Kingston (and Taffe) go to Kingston!

There he is... the star himself:
Kingston McGarrigal... in Kingston, NY!

 We named our sweet baby after a place that we love... one that may never be reviewed by Conde Nast, but a place which we all feel at home.  The McGarrigal clan has been trekking up here for 50 years.  There must be something in the water!

 One of the highlights for our train enthusiast was watching the trains roll through camp.  Multiple times a day, freight trains and passenger trains pass by, and Taffe would always stop playing to watch.

GaGa and Taffe

 It is hard to describe how great Kingston is.  But where else can you scoot around in your underwear?

Speaking of underwear, we decided to go hardcore into potty training.  Christopher and I did things and had conversations that I have never imagined myself doing all in the name of PT success.

Washing and line drying the cutest underwear ever

 Watching Taffe hang with big cousins Gavin and Dylan was precious.  He tried so hard to keep up with them on their bikes and they were so patient and sweet with him. 


3 cousins with 3 Cliffords on the "Hurty Gurty"

Dylan was also wonderfully sweet to Baby Kingston.

Auntie Shannon, Kingston & Dylan

Since there are 4 cabins full of family and friends, there is always someone up for a chat. 

Aunt Fran, Uncle Jimmy & Cousin Mark

You never know who might paddle by...

 ...or come riding through.

Baths might be perceived as a challenge since there is no bathtub, but Kingston didn't mind relaxing in the kitchen sink.  Big brother happily avoided baths or was scrubbed down in the baby pool.

 One occasion when we left camp, we headed up to the Saugerties lighthouse.

Papa and Kingston at the Lighthouse

 Taffe LOVED it.  The Hudson River was calm, shallow and just perfect to run in and out of.

 

We also headed out to a local farm for some berry picking.  Taffe was really good at picking blueberries, even though they were more like "green"berries.

Until next time...we are signing off with a knockout kiss to Papa!