Charlotte turns 5!

For Charlotte's birthday this year she asked to go camping so we planned to celebrate her birthday at home with our family and have a camping trip the weekend before. About a week before her birthday she said she still wanted to go camping, but she would like to have a few friends come over too for a party. :) We are all allowed to change our minds sometimes! We threw together a little tea party at her request with some school friends. 

If you can believe it we forgot our camera for the camping trip! We used our phones for a few pictures, but have not downloaded them so they are still to come.

Everyone is up for Charlotte's birthday. Let the celebration begin!

Look at our big girl!

She had to try it out still in her pajamas.

Taking a loop later in the day.

Timothy squeaked into every picture I tried to take of Charlotte in her new outfits!

Can you guess what Charlotte wanted for her birthday dinner?? She looks pleased. :)

She asked Pete to take this picture, she was definitely really excited for her clams.

Big cake with hearts and stars.

Timothy is learning to help the girls play their games and both Marin and Charlotte are patient most of the time with letting him. A touch screen is pretty awesome.

Enjoying birthday box fun.

All the girls working on their personalized mugs.

Tea party!

This was the calmest party we have ever had! L to R - Jensyn, Audrey, Franni, Charlotte, Maisy, Marin

Looks good boys.

Franni and Charlotte are two peas in a pod. Apparently they always stick together at school too.

YABS Update

YABS is an amazing group of friends. We have been gathering for dinner almost every other week for about 10 years and started as young couples and singles and now there are so many children! We rarely take pictures when we are together because it is usually Monday night, but sometimes the occasion arises where we snap a few photos. In June Rob and Rachel were married and in July the Johnsons, who moved to Minnesota back in 2010, were back for a visit.

Tired baby

YABS contingent at Rob and Rachel's wedding.

Susan snapped this picture and I had to throw it in. We really love hanging out together, it just doesn't happen very often!

Look at all these YABS kids!
Back Row -Thomas, John, Marin, Sarah, Charlotte, Benjamin, Phoebe, Ingrid, Henry
Front Row - Timothy (aka trying to run away!)

That's a big baby!

Gribbles, Brinkmans, Johnsons, Bronskis and Big John

A few more NY pictures!

A few pictures on my phone were too fun not to share!

Marin and Charlotte meeting Chloe for the first time. It is a good thing that little dog likes to be held so much! :)

Sweet Bridget and Timothy

Charlotte really enjoyed seeing Aunt Sandy's doll collection.

A bubble tea outing.

New York Trip - Long Island

The second half of our summer vacation was spent on Long Island. We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends and enjoyed tons of water time and delicious seafood!

There are just a few people at Robert Moses Beach.

I really love the beach!

Running away from the waves is the girls' favorite game. They are big enough to play by themselves and can do this for hours!

Two kids stuck in the sand!

Heading to the Fire Island Lighthouse on the boardwalk.

Two big girls ready to climb.

They made it!

Going back down...

...and up again, this time with Mommy.

Timothy was too little to go to the top so we took turns heading up and the girls wanted to go both times.

Aunt Flo with a glad of Flo wine!

Charlotte cannot get enough Michelle time. Now that we are back home her toys are named Michelle!

Marin and Kate are lefty and glasses buddies.

Heading out to find some clams!

Jesse's boat

Timothy sees them too.

Everyone gathering clams

The girls riding back without Mom and Dad.

Colleen and Aunt Flo

Uncle Joe and Danny

Marin watching very closely

Ready to jump Aunt Connie?

Go!

The pool is pretty fantastic!

Marin working on her dive.

3 little fish swimming in the pool

How many people can fit in one tube?

Marin, Charlotte and Aunt Mary - ready go! Wait, where is Marin?

Timothy loves Aunt Connie and Aunt Mary's new deck!

First time on the subway for these kiddos.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.

We carried Timothy and both big girls fit in the stroller...walking on sidewalks is not their forte and it was HOT!

More sand at a park at the South Street Seaport

We met up with Kathryn and had such a nice visit although too short!

This is how two big kids fit in one little stroller.

The Brooklyn Bridge is a beauty.

This beautiful, restored carousel is at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

One more day at the beach please?!

They must have found some treasure.

The shark was right there! Not really, but we had to get out of the water for a while because there was a shark sighting.

The end of another great visit with some delicious lobsters.