Easy come, easy go

The last time I wrote, summer was just starting.  Now, here we are in October, gearing up for all things fall, despite the fact that the weather is still (thank goodness) in the 70s.  I'd like to say that instead of blogging about life I was immensely enjoying life all summer, and while, yes, we did lots of fun things, there were plenty of times that I just sat on the couch and did zilch while the kids napped.  Hence, not even so much as a smidgen of a check in to this blog happened during the summer.  Instead of a long rewind recap of summer, here are a few highlights.  Sorry kids, add "Mommy stunk at keeping up with blogging" to the list of ways I've already ruined your little lives.  Or, enjoy these few snippits of our summer:

 Sprinkler fun!

 This was the greenest our lawn looked all summer.  It was a very hot and dry summer!

 Triage center for all of the dolls and animals.  There were lots of broken bones that day. 

 Lemonade stand with the cousins

 I painted Avery and Claire's nails for the Fourth of July!  And, I'd like to point out that I thought of that awesome idea *before* opening up my Family Fun magazine and seeing the exact same idea.  I totally thought of it first.

 In jammies, ready to go see the fireworks for the first time in our little Dunham family history!

 Claire was very upset in June when she realized that dance with Miss Susan was over until the fall.  I called around and found a ballet class in Canandaigua for the summer.  Claire and I loved our Monday trips to Starbucks and then to ballet.

 I'm very lucky to have Claire and Jack to do handiwork under the dining room table with Jack's tools!

 Of course, there was a girls' trip to NYC.  We met Shea at a sushi bar in midtown for lunch.  We found our way there all by ourselves and weren't the least bit overly proud about it.

 Claire and I spent the rest of the day in the city just the two of us.  We hung out by the fountain across from FAO Schwarz, in front of the beautiful building formerly known as The Plaza now sadly known as condos.

 We rode the ferris wheel in Toys R Us.

 And we walked around Times Square.  We weren't the least bit overly proud when we found our way all the way back up to 95th and 3rd, even transferring subways, after hopstop refused to work on my phone. 

 We met a friend from long ago at the restaurant used for all of the shots of "Monk's" in Seinfeld.  The food was great and seeing Karen was fantastic.  Say hi, Karen!  You've officially made it in life...you're on our blog.  There's no greater place to be ;)

 We played at Claire's favorite playground, and I got a little nuts and let her play in the water in her clothes.  Watch out, world, it's a whole new Betsy Dunham comin' at ya.  I've never seen Claire so genuinely happy and loving life as she did that day.

 Who is this gorgeous grown up girl and where did my little one go??

 We went with Adam to Peanut Butter and Company for lunch.  It was amazing.  Enough said.

 Can I just say, these two goofballs couldn't be more perfect for each other.  They are one in the same human being sometimes....

 We had an al fresco breakfast and played "I Spy".  I spy my favorite girl in my favorite city, on a beautiful summer day....sigh.

 We are so lucky to have Aunt Patti in the greatest city on earth so that we can go visit lots and lots.

 Jack got his first hair cut.  He hated it.  Moving on...

 Yes, it was that hot.  On more than one day.  I would have complained tons and tons, but I didn't have to, since we finally put air conditioning in the house.  Instead, I cooked eggplant parmesan and spaghetti, just because I could.  It probably cost my $20 to run the air that day with the oven on, but I. Did. Not. Care.  It was glorious.

 A loud thunderstorm woke the kids up from a dead sleep one day, so we made popcorn and watched a movie.  Who rocks???  Oh yeah.  That would be this mom.  (Do all of these pictures and memories help make up for my lack of writing them down for you, kids??)

 We took walks by the lake and fed the ducks.

 We even bought cracked corn for the ducks at the Tractor Supply Co, rather than stuff their bellies full of bread and risk killing them all.  Or is that a myth?

 Two little peas in a pod.

 We had a beach staycation day at Canandaigua Lake.  Complete with picnic lunch and Starbucks.  Talk about glorious...

 Jeff was hoping that by purposely making a funny face in the picture that I would not put it on the internet.  He was sadly mistaken.

 Claire drew her first figure with an actual body rather than just a head with arms and legs.  I was so proud that I promptly framed it.

 Dance recital, take 2!

 Our little ballerina.  Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!

 First trip to the sprayground.  Why we waited all summer before going is beyond me.  I think we're moving in there next summer. 

Last but not least, we made a mat with a city on it to drive the little cars around.  It was a pretty cool project, thanks to the new love of my life, pinterest.com

There you have it, summer in a larger-than-anticipated-nutshell.  And on days like today, when work is not the easiest, I can remind myself that summer is just 9 months away :)

Happy happy happy summer! And PS, Betsy stunk at Father's Day.

Ahhhhh....the first day of summer!  There is nothing like the end of June, when school is just about out and we have the anticipation of 73 beautiful summer days ahead of us.  Yes, I counted.  73...I quite like that number.  So far we have nothing fun officially planned, but there will definitely be a NYC trip (obviously) and possibly a first-ever J. Dunham family camping trip.  Jeff's parents bought a new RV, the kind that you drive around the country, set up camp, and enjoy new amazing things in.  It's no secret that I don't camp, but I am pretty excited to try this thing out.  It has heat, hot water, and a tv...I think I can handle it!

So.  Sunday was Father's Day.  I totally dropped the ball, big time.  Jeff had a lacrosse tournament to coach in Buffalo on Saturday, so the kids and I were home alone from 6am until about 9pm.  Until the day before the tournament, Jeff thought he might be staying in Buffalo for the night Saturday.  I wasn't expecting him home until late morning on Sunday.  So, I planned nothing.  Then, he decided that he was going to come home after the last game, because he worked it out so that he didn't have to be there to coach on Sunday.  Phew!  Yay!  Daddy will be home for Father's Day!  Big cheers and happy people abound!  Well, except that I still didn't plan anything.

 We did make smoothies, from fresh fruit.

And pancakes with fresh blueberries.

Then we (I) wasted a bunch of time getting ready for the day before we could finally leave.  We went to see Jeff's parents, then stopped at Nonny and Poppy's, to drop off cards from the kids and us.  We had lunch at a new hotdog (Jeff's favorite, so I may have scored a point or two there) place in town.  While the kids napped Jeff mowed the lawn, and then he had a summer soccer game that night.  After bringing the kids to watch the game and play on the playground, which I was certain would tire them out completely, we came home to get ready for bed.  They were out of control crazy and the night culminated with me throwing Jack's sippy cup across the room, aiming for the bathroom, yet hitting the wall and having it land in his shoe basket, at which point both children cracked up laughing because it was so funny that Mommy made a basket, instead of trembling in fear as they should have been.  Nice.  Real nice.

Next Father's Day I will definitely have to make up for this one.  Jeff's birthday in Thursday and I must make it special.  Last year I did forget to wish him a happy birthday until after we were both at work.  My track record is not so good as of late...

And now, without further ado....

The pictures from the big show!

 Practicing the routine in the kitchen yesterday morning, before the show.  Note the ballet slippers.  Now that dance is over and Claire is allowed to wear these whenever she wants, they are the footwear of choice in our house.

 My big girl, so proud of her work!

 Seriously, is she not adorable in this costume??

 Claire and Lexi

 The sweetest moment ever.  Jeff sat down to tell Claire good luck and that he would see her on stage (she and I were driving separately from Jack and Jeff, since Claire had to be there so early), and it was just precious to watch.  There is nothing like a daddy and his daughter!

 high fives!

 As we drove to the show, Claire sang the Boogie Shoes song the entire way (20 minutes!).  She also said, "When the show is over, I am going to be so proud."

 I didn't know how Claire would be when it was time to for me to leave her backstage, but she did great!  She sat right down and started coloring.

 I did manage to get her away from the coloring book for one quick picture!  After that, she practically kicked me out.

 Show time!  She was dead-on with her little moves!

 Girls who have had Jeff as a teacher came up after and told us what a great job Claire did.  They couldn't believe how she remembered the whole routine, and said how unusual it is to see kids in the littlest group actually remember the moves.

 I know we're biased, but we were so proud of how well she did!

 Claire was so proud of herself, she did not one, not two, but six bows, all while holding her head up and looking out into the audience.  

 She sat perfectly still while Miss Susan gave her speech at the end and handed out awards to the oldest students.  There was just one quick little incident when Miss Susan said something about "standing up" and Claire and a couple of other little girls actually stood up, thinking it was a direction to them.  What good little listeners!

 And Jack was a perfect little brother, sitting in the audience.  He clapped for Claire and all of the other girls, and danced to some of the songs while he watched.  I have a feeling this is not the last dance recital Jack will be attending!

 Claire and Karen.  As Miss Alesha at daycare says, we don't know what Claire is going to do next year without her Karen!  Karen goes to Kindergarten this year.

 Claire and her dance idol, "Mary the Ballerina".  Mary even gave Claire a flower, which was so special!

Claire had a very large group of people that came to watch her perform!

Good job, Claire!  We are so proud of you.