First Day at the Beach

This picture pretty much depicts the whole day. The kids had so much fun running along the waves, using their imagination, building sand hives, and laughing so hard that even the ocean paused to enjoy their humor.

Kaya is at the age that all my kids start to be nervous. They start growing out of it around four and quickly become fearless by the age of six. I thought Kaya was going to be different but the large waves had her tied to my side.

When we first got to the Beach at 9:00 AM, Connor and Colin ran out so excited because they were convinced they were the first ones on the beach. I guess it was a race that was won only if you got your feet wet first. I laughed because while we waited for Eva to arrive we saw several cars go in and out with their dogs and there was evidence all around them that (see all the many footprints) others had been before them but I couldn't crush their triumph.

It takes all of fifteen seconds before Connor makes it into the waves. He loves playing "wave tag" with the ocean. An innocent game right? Read on.................

Eva spent her summers on the beach in some very cool country in Europe (sorry I can't recall but I think around Greece) and they had this very fun game called "soldiers". The kids collect beach wood and stand them straight in the sand (around 20 sticks). Then you take a rock or ball or your mothers shoe (see Ian) and try to knock them down. When Eva was explaining it to me all I could relate it to was bowling. So I am calling it Beach Bowling. Connor was actually very good at it. We may have a Red Sox Pitcher on our hands...at least it keeps Brian's dream alive.

Brothers......

Colin...pre "THE WAVE!"

Connor knowing he has to pose for at least one picture...but I had a mere three seconds to get it in before he was off running again.

Kaya taking a break on the wood stairs over the dunes.

Eva's little girl Skye. Fearless little Skye.

Kaya sharing her Dora gummie snacks with Skye. Very cute picture. I think I am going to frame it in Black and White.

I got this picture about thirty minutes before "THE WAVE!" I loved it and it was, for me, the best way remember this day. All four boys playing hard and being buddies.

So now onto "THE WAVE!"-it must be given the full respect and power of capital letters and explaination points.

"The sea was angry that day"....the waves were abnormally high and every fifteen minutes or so there would be a three or four foot wave that would come crasing into the shore. Innocently the four children would chase the waves and then in return the waves would chase them back onto the safety of the beach. Giggles and screams joined the sounds of the ocean and seagulls. Then as the mothers watched, the largest wave of the day raised it's frothy head and one child stayed too long, too close and it was too late.

The wave pounded to the shore and covered Colin completely. Connor ran into the water, pulling Colin out, trying to drag him to safety. But the ocean wasn't letting go so easily and they were both hit with two more waves before they were finally safe. (At this point Colins shorts were down to his ankles and he was screaming so loud that around twenty people had now gathered around the drama.)

I went to gather Colin in my arms while Eva grabbed a towel behind me (This is Boston water in April..very, very cold). When I arrived I was greeted with the most dramatic performance I ever seen.

Connor: "You almost died. I had to save you...you're my only brother!"

Colin: "I was at the bottom of the ocean, sharks were trying to eat me!"

Connor with his arms still wrapped around Colin: "It's alright Colin, I will always save you!"

Colin nodding his head: "You were so brave Connor. I owe you one."

Connor: "It's OK...calm down, calm down..I love you."

Colin: "I would have died without you Connor."

I didn't catch the rest because I had my head turned so they wouldn't see me laughing. Shakespeare would have been proud. I am still laughing today over it. Though Colin did admit as Kaya was telling Daddy again this moring that sharks tried to eat Colin, that he probably just imagined the sharks...Oh my, I think I know how my Mom kept her sense of humor with eight kids.

After the Tulips bloomed--OK, OK I now know those aren't Tulips!

This was what I had in mind for the contest but those darn flowers had not bloomed by Easter!!!

Easter Contest

OK Ladies...here are my three!

The Saumsiegle Easter Day Celebration

Easter was at my house this year and due to Donna and Heidi being there it was the easiest family gathering I have ever hosted! I am not saying this with any exaggeration because really all I did was clean the house, which was needed anyway, and made a beautiful ham! The rest was done before I had a change to even think about it...like magic! I didn't even get a picture of Heidi because she never stood still long enough to get one. Like the Easter Bunny, you will just have to believe that she is real.

The house was pretty full because there was more than just the "regulars" that came this year. Donna's Mom, Mary, came...YEAH! So I got as many pictures of her as I could since she rarely makes it out. Also, Brian's uncle Rusty came and both of his boys showed up. And the man below in the green wig (look at what wine can make you do!) is Uncle Bill. Even without the wig he usually amps up the fun at a party. Good food, good company...I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.

Jaxi and Kaya having a girl moment. Jaxi was showing Kaya how to have a tea party.

GAD (Great Aunt Debbie) and Kaya...Kaya was loving all the attention she was getting from everyone. I know I have a lot of pictures of Kaya and I would like to say that I am not being partial to Kaya but she was the only one hanging out with adults. The rest were running around like fiends! Quick story about how great Debbie is...Colin was being a bit on the moody side and kept crying. Now, Brian and I are used to this and always send him to his room so he can sort himself out. Recently he has been just going to his room whenever his feelings are hurt without us having to tell him to. Well Debbie kept going up and talking to him. I don't know how it came about but Colin asked Debbie to put a sign on his door which she did. It read: "Please do not enter. Colin is trying to pull himself together. He is sad. Thanks, Great Aunt Deb."

Kaya and Grandma Howdie are getting to know each other here. I wish I would have thought to move the cups because if I do say so myself...what an adorable picture!

Here's Rusty with his two boys and his Mom.

I must say that Mary was being quite the social butterfly, it was great to see her having such a good time. She was the best egg left by that rascally bunny!

And the hunt is on!

This year I hosted the Easter Egg Hunt which I must say the boys took very seriously and came out determined to have more eggs than the girls. If they would only have taken a moment to look around they would have seen that this was a one sided contest. Jaxie, Brookie and Kaya found one or two eggs and then promptly went to play. I was barely able to get even one shot of Kaya. My friend Linh's daughter Ava though was out to get as many eggs as possible and I think she won because her little easter basket was filled to the top!

But the boys posed for their victory shot and I suppose as a team they certainly grabbed most of the eggs. I would like to say though that after the eggs were opened, they all gave the toys found in the pink eggs to their sisters. The little gentlemen!

This is Colin's one finger reach! They ran out so fast that I didn't have time to give them their easter paper bags but as you can see that wasn't much of an obstacle!

Kaya grabbed her a pink egg and a purple egg and was done...off to the playset to slide and play with Jaxi and Brookie!

Brookie found two eggs on the playset and decided that playing was more fun than looking for eggs. Or maybe she just knew that it was easier to let the boys do it for her!

Little Ava..check out her bag! She kept the girls in the game then went to watch Dora :)