We are back!

Hey y'all - we are back from our trip to Point Sebago! We got back this afternoon and I can't wait to post my pictures. As soon as I get the pictures up, I will post the adventures of our trip! We are looking forward to next year's trip already!

"Mom, I hope I get into a really good college".

Apparently Eddie was thinking about college as we were discussing going back to school on the ride home from Sebago. I hope he does get into a really good college - that would be excellent! We are gearing up for the return to school on Wednesday. I've brought down all the clothes from the attic to see what fits and what we need and I really don't think he needs a darn thing. He's very excited to get back into the swing of things. Our school doesn't let you know what class your kid is in until the day before schools starts when they post the class lists outside the school. We'll be heading down on Tuesday to see who Eddie has for a teacher and who is in his class. In the meantime, we worked on the math worksheets the school sent home last year for kids entering first grade which he LOVED doing. The kid can't get enough homework. I even let him stay up late tonight to do some worksheets. I hear first grade has a lot of homework so let's hope that trend continues! I shall keep you posted!

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Looks like Norma and I are opposites?

Call All Creative Types - Advice Needed

We are all very excited about our upcoming trip to Point Sebago in a
couple weeks. I want to do something special and bury a hidden treasure
on our site for the boys to find. My idea was sort of inspired by the
book series "The Magic Tree House". I want to leave clues and a map to
lead them to the "treasure" which will be buried in the ground and
marked with something - a flag or an "X" (not sure). At first I wanted
to use a crate but now I'm thinking I should really do it up and get a
real "treasure chest". I think I could probably score one at Michael's
or something and paint it up with dark brown and gold. My question is
what can I put in it? And should I have things marked with their names
or will that be too hokey and unbelievable (as if finding a treasure IS
believable...LOL)... I'm thinking of putting things in that are (a) fun and (b) things they will use throughout the week:

*I thought it would be cool to find flashlights that go on their heads -
like on a headband (or whatever you call it) or just a regular
flashlight...
*Some fake money and "jewels"
*Some glow up sticks/nightlights for evening events/carnival
*I thought of chocolate but that could melt...
*Pirate things like eye patches, binoculars, some kind of hat

What else????

I'm also thinking we would make it some kind of week long adventure looking
for things or something like that? Or tell them they need to collect a
certain amount of pine cones or something... but then what would we do
with it in the end. Any suggestions???

I plan to have a letter and the map written on "old fashioned" paper with the burnt edges and all.

We really can't wait to go - I should probably scrapbook LAST year's pics
so we'll be all set to do this year's pics when we get back!

Thanks for reading!

********** UPDATE **********
Gotta love the Internet - check out this "gem" of an idea:

Hidden Treasures Gold Nuggets

Make these gold nuggets for your next pirate party. Then hide them for your friends to find.

What you need:
4 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons baking soda
2 teaspoons water
Gold spray paint
Tiny trinkets to hide inside the gold

What you do:

1. Mix all ingredients together. Pull off a piece of dough. Place a trinket in the middle and roll and fold the dough around into to look like a gold nugget.

2.Bake at 185 degress for 2 hours. Cool completely.

3.Take outside and spray paint. Hide them and let your guests find them and break them open to find the treasure.

Build A Bear Birthday Party

Kevin and Ryan's party is coming up in November. The last two years, we had very small b-day parties at home with just immediate family. This year they are totally into the whole birthday thing and we are going to have it at Build a Bear at the South Shore Plaza. I'd like to put in a special request for Stephie to come down and host the party. Is that possible??? Seriously though, I may have to request the manager because first of all she's great and second of all we were there today and I saw two guys doing the bears and was thinking I'd be very disappointed if they were the party host... KWIM? Not very excited about the whole bear routine everyone does when they get their bear. No offense to guys but... it'd be nice to have someone who was a little bit excited!!!

Today we went to the mall to look at dogs of all things. Yes, my kids are petrified of dogs but they claim they want one. A small one. Build a Bear is next door. Eddie's birthday was at the end of May and we usually make our annual trek to Build a Bear but this year he wanted a Webkinz instead. I think he is regretting that decision!!! He picked out the Autumn Bear and said it's really not fair because this bear is only available for a limited time and his birthday is "like" not til NEXT YEAR! Kevin LOVES the hippo and I think that's sure to be his #1 treasured lovey after he gets it (at his birthday - can he wait til November!). Ryan couldn't decide between the tabby cat and Hello Kitty! I am not sure Daddy would go for the Hello Kitty! They had a great time looking at them and playing!

So Stephie, how does it work at the parties where you limit it to a choice of the 2 $10 teddy bears or do all the parties have that option (plus add ons if you wish). How does it go over if everyone else gets to pick one of the $10 ones but the b-day kids get the fancy hippo and the kitty cat?? And maybe the big brother gets the autumn bear? Will there be fist fights in the store?

Here are the furry friends we picked out today:

Eddie's "Limited Edition" Autumn Bear


Kevin's Hip Hippo


Ryan's Tabby Cat


Ryan's Hello Kitty!

We Love Nantasket!

Can someone stop time and keep it summer forever? It's August 6th and I'm dreading the return to school because we won't be able to have a leisurely life and go to the beach whenever we like. I hope to make it 10 more times before summer is over.

We went to the beach today despite the reports of impending rain. It was a fantastic time. It was low time so that was perfect... there were lots of tide pools for the kids to play in. Kevin and Ryan met a little girl and had fun chasing each other. Eddie and I built a cool sand castle. We always look for crabs although we didn't find any today. We went to the carousel for the first time this summer and I purchased a 10 ticket pass so we'll have two more visits before summer is over.