Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Yep, above is another Edie quote, said after a fun day at Bashan Lake with friends last weekend. It was the best day at the lake this year. We were only on our schedule. There was relatively minimal schlepping. I finally got to go swimming above my ankles (in a new tankini! The world ain't ready for my bare belly yet...or ever?) We ate huge grinders and dished under the beachside tree.

We were all exhausted and feeling good, and spent from the sun. Dave and I were thinking of relaxing on the couch in the air conditioning to watch mindless golf. I doubt that's what Edie was thinking. She was probably thinking of playing 'bagbeans' or having a dance party or making block towers for her Matchbox cars.

Edie demonstrates her big sister skills.

I thought I'd get so many projects around the house done while on maternity leave, but alas, most are still on my to do list. I am embarrassed whenever someone asks which color we are going with, because there are swatches of paint on our front door. From about a year ago. (For the record I like the peacock blue). I thought I'd organize my sauna attic with an array of color coded Tupperware bins. And I definitely thought I'd weed the garden, at least twice. I went in the backyard yesterday and thought "Ew", then quickly went back into the air conditioning. Ignorance is bliss. There are only so many hours in the day!

Did someone order strawbaby shortcake?

What I have successfully done is show my kids and guests what summer in CT is about. Last month Dave's sister came out to visit. She cleaned my house when I wasn't looking, played with the kiddos despite her killer sore throat, and made me healthy lunches. She even bought fancy gelato from Whole Foods, and left it for us. Now that I think of it, we didn't show her any of the sights (Mark Twain house, anyone!?), but we did chat a lot and she played on the floor while I snuck out to yoga once or twice, so that was cool.

Aunt Becky just loves little Edie

When Dave's parents were here, they got some New England eye-candy. We took a scenic Connecticut River boat cruise, a rowdy trip to the lake, a venture to the Connecticut Science Center, and ate lobster rolls and cole slaw at the beloved Blue Oar. Dave and his dad even got to see inside the ER at UConn Medical Center when Edie fell and fractured her collarbone. Never a dull moment, and luckily she's recovering nicely. She's even going to swimming lessons and embracing water like never before. Last year getting her to swim was like pulling teeth. This season it's actually fun. (Emmeline is not really one for swimming but she does enjoy a good bath in her whale tub.)

I heard that to extend summer, put your phone down. In light of that advice, I removed the Facebook app. I didn't want summer to go by while I was scrolling though my Facebook feed. Who cares what everyone else is doing? It's hot. We're going swimming.

The kiddos and the Grandmas