Ciao!

Well, summertime here in Gloucester has come and gone. Admittedly, it was much shorter this year, but still very enjoyable (once we reached the 4th of July!) We experienced our first season with 2 children and enjoyed it very much. Eliana is an extremely easy and happy baby and we are blessed. Although this was Addison's 3rd summer, he experienced everything anew and to him, for the 1st time. Isn't it amazing that hundreds of days have passed in his little life that will never be remembered? It was so enjoyable to watch him live and learn.

Besides the coming of our daughter, we spent the beginning of the summer moving! Not far, but it was a big change for us as we moved from a 2 bedroom, 1 floor home to a 4 bedroom, 2 floor home! At first this was completely overwhelming for us, but now we are quite settled in and feeling very blessed by all the extra space. (Pictures to come in a future post!)

We were very fortunate to have a lot of family with us during that time. My parents were able to be here for Eli's birth, as well as Justin's sister, niece and brother-in-law. Over the 4th of July, Justin's parents came for a visit and were able to actually experience a bit of summer on Cape Ann.

We celebrated Justin's 31st birthday; had a wonderful week long vacation to Maine with almost all of the family on my side; played outside A LOT with Addison and our new yard - painting, bowling, swimming, playing baseball, and all other sports; weekly went to the beach, if not more (Addison finally got comfortable with the water!); Justin went kayaking; I gardened; Eli grew.

The kids and I with my friend and her 3 children went camping to NH for a night and then spent the following day at a dear family's camp, boating and lounging. Addison got to ride on a boat for the first time and I went tubing for the first time in YEARS! Addison also viewed his first fireworks and went canoeing.

All in all, it has really been a wonderful summer and now we can happily say, Ciao! and welcome fall...