Cape Cod Year 4

We had another enjoyable year on the Cape. We enjoyed the beach tremendously! We enjoyed spending down time with the Newton Family. We traveled to areas of the Cape we had not yet explored. We located many, many book stores...and loved it! We found a new one this year - Titcomb's Bookshop. It is a family owned store that has been in business since the late 1800's. This year marked an anniversary for the current owners, so they had 40 different authors doing book signings during the summer. Noah was intrigued to think that one of his favorite authors, Jeff Kinney, had been to their store.

We went to Dairy Queen every day. We don't have this store at home, so it is a huge treat. Most days dessert came before dinner. I think this might just be Steve's favorite part of the Cape - "The DQ"! He loves their peanut butter cup blizzards. We cooked in and ate out. We discovered and sampled some new wines and drank some old favorites. We discovered two great restaurants, Ardeo and Wicked. Two places that we will be sure to hit again in future years. We all took turns at the dining room table, which is the official jigsaw puzzle table. This year we seemed to have 2 going at all times. I find it funny that we all cram around the breakfast table (all 9 of us) for meals and not use the dining room which is much larger. Just proves that old saying no matter where you go, the kitchen is always best. Plus, not one of us would dare to disturb the puzzles.

We met up with old friends, Chris and Pam. The boys enjoyed meeting their girls Emily, Caroline, and Hannah. Owen, the ladies man that he is, was holding hands with Hannah within the first hour he met her! So cute. Chris remarked that summer romance is how it all begins! Oh, we can only hope to have it flourish for years to come. It was awesome to catch up with the Wilson's. Just like old times. We vow to not have so much time pass between our next visit.

We purchased a new game called Find It. We had to have the sports edition. I had in mind that this would keep the kids busy during some down time or during the traffic home, but I was proved wrong. I think the adults enjoyed the game more. So much so that Ron & Judy went out and bought the zoo version. This was great fun.

Steve and I took in a late night movie on our 15th anniversary. We started the evening arguing like an old married couple, but ended it laughing our heads off! Laughter does do a body good. As does sunshine...again, how we love the beaches in Cape Cod. We love to watch the kids in the sand and surf without a care in the world. We ventured to two beaches that we hadn't previously spectated thanks to our friend Angela Peloquin and family. We met them last year on the beach. Unfortunately we were unable to coordinate getting our kids together this vacation which was a bummer. But, I had many great phone conversations with her.

So next year we hope to rent a place right on the ocean. We have some feelers out for something large enough, but yet affordable. We all would really like to be able to open the door and be right there. Or, we may stay where we are and stay an extra week. Each day when we travel to the beach, it is like we are moving in with all of the stuff we have to carry for the boys age ranges. We walk past some of the families with older children, and they either tell us directly or you can hear them amongst themselves, "oh, I remember those days with so much stuff". Thank goodness for the beach carts.

Poor Isaac, he missed us terribly this time. He is having some serious anxiety issues with us being gone so much. So much so that he has jumped through two window screens this week to get to us. He has never reacted this way before. For those of you non-dog lovers out there, I am sure it is hard for you to understand our love for our dog. He truly is our second child. His love for us is like no other - unconditional. Who else would sit on your feet at 1:00 am looking at you like you are the most amazing being in the world?! I am hoping I-Z will be back to normal soon.

Grandpa Lew (Steve's grandfather) fell while we were gone and broke his leg. He underwent surgery and is doing okay. He has many months of recuperation ahead of him. He has been transferred to the Sam Keep Home this week. Pray for a speedy recovery so that we can get him home to Grandma Vi.

Speaking of grandparents, Grandma Durma (my Grandma on the Elliott side) is doing well since Aunt Connie has been away. Being that Grandma is 93, she pretty much tells you what is on her mind. She says the funniest things to family. She is rude in her own candid way...but yet, for the most part she speaks only the truth. She is a very wise woman. We are so blessed to have our children have their great grandparents in their lives.

Unfortunately, our vacations are over and we are back to life on Wright Street. Don't get me wrong, we all are glad to be home. It is just when we got home, all of our summer projects that are incomplete were staring us in the face. Actually, Steve and I were thinking about the projects on the drive home from the Cape. Yuck, so much to do! And, it is sad to think that yet another year has passed. Another year watching our boys grow like all of the weeds in our flower beds! So our countdown begins until school starts, until PTO fund-raising, until soccer and hockey seasons start, until Halloween (the boys favorite holiday)...until our next vacation!