The month of July

This is a picture of the beginning of July when we were feeling pretty good, eating delicious food, feeling pretty unpacked and organized and life was good. The only thing missing was CO and our friends and family. Michael has been creating wonderful dinners on the grill and I am the lucky eater. This is a picture of a grilled salmon with a roasted red pepper sauce, black beans and rice, and grilled asparagus. Yummy.

Here we are at the beach doing more beach activities. Liam has taken up snorkeling. He loves the water. Sean is getting a little more brave with the ocean. It is a little scary for a three year old. He loves to chase the birds and build sandcastles.

They decided to cover Adam with sand. He liked it. Michael is out in the ocean with all his boys. We have been slowly purchasing beach gear. The blown up intertube is good but also bad bc sometimes Liam floats away. Overall the beach is wonderful and a fantastic free activity.

Here we are for the fourth of July. We live right next to Ocean View park where they had a display so we just walked a few blocks to the party and watched a fun show. Liam and Sean loved it. Adam was a little nervous at first but just cuddled up next to me and watched.

We played soccer and ran around before the show started. This same park offers music and dancing on FRI and SUN nights and is very close to our house so we go to this park sometimes for the festive activities.

We were so excited to drive to the airport and pick up grandma and grandpa. They brought a little visitor with them on the plane, our new little brother Ryan. Ryan belongs to my sister Emily who has been in the hospital so we are watching him for now. He is a sweet little man. He did very well on his first plane ride. Thanks to Michael's parents for delivering him.

The grandparents had a hotel five minutes away with a pool so we went there a lot to swim. It was right next to the ocean and very beautiful. Here is the clan getting ready for swimming.

Ryan has been enjoying his stay in Norfolk Va. His life is very busy with three older boys to entertain him and lots of activities to participate in. He has a sweet smile and he's a sweet baby. He's 8 months old and fits right in. I must say though that it has been a bit of a change around here with another baby. Lots of work and attention needed.

Here we all are at the pool. The boys are absolutely loving all the swimming. We try to keep them covered so they don't burn. We've done a pretty good job so far. No serious burns yet.

Michael's dad took all the boys on a fishing trip where Liam and Sean caught some croakers. They had a great time and we are thankful to grandpa for the fun boat ride and fishing trip.

Liam and Sean are not afraid of fish or the squid that they used to catch the fish. Liam would take the fish from the hook and put it into the bucket. Maybe he'll grow up and become a fisherman. After the daily activities, we would come to the house and grill more delicious food. What a fun trip with grandma and grandpa.

In the evenings, we would sit out on the front porch and talk and one night we found a frog so Michael caught it and put it into Liam's frog house for the kids to look at in the morning. They were so excited about the frog. Liam decided to let the frog go around noon to live back with his brothers and sisters in the wild. Good job Liam.

Unfortunately, toward the end of the trip Grandma, Liam, Sean and Shelley got sick with a flu bug. We all were weak and sad and we were trying to take care of two babies and life. Michael gave Grandma and myself a liter of fluid to help us get back on our feet. What a wonderful husband I have. I'm lucky to be married to an ICU nurse who knows how to take care of sick people.

Grandma extended her stay for some extra days to help out with Ryan. We are so appreciative to her. Unfortunately after she left I got a terrible case of mastitis that took me out for another few days. It's been a little rough around here lately. No more beautiful grilled dinners or beach excursions. We're just trying to survive. But I'm finally feeling better, I'm on an antibiotic, and it's looking good. We're trying to figure out little Ryan and his schedule. With my being so sick, Michael and Ryan have become very good friends. Liam and Sean have been very helpful and of course Adam, well ..........

That pretty much tells it all. He is my wonderful little baby who keeps us all entertained and laughing. He walks around the house singing and trying yet again to be five instead of 1. He does a pretty good job.

PS. The bugs are under control. Michael used ortho home defense and we haven't seen a roach in weeks. We continue to use Terro for the sugar ants and we've kept those to a minimum. This is good bc bugs are disgusting and they make me angry and frustrated.