We just wrapped up our final summer getaway. We spent most of last week down the Cape (Emma got there on Thursday night). I knew at the beginning of summer that this Cape getaway would signal the end of summer but I just can’t believe it’s almost over. In a way we are all ready to get back to our routine but I’m just not ready for Megan to head off to the city again. It’s been so nice having her back here for the summer. Knowing how much she loves the city and how much she misses her college friends makes it a little easier to let go. And, Chloe!!! The baby of the big kids is going to be a senior in high school!! HOW?!?! Seems like just yesterday I put her on that kindergarten bus, turned around, burst into tears and told Jon I wanted another baby. HA!! Thank God he listened 😉
Some pictures from the week:
We stopped by Cape Cod Organic Farm to see Uncle Timmy.
I try to get lifeguard pictures every summer and was bummed that Emma hadn’t gotten down there yet
Annual trip to Captain Frostys
Beckett was enjoying his ice cream cone until he saw Jon’s
Good trade!!
Mayflower Beach: He buried her and then jumped on her.
Martha’s Vineyard
ChathamÂ
I didn’t spend as much time taking pictures as I usually do. I’d like to say it’s because I was trying to soak up this fabulous family (they really are the best) but it’s mostly because Beckett spent most of the time being a wild man. We all came home a little more exhausted than usual. Ha!
Summer 2019 was FILLED with adventures and lots of great memories were made but we’re ready for ya, fall!
We just got back from spending a week up in Biddeford. Out of all the vacations we take Maine is definitely the most relaxing. Although, I’m sitting here trying to figure out why I’m so exhausted. Emma was able to come up and spend a few days with us at the beginning of the week and then Megan was able to join us for the rest of the week. They actually crossed paths on the highway. Spending an entire week with everyone all together is getting harder and harder these days.
We spent most of our time at the beach with a few little day trips here and there. I have lots of pictures to share!
We took our annual trip up to Portland so we could stop at  The Holy Donut (here)
Lucy LOVES her iPad! She’s been teaching herself all things vlogging this summer. She’s been working very hard and its actually very impressive what she’s come up with. BUT every now and then she (every one of us) has to put the devices down and do something else.
She’s been spending her time in the pool, playing basketball, hanging out with friends and teaching Winnie new tricks. I keep trying to get her to sit down and read a book (my other girls are bookworms) but she keeps fighting me on this. So I gave her the option to write instead. She got a new journal and a couple of times a week I’m going to give her a writing assignment. Yesterday I asked her to talk about her favorite summer memory. She sat for hours writing, she even took her journal in the car with us.
Some other writing ideas:
the thing I’m most worried about when school starts
the thing I’m most excited about when school starts
my favorite trip ever and what made it so great
my favorite restaurant ever and why
what makes a good teacher
describe yourself. Use lots of details
list all the things you’re thankful for
what is your favorite thing mom (or dad) makes for dinner
if you had one wish what would it be and why
what would you buy if you won the lottery
if you had to live in another country which one would you choose and why
I have a bunch more questions on my list but lets see if we can get through some of these first.
I’m still not giving up on having her finish a book or two this summer either 🙂
Just a quick photo dump over here so I have these pictures.
Before we left for London we had a lobster boil for Marlene and Brian’s 50th wedding anniversary
4th of July celebrations in town:
I really want an alpaca but I can’t convince my dear husband
Few more summer photos:
Officially half way through the month of July and I’m already dreading the thought of sending everyone off to school! Luckily we have a few more vacations to look forward to. Happy Summer!!
It’s been almost 5 years since we left London. I don’t think there has been a day that’s gone by that someone in this house hasn’t mentioned our time there. Jon and I are celebrating our 20 year anniversary this summer and knew we wanted to go back, just the two of us. I really wanted to do a late spring, early fall trip. Jon was 100% looking forward to a summer trip. I felt guilty about leaving the kids during their summer break and was really nervous about leaving Beckett. A few months ago my dad called and told me that the Red Sox and Yankees were going to be playing each other in the first ever MLB London series. I hung up with him, called Jon and told him he could have summer. AS LONG as he was willing to go to the game. Huge sacrifice, I know. HA! 20 minutes later I called my dad back and told him I booked a trip. We spent the next few months planning exactly what we wanted to do while we were there. There were certain museums, restaurants, pubs and shopping that we KNEW we wanted to do. LOTS of things in only a short amount of time. A day trip to Paris was also on our list.
First up was Chiltern Firehouse We booked this reservation about 6 weeks in advance.
We barely made our reservation because our flight was delayed about an hour. Our Uber driver raced through the city, driving by our old apartment (which was a treat), but we made our reservation without a minute to spare. It was worth it! The food and the atmosphere were both amazing!
If you go you have to try the crab donuts (above) and don’t miss out on sharing a platter of truffle fries!Â
We spent the rest of the day wandering around the city, hitting The National Gallery, our favorite neighborhoods and favorite pubs:
Friday we woke up and headed straight for The Tower of London
Then we went over to Borough Market for some lunch
More from Friday:
Friday night was my favorite night. We went and grabbed some food and wine for a picnic in the park and headed over to Kensington. We sat on the hill overlooking the palace for hours. That area is my absolute favorite in London. I spent every single day there with the girls while Jon worked. Every night after dinner we would stroll the park with the girls and stop for ice cream or chocolate waffles. I know that area of Hyde park like the back of my hand. Sooooo many good memories there.
After 2 bottles of wine (HA!) we went over to The Churchill Arm  This place was on my list of must do’s and it did NOT disappoint!!
Just as pretty in the day!!
Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and headed to Notting Hill. We strolled through Kensington one more time. We were there before the rest of London woke up so it was very peaceful.
Notting Hill:
Sunday morning we woke up and went to Westminster Abbey to attend the 8:00 mass.
Then over to the game.
We had such a great time!! There were tons of Yankees fans sitting around us and they all started to groan (LOUD) as soon as the first two notes of Sweet Caroline started to play. Even though we were losing, every single Red Sox fan in that stadium sang at the top of their lungs!
We had to head back to the hotel early that night. We woke up at 3:30am on Monday to catch a train to Paris.
Standing inside the Louvre was breathtakingly  gorgeous! The white dirt roads paved the way for the cream colored buildings that were out of this world beautiful. The pale blue sky and bright green grass had pops of every color coming out of thousands of flowers, it made for the perfect backdrop. If you stood there alone and looked around, you would swear that angels were singing. It was THAT gorgeous. I love my Paris pictures so much and I really wanted to love Paris but I just didn’t (besides the Louvre area). Outside of the Louvre was very dirty and felt extremely dangerous.  The Eiffel Tower was also very pretty (from afar) and we did a nice boat tour down The Seine River. We shopped around Louis Vuitton and had lunch at a cute little cafe, then a picnic later on in the park. It wasn’t a bad day, I just don’t think I would ever go back.  If I’m missing something about Paris leave me a comment down below because I feel like we’re the only people unimpressed by the city.
As for London, I will go back again and again. It feels like a home away from home.
And……we’re off!! Lucy just got out of school on Friday and we’ve been busy since!
Emma got Canobie Lake Park tickets through her work for Saturday. Â We all had SO much fun!! Beckett is getting to an age where he is LOVING the rides!
Lucy is at an age where she is really loving the big kid rides so I have another rollercoaster partner!!
Sunday we went to visit our dads for Father’s Day. I didn’t take any picture of them… UGH! But Lucy took this one of Megan and Chloe and sent it to me
LOVE THEM!!
Kate met Megan at Marlene’s and they went to their first concert of the summer
Yesterday we took a ride up to York and did the zoo, the park and lunch.
Beckett fell in LOVE with the baby goats!! It really was the cutest thing and he really wanted to take one home.
Yesterday’s photo dump:
We are loving summer so far and have a bunch more things to cross off our summer bucket list!! Can’t wait!
Oh, summer, you are within arms reach and we just can’t wait for ya!! Lucy and her chorus sang the National Anthem at a local minor league baseball game over the weekend and it was our first official taste of summer.
We have so much planned for the summer but first we have to make it through the last few days of school. Can’t wait!!
We left Anaheim and went back to San Diego. We made plans to meet Katie at the zoo that morning and were surprised to find out that she had out tickets waiting for us when we got there. Tickets AND a picnic lunch. She really is the SWEETEST!!
Even though we had a GREAT time in the LA area I think it’s safe to say that we all loved San Diego the most! It was so good to get back there.
This was a vacation that I’m sure we will always remember. It was so nice having all 7 of us together for 12 days. I know that our family vacations are probably limited considering we now have 2 adult children!! Crazy!!
It was pretty funny to read this article on the plane on the way home. It is very exhausting traveling with an entire army of kids but I really wouldn’t want it any other way.
This might have been my favorite part of the trip. I can’t help it. I LOVE Disney! When we were planning this trip it was a must that we stopped at Disney for a few days. After exploring the L.A. area we drove into Anaheim and got settled into our hotel. It was right across the street from Disneyland and we had great views of the fireworks on our first night.
I’ll let the pictures tell the story
We had to take a break midday to go back to the hotel and cool off at the waterpark. It was HOT!!
But we rushed back to meet up with our good friends Kristen and Marvin
We spent 14 hours in Disney that day and we loved every second of it!
Just look at those faces!!
The following day we went to California Adventure Park. I’m pretty sure that was a family favorite.
I’m so glad that we added Disney into this trip. It’s probably the only time that just the 7 of us will do Disney as a family of 7.
Stories about family, faith, friends and funnies. Pull up a chair. Grab a cup of coffee and laugh, cry, ponder and inspire about ordinary events of this wonderful, ever changing, bubbling pot that we call "every day life".
Seven Friarys 
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