LBI

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ

A picture is worth a thousand words ...

Buddy & Kate beach combing

Our "Circle"

William & Jack

Henry, Matthew & Grace

Emma & Kate (yikes!)

Emma & Kate again --- sporting their "Don't Bite Me" T's

Happy Birthday to our 5 Astrological Cancers

Grandma Tess and some Brown kids

Self-Portrait of Grace & a T

The T's, Jack and Grace

Mike, Matthew & Muscles!

We shopped here a lot!

Do you see the dog?

Not our crew but what a great photo

Field Trip: The Beach

Every summer, the t's enjoy a few days at the New Jersey shore together. With seven kids, it is a rolling, rollicking time..arcade, rides, water park, miniature golf, fishing, ice cream, and so on. Best, there are plenty of laughs and memories to last a lifetime. Three cheers to Grandma and Buddy for keeping our "camp" running smoothly! The t's at the beach has become a tradition ~ one that I love.

tricia

HaPPy BirTHdAy SiSTeR!

Both within the family and without,

our sisters hold up our mirrors:

our images of who we are 

and of who we can dare to be.

~ Elizabeth Fishel

you are the best sister I could ever have

I thank my lucky stars for you

you are a "super sister"!

love,

sissy

HaPpY bIRtHdAy WiLliAm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!

6 is Super!

Super, super is what you are!

Here are a half dozen things about William..

1. he is a curious learner

(ask him about the Revolutionary War)

2. he wears the same outfit every day

3. he loves to read!

4. we joke that he's like the "mayor"

5. his best friend is Grace

(not his sister, but a classmate)

6. he makes the world a better 

place by being it in!

tricia

HaPPy 4th & HaPPy GrACe

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE!

It's time for 12!

Here are a dozen things about Grace..

1. born on the fourth of July

2. she is a bookworm

3. "Water is her sky"

4. she is an old soul like her mom

5. adores a cup of tea 

6. loves our dog Tripp

7. favorite color is yellow

8. she is a great big sister 

9. kind and caring

10. speaks Latin

11. plays the cello

12. makes my world a happier place!

tricia

The Spotted Pig

If you happen upon a summer night in New York City, stop by The Spotted Pig in Greenwich Village. Put your name on the list ~ they don't take reservations. (they will phone your cell when your wait is over :) Go around the block and grab a drink or stroll the city streets while you wait.

The Spotted Pig is described as a "gastro-pub" - serving simple Irish/English/Italian food. The menu is small - try a few bar foods (deviled eggs anyone?) and starters to share - it's fun to taste a bit of everything. Be sure to order a pile of fries with your dinner too. The decor is small and cozy with lots of pigs, of course, and tiny round tables. It all contributes to a festive evening. Cheers!

tricia

Eat My Bubbles!

In my house, summertime is summer-swim-team time. The season is short and fast..practice five days a week, meets three days a week and the championships at the end of July. It is a dash and we love it. There are so many great life lessons woven into the sport...

* to be good at anything, you have to work hard and then harder - practice does make perfect!

* sometimes, success is measured in the details..one practice at a time & one race at a time

* failure can be an excellent motivator

* good sportsmanship goes a long way..your attitude speaks volumes

* be a lifelong learner as there is always something new to be learned

tricia 

TEN

DOUBLE DIGITS --- 10

A great BIG Happy Birthday

to the one and only

MATTHEW!

You are a little less 

SHARP AND POINTY ON THE OUTSIDE

and a whole lot more

SOFT AND SQUISHY ON THE INSIDE

You truly are loved by all!!!!

Lucky man.

P.S. Birthday was yesterday ~ we were busy celebrating.

Here's looking at you and me kid!

And we're off..

Monday morning and no school..my children's first "official" day of summer vacation. Yippee!!!! I love summer, not only for the adventures, but also for the memories. Here are a few happenings as we dive into sum-sum-summertime.

1. I tackled the bags of "stuff" the kids brought home from school. Two piles..one keep and one pitch. Easy. As I found the bottom of Henry's bag and pulled out the last bit, I screamed..it was his gift for his teacher. #@?&!  No joke. Luckily, as I jogged by his school the next morning, I noticed the teachers were around for inservice. Went home, rounded up Henry and marched him over to school with his gift.

2. The nineteen minute ride between our home and the pool is filled with constant bickering between my kids. Drives me crazy! (and it has only been a few days) Today, I decided to put NPR on the radio..perhaps during the 280 minutes spent driving to the pool each week, the kids can learn something, anything. Good idea right? Well, the car was dead quiet. Not a peep the entire ride. Not sure if they learned anything, but I loved the peace and quiet.

3. Here is my summer project - so easy you can do it too! Each day I am going to take one picture with my phone to document our summer. When summer is over, I will take the photos and create a book or collage. I told you it was easy! Summer always seems to fly by way too fast and I wonder what we did..now I will know.

tricia

KISS

Happy Birthday
to my
BEAUTIFUL SISTER

You have no idea how much I wish I

could celebrate this special day with you.

A toast once heard: "To my big sister, who never found her second Easter egg until I'd found my first." 

~Robert Brault

XOXO

Tracy

Keep Smiling!

here's a little story..

After my Emma returned home from a friend's birthday party, the friend's mother phoned me and this is what she said..

When her daughter's grandfather passed away a few years ago, they decided to keep his memory alive by thinking of him whenever they saw a butterfly. Isn't that a sweet idea? Well, every year on her daughter's birthday, they happen to see a butterfly during the course of the day. Just the grandfather flying by. This year, the birthday came and went and no butterfly. The family was disappointed to say the least. Later in the evening, after the guests had gone home, the daughter opened her presents. In one package from my Emma was a pair of flip flops..with butterflies on them! (do you have goosebumps? I did when the mother told me)

Tricia

Piles of Projects

When my children were really little, each year of school would yield piles of project ~ one more beautiful than the last. A few "special" ones were framed and hung..but what to do with the rest? I couldn't bare to part with even a mere sketch. Somewhere, I read you should save just ONE important project every year - the rest goes in the trash. Horrifying. What was this sentimental-saver-of-all-things-wonderful to do?? Under the bed boxes were purchased for each child and the project problem was solved.

Fast forward to sixth grade. Listen up, because here is something no one ever told me ---> the "special" projects come to a complete stop in sixth grade. No need to rent a space at a storage facility after all. And, in the end, I am happy I saved every sketch, painting and collage after all.

Tricia

this is what comes home in 4th grade

this is what comes home in 6th grade

COUNTRY

What a better way to kick off summer than with a concert.  We left the house at 8:00 AM on a bus full of people (56 to be exact) and got home at 3:15 AM (long story).  Headed to the City of Brotherly Love for the No Shoes Nation * Kenny Chesney Tour.  Long day, lots of fun and Eric Church ROCKED!!!

Tracy

Happy Birthday Emma!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!

EIGHT IS GREAT

And this is Emma..

1. tough-as-nails (especially with me)
but shy and uncertain with everyone else
2. swims with her heart - go Emma go!
3. everything itches, scratches, feels too tight or too loose
4. loves animals..both real & stuffed
5. the names of both of her best friends start with E too!
6. still adores her Snoopy
7. loathes homework (I loathe it too ;)
8. loves with her whole heart <3

Photo Friday

Stella ~ an injured bird rescue in New Jersey

Beautiful day at a college campus in Pennsylvania

FUN

Mike and I were just at a baseball game.  Contemplating youth sports --- just because you're not the best doesn't mean you shouldn't play sports just for fun, right?  Not everything we do turns into something great or extraordinary?  What is wrong with just fun?  

I left said game to get Kate at practice.  Got this text:

Got home and checked Facebook.  This popped up --- an actual sign posted on youth athletic fields (in Chicago, IL):

Way to go Matty!  Good to keep perspective and have fun.

Tracy

Great Gift - Part 2

On the topic of teacher gifts..let me put this out there. Anyone who takes care of your child for approximately 900 hours during the school year deserves a gesture of appreciation. It doesn't have to be expensive: a handmade card, a bunch of flowers, stationery, a book to read over the summer - you get the idea. An added bonus - allowing your children to have the opportunity to express thankfulness.

Great Gift

It's that time of the year..how do you say "thank you" to teachers who have educated your children for the past ten months? With a thoughtful gift of course! In previous years, I have done monogrammed canvas tote bags, colorful beach towels, cosmetic bags filled with goodies and so on. To simplify things, I try to choose one gift and give it to all of my children's teachers.

This year, my go-to gift is a duo of sunscreen. I went to the Clinique counter and selected a body cream and a face cream with SPF 50, wrote a thoughtful note, wrapped it all in cellophane with ribbon and ta da ~ done! I received a similar gift (thanks mom!) and I love my Clinique sunscreen each time I use it..a bit of indulgence while staying safe in the summer sun. Truly a gift everyone could use.

tricia

Photo Friday on Sunday

Funny Face in New Jersey

Funny Faces in Pennsylvania

FRAME

You and I sister have been antiquing together for a LONG time.  I would say around 16 years to be exact.  I can remember our first trip to Renninger’s together (in Kutztown, PA).  I really didn’t want to go because antiques are old and dusty and they kind of grossed me out.  But I left that day as top shopper.  I was drawn to baskets and wood and had armfuls of stuff for my new house.  I still have some of the items. 

Something I picked up from you is don’t buy any artwork unless it is already framed (except if you really love it).  Chances are you will buy a print and never frame it.  Especially me.  For some reason though, I feel I have been drawn to artwork lately.  Maybe I need to freshen up my house, things are starting to feel stale.  So when in Brooklyn what did I buy … art.  Well flea market art to be exact but what is better than that. 

Happy to report I am on my way to framing and hanging …

Tracy

Unframed

TA DA --- Framed!

this&that in photos

The cicadas have arrived in New Jersey

and they are pretty much everywhere!

My kids are fascinated by them

and poor Tripp doesn't know

what to do with them..

Emma usually wears some kind of "get up" to school.

This means that nothing matches, at all!

She finally wore a snappy dress..I wonder

if her teacher recognized her. Hmmm.

A dear friend has been making Ed a 

super-healthy-green-juice-drink

to help with his recovery.

There is one on our doorstep

every morning! 

I love the messages written in

green on the bags...

(thank you!!!!!!)

Ok..same dear friend hosted both of

my little ladies for a sleepover

to give Ed a little peace and quiet.

Wagon loaded up with their

bags and pillows.

(thank you again!!!!!)

Photo Monday ;)

A Great Gift Idea for Kate

from Everyone in New Jersey

(Cupcake anyone?)

Birthday Treats for School

in Pennsylvania