we went to maine, but first we stopped at newburyport

Last week we finally made the long drive north to Maine… for a quick few days anyways. But I hate doing that drive all at once so we decided to stop a little over halfway there at Newburyport, Mass. This cute New England town came highly recommended and we were excited! To get out of the car…. To explore…. To eat. We got sandwiches first thing and then walked around and window shopped. My parents went to check in at the hotel and my sister’s family and mine went to check out Plum Island and get a glimpse of the ocean. The kids ran around and then we stopped for drinks before dinner. And as we do after dinner we let the kids swim and then had a popcorn party back in our room. A full day that felt like more than one but possibly three? 

my cousin got married and we didn’t have any fun at all

I’m kidding, obviously. Last weekend my cousin Dana got married and it was quite the deal! And such a gorgeous day! They all are still living in New York so there was the whole issue of what to do with our kids type of things…There was a lot of logistical stuff happening back here in PA to be sure thanks to my friends and their husbands! But we figured it all out and they were safely taken care of so we could go off for the first time ever without the kids! 

Over the river and the bridges and all that traffic to Mill Neck! We cleaned up nice and spent the evening eating all the good foods and dancing and of course drinking the heavy pours the bartenders passed out! The bride had not one but two dresses… there was a fountain of lobster tails and shrimp, one quite cute ring bearer in a tux, and tons of time with family after years apart! And we had fun, Matt and I, even with the kids hours away!

It was such a beautiful wedding and I wish nothing but the best to the bride and groom! Congrats guys!!!

fall decor is up!

Or rather, it has been up thanks to a certain hurricane that kept us at home on a rainy day the first week of school…. But the main reason I am sharing is our new mirror over the mantle! I love it so much and totally and loving the new vibe it gives the living room! But yeah. Fall is here. Even if the weather lately has other ideas which I do not hate!

harrison is four!

I just can’t believe how my sweet-cheeked nephew has grown so quickly! We got to celebrate him last weekend and just showered him with gifts and those hugs and kisses he loves so much from me. Spoiler alert: he does not enjoy my affections. But those cheeks just need to be kissed! He chose a space theme and my sister made all the foods and we sang and the kids played and I sure hope he felt the love! 

Oh Harrison! You are like a little prince and you bring me so much joy every told I lay eyes on you! You are funny and inquisitive, a wonderful brother and such a good little boy! Can’t wait to see the places you go my man!!

and on the actual holiday, we swam!

The weather turned it around and we were able to have my family over for another group swim! All the patriotic suits and the good foods! Who knows if we will get another chance to have everyone here this season but I’m thankful for each and every time they get to hang out here!

more of the in between…

You know… between the start of field hockey and baseball…. Back working at the school again…. Lunches and time with friends… celebrating a ten year old! Also, found my new favorite burger and I am not ashamed to say I am already looking to return! More baseball (thank you for the photos Shauna!)!! Trying to enjoy every last second with our pool while I can! But with all of those things life has been quite…. Full. I don’t exactly love, love it, but I also wouldn’t change anything because living each day to the max is sort of a habit of mine! These kids don’t miss out on much!

finishing out labor day…

Weeks and weeks later. Heading back to school has been rough on the Olsen Family. We rush from place to place and down time is rare… so here I am, finishing up the holiday posts. 

And naturally, the post kicks off with pumpkins. I worked the entire week after Labor Day and my mom and sister didn’t want to wait till after that to get our pumpkins and I don’t blame them. So we hit our local farm up on Saturday morning to get them… friends of ours from college and their kids came over for a bbq and brought their GoPro and all the fun that entails! Sunday Letty joined Matt and I for her very first spin class! Then we buckled down with my sister and her family and got twelve dozen ears of corn ready for winter…. It isn’t the most glamorous of jobs but we sure appreciate the world come the cold month! Not a typical holiday weekend but when the weather has other plans you just have to roll with it….

a long labor day weekend, day one.

We really packed all the things in on the kids’ first day off from school! Letty was at a friend’s house for a sleepover the night before and we decided to meet up with that family at Hersheypark after I got done at the gym…it was a very momentous day because Dominic is now up a height category so he was able to go on a bunch of new rides (and some more than once)! He’s a big kid now! 

Then we met up with the Scheffeys at their club’s pool! And we were not asked to leave! My boys can be quite loud. Well, can’t we all? After that Rhonda cooked us an epic dinner that I am still full from followed by the first fall fire and s’mores of the season! 

But don’t let these photos fool you, my kids be in such a funk!! Call it the first week of school tiredness or whatever but there has been a lot of yelling happening on all ends…. Hopefully I am not alone!

and in the past week…

I had a wonderful spa day with my friend Lindsey including hot cocoa and grapefruit crushes! So relaxing before the chaos of school! Letty had an epic sleepover at her cousin’s house including a nail painting party courtesy of her uncle! We had swims and cousin cuddles! I decorated for fall while Ida rained down upon us… went out to lunch for my brother’s birthday and found some photos of two of my kids at school on their newsletters (stalker that I am). All this and more in only one week! Goodness!

the final swim day of summer!

I mean not technically. But the last of summer vacation. I always like to be surrounded by my family on the final day before school starts. It makes the sting of the next day a little bit less… Also there are drinks. We actually got the entire family together for the first time since the Outerbanks which was pretty exciting! We had all the foods and just soaked up every last drop of this very full and busy summer break!

the first day back to school

Well we survived the first week… despite Hurricane Ida and early dismissals and two hour delays the kids had two full days trying to learn the ropes in between. And if the past year and a half has taught us anything is that these kids are quite resilient and adaptable!

The first day was like any other except not quite, because as we pulled away from the elementary school it was just the boys we saw walking in together… for Letty now is an entirely different building. The Middle School. She walked right in though all confident and happy to be placed in a home room of sorts with our very favorite kindergarten teacher turned Middle School art teacher. Spending the day with her was something to be excited about! I volunteered to help with the first grade lunch since these first graders have never experienced the cafeteria line before (last year we delivered their lunches to them). It was chaotic but at least I got to see my three favorite elementary students! Of course I had to have a moms lunch in there too! After a very late arrival time from Letty’s bus we took the kids to our traditional after school Rita’s run!