On the Waterfronts of Buffalo

The temperatures during our visit to Buffalo so far have been exactly what I hope for: cooler yet pleasant. A heavenly respite from the ATL. I also always hope to spend a lot of time along Buffalo's waterfronts, which never fail to appeal. It really seems like an unsung glory of the area, because nearly everywhere you go, you can find water. There's the park along the Niagara River (shown above), where we enjoyed lunch the day we arrived.
There's another spot farther down, also along the river, where we had lunch and where Danny decided he will be spending his summers when he is older:

There's the Naval & Military Park down along the Erie Canal:

And, of course, there's Bay Beach on the shores of Lake Erie in Canada, where we never fail to have a terrific amount of fun in the sun (thank you, Wards!):




Summer living at its finest!
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Beach Bunnies

The older the kids get, the easier and more fun it is to hit the beach. Particularly since Clare loves it more than anyone I know (except maybe her dad). She especially enjoyed meeting up with the Lyons girls and their friends. Frolicking in the waves is much more fun with a posse.

This visit we went to three different beaches: Del Mar, La Jolla Cove, and Oceanside. La Jolla was a little too choppy and rocky for us that day, but we did get a fairly close view of a sea lion - and Danny was in his element climbing and doing his best Bear Grylls imitation.

Laura hated La Jolla but really branched out at Del Mar, which was a lot more fun for me. She loved looking for sand crabs with Danny and actually stood in the water!

After all this time, she still refers to the ocean as "the pool," so I can only imagine how confused she'll be when we hit Lake Erie in a couple of weeks. It's a rough life.

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Back In the Saddle

As has become tradition for our summer visits to Fallbrook, Clare and Danny managed to hop back on the horses at Chestnut Hills, under the lovely Sally's tutelage. Danny rode Stirling, Clare rode Willow, and both loved every minute.

In a funny coincidence, today Laura found great joy in riding the stick horse all around the house and yard, singing a ditty to herself all the way. We made a point of not mentioning the big kids' horseback riding to her, so I guess there was simply a horsing around vibe in the air today.



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"Anaheim"

As part of my mission to make up for the absence of the cousins on this year's trip to CA, I decided we needed to go to Disneyland. Without Laura. Grammy and Grampy gamely agreed to keep her for the day (a long one at that), so we told Laura we were off to "Anaheim" and split. Fortunately she merely waved goodbye, and was perfectly pleasant the rest of the day.

As a result, we had a grand time! Jen, Kelsey and Colleen accompanied us, which was very fitting considering how many trips Jen and I made together as kids. This also gave Clare plenty of riding partners as she ventured on Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn and Space Mountain.

Danny had no interest in these but was a big fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and Peter Pan (always a favorite of mine). Throughout the day I relished not having to maneuver a stroller, or toddler, through the park. Someday we'll take her, and she will love it...but not yet!!


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July 4th Carries On

Our annual trip to Topeka for the Fourth of July valiantly carried on this year, despite the absence of "the best Grandma Eddie ever" (as memorialized by Danny on July 3) and the now-residing-over-the-pond Needhams. It was only a little bit quieter, as the Vogels are a marvelous force of nature unto themselves - and we love spending time with them! Here is a photographic round-up:





















Until next year!
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The Zoom of June

I have remarked to more than one person that this is the best June I can remember since living in Atlanta. I was mostly referring to the weather, which has made morning runs and playground visits not just bearable but pleasant, yet has also been warm enough to hang at the pool. Beyond the weather, though, it has been filled with the kind of fun, relaxing days that one envisions for their kids' summer vacation but so often fails to happen in reality.

And suddenly it's nearly over, which means the kids and I are about to embark on our annual summer grandparent tour (10th year in a row!). So what have we been up to, exactly, besides our vacation in Florida?

Danny returned to Josh Powell Day Camp and loved every minute.

Laura has become enamored of playing tea party, occasionally with special outfits.

Tim and I escaped for a weekend sans kids at the stunning Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee (view from our room). 

Playdates and sleepovers with good friends.

Lunches out (sushi!).

Quality time.

Playing at fun gatherings with friends.

Enjoying the playground and beautiful mornings during Clare's swim practices.

And, of course, hitting the pool.

Sometimes with friends...and lunch.

Winning Some, Losing Some

Today was the kind of day where I sent an SOS to a babysitter with the hopes that she had some availability soon. Laura and I are simply not seeing eye-to-eye these days. Mostly because she's terrible (two). She is pitching fits right and left, has reverted to her unbecoming habits of throwing items and hitting me out of frustration, and has gone to bed two nights in a row without a story because of that.

This photo says a lot about her personality of late. It's June in Atlanta, yet she defiantly insisted on wearing socks. And deliberately chose mismatched ones. Two days in a row.

At her worst moments, I fear she is what some would call a brat, and I wonder if she can be rehabilitated. I try to remember that she's only two, and does have her good moments, too. And I also remind myself that how I respond to her outbursts will affect whether or not she continues to be a brat. But man, it's hard. Hard not to explode, hard not to just give up. Hey, has anyone ever mentioned that parenting is hard?

While we were on vacation, she charmingly asked me one day, out of the blue, "What are you thinking about, Mommy?" I think I said something along the lines of, "What a nice time I am having." Then I asked her the same question, to which she responded, "Laura." Well, if that's not toddlerhood in a nutshell, I don't know what is. She is the center of her universe and assumes ours as well.

Photo taken through the glass doors because I was so fearful of disrupting the peace.

On the positive side, both Clare and Danny have really made an effort to engage her. Clare shows infinite patience in round upon round of tea party or "taking care of babies." Danny plays chase, and gives her horseback rides, all of it allowing me to escape to fold a load of laundry or blog about how frustrating my youngest child is.

It's easy to obsess about the battles I've lost and will continue to lose, but we've had victories, too. I made a new recipe tonight that all three kids ate. My eldest are reading together, not for the first time this summer vacation. Laura didn't get a story, but still went to bed as easily as she always does. When I think of these things, it seems silly to even make the analogy of parenting, or life, as a war or even a game. It's a gift, and I will endeavor to enjoy the present.