Saturday, August 22, 2009

Cape Cod 2009!

Time to report on our week at the Cape this year! It was WONDERFUL! Nate's parents and my parents and Nate's aunt each rented a cottage on the same beach. At one point all of our siblings were there from both sides, which I'm guessing probably hasn't happened since we got married. It was such a fun week. Both families get along beautifully with each other.

Cate and Abby were really good together this year, the best yet. Cate couldn't get enough of Abby. Occasionally Abby needed a little downtime from Cate, but even when Cate showed up during the down time she was such a good sport and cheerful. It was really sweet. Okay, here goes!

The annual stair picture...which isn't technically on stairs this year, but it looks like it so that's good enough!

Cate loves this new dress I got from my friend Ciaran...and she received many compliments when she wore it! Sorry it's out of focus...

Mac, Brian's dog, who is calm and kind. A fun "friend" to have at the cape for the kids.

Hannah.

Jess and Anna. I love this picture so much.

Herm's annual belly battle with whoever happens to be pregnant...Cora and Herm are really fighting it out (note the raised fists).

Awww, sweet Anna cuddling with uncle Christian. She really loved sitting on his lap and playing games with him. It was very cute.


I think the following went something like this. "Mom, are you working? Hello, you're on vacation!"

"Work? What work?"

Look out, Diggnation.

Seafood Sam's dinner! Hannah is missing, and some people look a little upset. They're not. This was the first shot, so not everyone was ready. But I only had my 50 mm lens, so this picture had the most people in focus.

Everyone thought this was pretty funny. The wind blew into the house exactly right so that it would blow up my dress whenever I stood by the stove.

Anne and her cute friend Kristen, who fit right in with everyone. Cate was completely in love with Kristen by the time she and Anne took off for Utah a week later.

The soon-t0-be parents! Baby Boy Wallin will be here any day! :)

Nate and Hannah.

Sara, Jess (with her bee-ah) and Cuyler. By the way, it has been determined that Cuyler is in fact everyone's favorite, including my parents. We think he is in the will. Our parents will neither deny nor confirm this fact.

The beach where we stay has beach on one side of the houses and a salt marsh on the other side. The house my parents rented had a dock on the marsh. The owner of the house told us we could go crabbing with bacon. The girls LOVED doing this. It was very cute. The dock was a lot of fun. Too bad none of those boats were ours!


Colby.

Notice the bandaid? Yeah, Colby jumped on the bed and ended up having to go for stitches. Little boys sure do keep things exciting!

Cate.

One of the things I love about going to the Cape...it always brings out the curls on the girls.

Sara and our girls.

Hannah and Norman. Also known as Normah.

Abby and Cate dining.

Welcome to "Happy Tat!" (That's the name of our new tattoo parlor)

A few of us got a little mesmerized by applying temporary tattoos from the party I helped throw at BlogHer. We were able to create some pretty fun designs, especially with the henna version. Nate put three in a row on his neck and looked like a real tough guy all week. Well, until it started peeling off.

Abby's tattoo.

Anna's tatto.

Cate's tattoos.

Anna's other tattoo. It looks especially awesome so close to the diaper.

The Wallin crew.

Another stair shot.

Abby on the beach.

Grandpa Herms and Colby enjoy the water at low tide.

Cora at her finest.

Cora at her grumpiest.

The waitresses. (They had these cute matching waitress costumes and LOVED playing restaurant.)

Norman took these photos. I think they're hilarious. Apparently Cate and Abby got to lick the bowl when Mimi made a cake.



That's all she wrote. I was so burned out from SocialLuxe Lounge, I didn't take many photos during the Cape week. In fact, I didn't get one shot of Jake, but I know Pat did, so I'll add that when I get it from her. It was SO fun having Jake there this year...I think he even ended up having fun with the crazy Wallins.

Thanks to our parents for renting the cottages and making the Cape week possible. We are so grateful! Can't wait for next year!

Cape Cod 2008

I can't in good conscience start posting pictures from this summer's east coast trip knowing I haven't posted any from LAST summer's trip! So, three posts traveling back in time...Cape Cod, New Jersey and Cohasset visits from last July/August, 2008.

The annual stair picture, taken on the neighbor's "stolen" stairs.

Here's Anna Banana, eating her first avocado!



Just a cute shot of Anna's face up close.

Just a scary shot of Cuyler's face up close.

Who would have thought you could fit a 3-year-old in a sink for a bath! Although, from the looks of that dirty face maybe it didn't work so well...

Sue and Anna had lots of bonding time last year. Super cute.

Do they know the raft is supposed to be on the water? (look at those curly locks!)

Ahoy, out there! You get a lot less seasick on land...

They've found water! And look happy about it!

This was a cute little game where that green thing spun around and the kids jump over it, while it plays the flight of the bumblebee. Abby would really catch some air! Cate, on the other hand, liked the "never take both feet off the ground at the same time" approach.

Just a little crafting at the Cape.

Ice cream night! We ventured to a different ice cream place than usual. Have to say, I actually liked it better! Is that sacrilege? Sorry, family tradition!

Old Silver Beach was WINDY for last year's visit!

How cute are these cuties?!?!

Abby really liked her tinkerbell costume.

Anyone notice anything?

Love it when they're so busy and concentrating so hard.

The family matriarch records our history. Grumpily, apparently.

This was pretty funny...Anna would kick the ball and it would bounce back at her feet. Baby exercise machine!

Jessica in thought.

Hannah cheerily saves Anna from Norm.

If I can't hang a baby upside down, maybe I can eat it...

Annual Seafood Sam's dinner.

What a cool crew.

What a not-quite-as-cool crew, but very friendly looking. :P

This game occupied many people's time...and I still have no idea what they were doing. All I know is it took a lot of concentration. And they lined up, then walked to the house, then lined up, then walked to the house, over and over and over.


Once a cub scout, always a cub scout.

2008 was the summer of the weird hair picture for Christian. More to come from New Jersey...