duxbury beach

yesterday, we headed to the beach for the first time this season and got to try out our oversand beach pass. we can't even begin to tell you how much easier it is to simply pop the trunk of the car and have all the gear at our fingertips! i have a feeling we'll be spending a bunch of time there this summer!

one down!

at penny's 18-month appt, her pedicatician mentioned that she thought penny might be ready to potty train. though we thought it seemed a bit early, we gave it a shot anyhow since we happened to be training big brother zack this week (our last attempt to train him was thwarted by a case of an upset tummy -- to put it nicely -- and it took us quite a long time to muster the energy for another go).

penny was decidedly not ready for the potty, but the z-man is on day #7 and going strong! we pretty much had to get the job done this time, since he recently had become very resistant to our trying to change his diaper. although it was chaotic spening a whole day trying to potty train two kids at once, we did get this pretty cute pic of them.

little farmers

the kids "helped out" (ie: goofed around and tried to step on plants) at the farm this week as two 4th grade classes tended to their plots. i can't wait to see them zack and penny grow up on this land as through the years!

18-month stats

penny had her 18-month appt. the other day. here are her stats:

weight: 21.0 lbs

height: 30.5 in. (she was freaking out during this, the validity of this measurement is questionable!)

teeth: 9 (6 more in the past few months)! we're gaining on it!

time on our hands....

ever since zack has given up the binky, he hasn't napped in the afternoon (which is quite the sad thing, for it was at least a daily 3-hour nap!) anyhow, we have alot more hang-out time now and get to goof around with things like the self-timer on the camera.

best dad

last weekend, tim did an amazing job of taking care of zack & penny solo for nearly 3 full days so i could go enjoy a weekend away in brooklyn visiting auntie heather and see a bunch of friends i hadn't seen in a while. in fact, he did such a good job, i'm not sure the kids even noticed i was gone....

reading one of their favorites, "dr. dan the bandage man".

back massage/book reading at same time...

relaxed and refreshed....
thanks, tim!

a renaissance man

zack's been feeling quite creative lately. Here he is tending to the petunias...

...teaching his sis a few dance moves......sculpting...

...and painting something for auntie heather's birthday...

al fresco

it's been so nice out lately, we broke out the deck furniture and had dinner together outside. unfortunately, it didn't make zack a better eater (though he had no trouble finishing off his bowl of ice cream...)

lilacs!

thanks, grampy, for the lilacs.