Cape Cod 2015

I skipped our vacation post in lieu of back-to-school- but here are a few photos from our week at the Cape.  I can't believe we were there less than 2 weeks ago; it feels like it never happened! I love the pace of those lazy vacation days, and all that time with my sweet-faced babies.

We drove up on Saturday, and I finally got Eric to agree to stop for lunch in Providence- we have managed to skip Providence for the past 3 years, and Charlotte's never been!  We went to my favorite falafel place and the guy working there asked if I used to go to Brown.  Eric was very impressed! I swear I didn't eat that much falafel... I must just have a memorable face.

Asher and Charlotte with my freshman dorm in the far background

On Sunday my cousins' cousin and his wife came to visit with their 4 year-old.  The kids had a great time playing together (except Asher, who couldn't hold it together and had to go home and nap while Benjamin and Charlotte stayed up and played). After dinner, we went out for ice cream on the bay and the kids were total goofballs.

Goofballs on the pier

The rest of the week blurs together- we spent most mornings at Great Pond where the kids swam and played in the sand. They made friends with a girl from New York named Iris, and everything was more fun with her there.  Last year, the kids just stayed at the edge of the water and played in the sand and shallow water... This year, the boys knew how to swim and kept going out in the water. It was a little more scary for me. And Charlotte thinks she knows how to swim even though she doesn't! She is more brave than her abilities warrant.

This was funny- I commented on this headline in the Globe (to say, "Is it really such a surprise that foster children are mistreated?):

And Asher's comment was, "I am going to call the police on you, Mommy. You only gave me HALF a donut this morning."  Yes, Asher, call the police about that one.

We had another bonfire on the beach and made smores.

Goofing around before the fire got started

My footsteps next to Benjamin's. His baby feet are getting so big!

Our roaring fire

Sunny beach morning

Stripe selfie

We had our lobster dinner by the water and got 4 lobsters instead of 3!  Then we went out for dessert at Ben & Jerry's- we hadn't been in YEARS and my sister and I wanted to share a sundae. We reminisced about our many late nights there as teenagers trying to flirt with the employees.  I am pretty sure that Eric was embarrassed on my behalf.

Sweet boys and a beautiful sunset

I convinced Benjamin to get the phish food ice cream- another teenage favorite of mine.

My girl posing in one of my favorite flavors

We came home on the Sunday of labor day weekend, and had one day before school started.  I took the kids to the pool (it was hot!).  This is how the boys handle Aqua Zumba- Asher lay out his towel to get a close up of the woman "dancing," and Benjamin stood back and followed along.  Such different boys, but both so funny.

I hate how quickly vacation flies by when I spend all year looking forward to it.  I love the pine trees, the sandy streets, and coffee on the balcony each morning.  I hate that it's another 12 months until we get back there, to everyone's favorite place.  It was only 2 weeks ago that we were there, but already it feels like forever!  Now I am hoping for a happy and healthy year of school for the kids and work for Eric and me.