I have the Blogging Doldrums

Isn't "doldrums" a fun, yet bizarre word? That's what I thought.

Anyway, I just haven't felt the desire to blog lately. We haven't really done a lot of "blog-worthy" activities. That, and I just haven't had the energy to go through the laborious process of typing. :)

So...what have we been up to lately? Not too much. It's about 9 gazillion degrees each day from dawn until dusk, so it's been difficult to really get outside and do a lot. Swimming has been a popular activity.

Some of Max's newer favorite activities include: chasing balls around the hardwood floors, playing in Bailey's dog bowls, standing up on and then licking various disgusting surfaces like the diaper pail and the trash can (see below), clapping, shrieking when I'm not feeding him fast enough, giving kisses, "reading" books, and petting Bailey. He also LOVES swimming and taking a bath (please note the farmer's tan).




We did manage to spend some family time on Sunday at the park, where we took a long walk in the 90 degree heat, and Bailey went swimming at every possible opportunity. I even considered jumping into the polluted river. It was pretty hot. And afterwards we had one sacked out little guy. That's the goal, folks!




Today we went to Mother Goose on the Loose with the Rogers boys. It's good to dress all your kids alike so that you don't lose one. Plus it looks darn cute.

Vacation!!

Max was put to the test a couple of weeks ago. He looks nothing like me (as far as I can tell) and I have yet to see any traits that scream "Robin" in him as of yet, but after our vacation trip to Charleston I know that he is my son. He loved the beach; he's a natural beach babe. And this makes me very very happy.

Here he is getting his first glimpse of the ocean.


And his first experience with sand:


Of course, it's mandatory in Max's world to have a little taste of anything new.


Apparently he liked what he tasted, because the kid literally couldn't get enough.




He also loved the ocean (which wasn't really the ocean but more of a huge tidal pool, which was nice).





There was one thing he didn't like.... towel swans. I thought they were cute, but you can't win them all.


It was a great first vacation. We were thrilled with how great Max did at sleeping in a strange place. And he was such a good boy while we ate our dinners. (MMMMM, fried shrimp!!!)


The only bad thing about our vacation was that it had to come to an end. I can't wait for the next one! (As long as it's somewhere warm!)


Days after we got home, we had a very special houseguest, though...Uncle Oliver came to visit and to meet Max for the very first time. I think they hit it off...



Thanks for coming to visit, Oliver, and come back any time!

Father's Day!

Sunday was Chris's 1st Father's Day as an actual Father. I think he was pretty happy about it.




Max wanted to do something special for his Dad. I'm pretty sure Dad liked it. It's sitting in his new cubicle at work.


Here's to many more fun-filled Father's Days :)

Take your clothes off. It's a birthday tradition!

Just a note before I start. These weekly pictures are getting harder and harder to pull off. My little goat thinks he needs to eat the numbers on my sign and he tries to crawl off the blanket at warp speed so it has become my personal mission each week to somehow convince him to look up at the camera before he darts off with my sign in his mouth. These are the little things that make me realize how much our little guy has grown!

So, June 6th was Mimi's 60th birthday. Luckily, we were all able to wrangle ourselves together for the occasion and a raucous time was had. Sometimes I think that I'm 60 because the sheer volume of that many people gathered in one house has somehow recently become too much for me. But, I still enjoy having the whole family together - hilarity never fails to ensue.
Oh, and before I forget, there was a very special and rarely-seen guest in attendance; see if you can spot the special guest in this picture:

That's right, PopPop's legs made their first appearance since, well, since sometime in the mid-90s if the shade of skin is any indication.


Of course, there's always always a moment during an Eddy party where the party takes a turn for the crazy. Here are some shots from before that moment, when it was just a normal, PG-rated family gathering:

Chris and Nathanael bonding


Rogers boys' family portrait (I think Nathanael was requesting "one more minute" of primping)


Max and Auntie O bonding


Eddy family portrait (this may not be the best of the series I took, because Ben doesn't look overly thrilled - although he still looks mighty darn cute anyway - but it's my favorite because of the cute little bee that's just hanging out over Ben Sr's shoulder)


Aaaaand, here is the aforementioned moment:


Sam and Nathanael decided to go for a swim in the fountain Chris, Max and I gave Mimi for her birthday. All fine and good with fresh water...this will be a much more disgusting game in a few weeks when the water is moldy and green.

Apparently, nobody thought to let this guy out to join in the fun. I guess he was safer (and dryer) inside.


But once he got loose, look who found him! Benny! And Benny thought to himself, "Hmm, I remember this soft and fuzzy head...let's see if it feels the same as it did the last time."


Anyway, back to crazy-town. As I've said before, it's not a party until somebody takes their clothes off. By that standard, this must have been quite a party. Soaked after playing in the fountain, the boys felt they had no other option:


And then Nathanael warned us of the fast-approaching storm, which is much more dangerous when you're not wearing clothes.


But, before we all took cover, it was time for some portraits. Yes, these were initiated by Julie and I will give credit where credit is due. I'm glad to have family pictures whenever I can get them. I just should have dressed nicer (and maybe done my hair). But, whatever.



My favorite:




(PopPop is clearly too concerned about the approaching storm to smile for the photo)

So, we took Nathanael's advice and headed inside for gift opening. I cannot post any of those pictures because Nathanael is naked in 100% of them and Julie doesn't want naked pictures of her kid posted on the Interwebs :) Happy 60th Mimi!

When Life Gives You Lemons....

Make a face and then get over it!!



Yes, I am WAY behind on blogging. But we've been on VACATION! I will attempt to catch up over the next few days.