Monday, August 31, 2009

MV is FUN

Yes that time of year again. The annual trek to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard for a week of fun, sun, and more fun. This year was no exception. A year later means a year older for Charlotte and Maeve. Last year Maeve was just a 4 month old. Sleeping most of the time. This year she really joined in the fun with her cousins Liam and Chase. How big a difference a year makes!

Trip highlights:
*The kids all performed a little show for us. Singing and dancing on their "stage". Way too funny and we are so glad we have the video to back it up!
*Gramps and Nan (aka Nanny) took Chase, Liam, and Charlotte to breakfast every day so we could get ready for the beach.
*The weather. Hot and sunny for most of the trip. Allowed for the kids to really play in the ocean.
*The kids all got along so well and really enjoyed being around each other.
*Sushi with Charlotte Liam Ian Gramps and Dad.
*Key Lime Pie from the beach store. Always a given.

Trip Lowlights:
*Maeve slept horribly and Charlotte did as well.
*The last day rained hard all day. We were soaked.
*The drive home Maeve did not nap and screamed the whole way (later to find out she had a little present in her diaper, no wonder why she cried the whole way).
So instead of rubbing it in on how great our vacation was, how beautiful Edgartown is, and how great the kids did playing together, we have decided to post some of our favorite pictures. These were the top out of the 700 or so pictures taken during the week. They say after all that a picture speaks a 1,000 words.


Charlotte chasing dad in the park in Oak Bluffs...

Mom and Maeve riding the Carousel in OB.


Charlotte watching in amazement as dad catches the rings.

Dad and Maeve in line for the ride.

Liam, Chase, Charlotte, and Maeve.



The kids. Before they decided to put on a show for us!

Maeve kissing at people in line behind her. It is not ok to kiss strangers Maeve. Lets get that one into your cute little head EARLY!

Maeve and Charlotte playing in the park together.

And the show begins. Who knows what they are singing but its so damn cute.

Maeve getting upstaged but still trying to keep up.
Yes Charlotte, we think it was hysterical too!

Bring it home Charlotte!!

The finale!
The Ronans enjoying the park together.
This is a typical picture for us.



Chase jumping (in his mind surfing).


Maeve, this is not surfing. This is called falling.

Maeve saying "CHEESE!!". Ahh this kid.

Mom looking beautiful.

I love this picture.





Charlotte at the beach.

Dad and Maeve in the waves.

Charlotte and Chase playing with Gramps in the surf!

Having so much fun!

Maeve pointing to some flowers. She loves flowers.




Gramps and Maeve at the airport.
Chase enjoying his first bowl of Cocoa Krispies. Sorry Aunt Tiff and Uncle Ian. He loved them.

Charlotte enjoying the Vineyard sun.

Liam and Ian watching the plane take off!

Maeve trying to figure out what this says.




Sunset in Edgartown.


Another Edgartown shot.

Taking a stroll through town.

Hey look kids, another Black Dog Store.





The kids on the couch. Charlotte with her arm around Chase.

Maeve showing Chase her Horseshoe crab.


The Coast Guard patrolling very closely. President Obama was in town.


This was a baby crab until Maeve crushed it.

Cousin Cadence.

Dad enjoying the warm ocean water.

Ian and Liam.

Maeve enjoying trying to catch fish or crabs or sand.



Woah, look at those kids swim!!

Uncle Ian giving free rides!

Oh boy. Dad is going to be in trouble. 3 1/2 going on 16 already.

Ron showing off his under water crab catching skills.

Michael and niece Tasha (haaa) in the water.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Summer Time Fun

Below are our favorite things to do in the summer:

1. Wear whatever we want to walk to the store to get popsicles when its 100 degrees out (including shorts that are too small, rubber rain boots, and a pajama shirt).


2. Going to Circus Smirkus to eat popcorn and to see acrobats and clowns**.


**and promptly leaving the Circus before the first act when the announcer promised to have the Big Bad Wolf eat any children that were not quiet. Thanks, that was enough to frighten Charlotte away from the circus forever.

3. Enjoying the A/C indoors while Jammin' out to the latest hits on the headphones.


4. Getting rid of mom for a night by sending her out to Portsmouth with Kelly and Lisa. (note this was the only acceptable picture for a family blog).


5. York Wild Animal Kingdom with Dad and the girls:





6. Playing with Zoe, getting licked.


7. A Ronan family reunion Clambake with brothers, sisters, uncles, nieces, and cousins we have never met (and yes Charlotte Ronan has a cousin Charlotte Ronan).




Charlotte Ronan with Maeve



8. And last but not least. Painting. Lots of Painting.




In addition to all the fun things we like to do in summer, its important to note Maeve's progress. She is now calling Shelby "Shelby" instead of mom. She clearly says Thank You and More Please. She also has proven to be a math whiz. She can count to 10. Yeah, its a little creepy and I didn't believe it at first, but she can zip right through her numbers. I think I am going to try and teach her how to count cards. Vegas here we come!

****Shelby would like to add some stats on Maeve since this is her very short baby book. Maeve now weighs 19 lbs not as heavy as most people think. She is 29 inches long in the 10% for age and 4% in weight for age.

She is talking up a storm she doesn't just say a few words. She communicates with us completely. There is not question about what she says. She will say 1-3 words at a time and if you don't get it, she makes sure you do at some point. This kid can talk. I think we are going to be in trouble when she is 3. She is quite articulate.