almost a full-fledged fish!

With the heat, we have been spending a lot of time in the pool and Trevor is almost able to swim on his own.  By the end of summer, I am sure that he won’t be needing his floatie all the time! 

some favorites…

From our Connecticut trip…

Courtesy of my Instagram feed….. @kcinva if you want to follow the feed. 

Skipping rocks with cousin Connor on the Long Island Sound

  Sliding at the playground at Lordship School 

Starting Summer

Summer has gotten off to a quick start here at Casa de Chapman, and it doesn’t look like it is going to slow down any time soon. 

Since Trevor finished school, we have been super busy with church events, visits from friends and our regular June trip to CT. 

One of the highlights of our summer so far was a visit from our dear friends, the Millers! 

Trevor and Ava Summer 2012

our car rides haven’t changed at all!

Holding On

Yesterday morning, Trevor came into my room doing this pitiful half-hiccup, half-sobbing thing (probably because he stubbed his toe on one of the many matchbox cars he insists on taking to bed with him that subsequently fall out over night) so I let him climb up and fall back asleep in my bed.  Usually, I am one of those “up as soon as I am up” people, but yesterday, I stayed in bed and snuggled my sleeping little boy.  Probably because this week, Trevor had his last day of his first year of pre-school. 

 

Trevor First Day of Pre-School, September 2011

Trevor, Last Day of PK-2, June 2012

What a difference a year makes.  And when did it happen?  Before I know it, I am going to be fighting to get him up and out of bed!  Until then, I am holding on to snuggle-filled mornings for dear life. 

Harborfest—OpSail 2012

 

Harborfest is probably one of my favorite things about living down here in Tidewater……it almost makes the traffic and the horrible tourist season worth it….almost. 

Shane was able to see the Parade of Sail from his ship earlier in the day. 

Extreme Makeover: Memorial Day Edition

It seems, that Memorial Day, or the time right around it, always means some sort of overhaul going on at Casa de Chapman (or The Chapman Party Palace, its proper name, now that it is officially summer).  The first year we were in the house, we replaced all the flooring and installed a pool and last year we gutted the hall bathroom and added a deck (our amazing friend did an outstanding job, and the deck is definitely my favorite “room” in the house!).  This year, we decided not to tear out flooring and fixtures, but to focus our attention on a space that we new we would get the most out of whatever time/money we put in…..our outdoor living space! 

 

While it has more pieces, this set actually makes the deck feel much larger, and we still have our old dining table on the corner of the deck!  We are in LOVE this patio set (thanks Sam for the reviews!) and just FYI, it is perfect for a rowdy game of Sequence. 

note:  the umbrella and patio set came from two different stores and two different companies.  it is pure luck that they match so perfectly! 

trevor loves the new set.  when we were setting it up this morning, we finished the loveseat first and he hightailed it inside to get a book to read on it. 

Laundry Room Re-Do

Here are pictures of our updated laundry room closet. 

Prior to this, there was just one, awkwardly placed shelf in there so, my detergent sat on the dryer and my sorted piles took up space in the hallway.  Now I am able to better keep my laundry going throughout the week, as well as get rid of the 2 hampers and 2 laundry baskets that took up spaces in the bedrooms and other spaces in the house. 

 

the double folding doors on the left are our laundry area.  Trevor may, or may not be trying to run away from bedtime in this picture. 

Laundry sorting baskets.  With labels.   

Be still my heart!  This project may have solved my “Shane-piles” problem!