Sailing camp

Last week, Poppy had her much-anticipated sailing camp in Canada.  It was just a day camp and Sam and I usually hung out at the beach while she was sailing away...

The first day, they began with learning about the different parts of a boat and how to set a boat up.  Then they put 3 kids into a boat and the instructor brought each boat out to the shallow end, with the boat attached to a rope.   She would then direct the kids how to steer and make figure 8's and other simple things.  It was really cute to watch Poppy in the boat and she absolutely loved it.  On the 2nd day, I was expecting a similar set-up, but instead I looked out and saw Poppy in her little boat (with 2 other classmates) sailing away into Lake Erie!  I was a little nervous at first but then I saw the instructors in a little motor boat nearby and realized that they wouldn't really be going out too far.  Poppy LOVED it!

{Poppy is on the little boat with the green stripe and those are her instructors in the little motor boat to the left.}

{Once they teach the kids how to do each task, they really make the kids try to do everything on their own.  It was pretty neat to see how independent the kids were.} 

{On this particular day it was pretty chilly and Poppy didn't even hesitate to get into the water, which really surprised me!}

{Sam cannot wait until he turns 6 so that he can do sailing camp too!}

In addition to being out on the water, they also played a ton of games, sang songs, spent time goofing around on the playground and they even ended the week with a pizza party.  Poppy really enjoyed every minute of camp.  She made some adorable friends, loved her coaches and she can't wait to go back again next year.

{This was my view from the beach and I loved every second of it!}

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In other news, Poppy has been asking to have a lemonade stand for years and this past weekend we made that dream of hers a reality.  Marc made this adorable lemonade stand and Poppy diligently worked on her money skills all week.  Ty had just as much fun as Poppy did and Sam just couldn't get enough of pouring the lemonade into cups.  The three amigos made quite a cute little team and even decided to donate a portion of their profits to the Buffalo Zoo.  They also decided that there would be many more lemonade stand days in their future...

Happy Birthday Samuel!

3 years.  3 years have gone by in the blink of an eye.  I know it's so cliche, but seriously.  This little baby of mine is trying to be all grown up, but I won't let him.  I want to keep him trapped in his little body with his chubby cheeks and legs, wild blonde hair and crooked smile.  Even when he is being the stubborn little boy that he is, I just want him to stay like this forever.  

When I was pregnant with Sam, as soon as I found out it was going to be a boy, all of my friends with boys told me how special my relationship with him would be.  How snuggly and lovey he would always be with me.  And I am so glad to say, it's completely true.  He is all boy from the minute he wakes up- he wants trucks, dirt and trouble-making.  But he always has time to drop his toys and mischief for hugs and kisses and "I love you all day mommy" and snuggles galore.

One of Sam's favorite foods to eat is Korean dumplings, homemade only.  So the day of his birthday party, Poppy was happy to oblige and whipped out about a hundred dumplings for her brother and cousins to eat.  

Back in the olden days, for Marc's 30th birthday, I came across a picture of this chocolate pyramid shaped cake filled with gold foil chocolate coins and treasure and knew I had to make it for him.  Obviously those were the pre-children days when spending hours making a silly birthday cake were no big deal.  Well fast forward almost 10 years and we were telling the kids about that magical cake and ever since then, Sam has been asking when he will get to have a chocolate cake that is filled with golden chocolate treasure.  With a little added pressure from Marc, I finally succumbed and dug out the recipe for the chocolate pyramid cake.  My mom, Poppy and I spent Sam's entire naptime creating this masterpiece and it lived up to every expectation in the eyes of Samuel Marrano.  

In addition to stuffing ourselves with dumplings and chocolate cake, there was plenty of swimming to be done on Sam's birthday.  This kid (and his sister) live to be in the water.

Earlier that day, at her swimming lesson, Poppy finally learned how to swim underwater.  She is in heaven now that she can jump into the pool and not have to worry about getting water up her nose.

Having a bunch of cousins that love the water just as much make it even more fun.  Having a goof-ball for a dad is the icing on the cake...

And then on Sam's actual birthday, of course we had to have an ice cream cake with more celebrating...

Words can't begin to describe the joy this little stinker brings to our family.  Even though I hate the thought of how quickly time is going by and how fast he is growing up, I do love to see his mischievous little personality develop.  He loves his sister.  He loves to tease her and he loves to do sweet things to make her happy.  He loves trains, construction vehicles and basically anything with a motor.  He is curious about EVERYTHING.  He loves books and learning new things.  And I love everything about him.  Happy 3rd birthday to my favorite little boy in the whole world.