Return to the Top

it's been quite a while since Raynor Shine has sat near the top of the blog rolls, but with it's triumphant return, it should stay at or near the top for quite some time.

summer is unofficially over here at the jersey shore, but the weather has still been beautiful. we're "bracing" for Hanna to strike this weekend, closing all the table umbrellas and brining in all the floating pool toys. hopefully, the storm won't last into monday because that is the day that my brother, dad, grandfather, and i play in a golf tournament that benefits nancy's employer, interfaith neighbors. our 4some has never won, but i think we have a pretty good chance of surprising some people this year. my brother is finally playing very well, which should help the team tremendously.

charlie starts preschool next tuesday. he'll be going to school from 8:45 - 11:30 tuesday and thursday mornings. the first day of school is an "open house" day, which just means the parents stay with their children throughout the morning to get a feel for what will be going on the rest of the year. charlie seems to be very excited to start school and meet new friends. he's already asked me if i could build a bed for his bedroom so that he could have friends stay overnight. i think that's a little ambitious (the idea of the sleepover and me building a bed), but i would bet that it won't be long before his friends are coming over to play and have snacks.

joey is doing great. he's eating very well, and loves to sleep. he is now 10 lbs and 22.5". that equates to a 2 lb, 2.5" growth spurt in 4 weeks. he and charlie get along very well, and charlie is very protective of his little brother. it looks like joey will have dark eyes, probably brown. right now, his hair has a lot of red in it, but that will most likely change. he loves to furrow his brow, and when he does, he turns from cute baby to old man in a matter of seconds (for anyone who can remember, when he scowls, he looks like the men in the Keystone Light, Bitter Beer Face commercials).

kim starts back to work the week of 9/15. she'll work 2 days that week (tues and thurs), 2 days the next week (tues and thurs), and then 3 days a week (tues, weds, thurs) until mid march, when she'll go back full time. i know she's going to miss all 3 of her boys, but i'm pretty sure she's anxious to get back into the grind.

here's an ode to summer in pictures: