.....the beat to our summer drum.....

......have you ever had an opportunity to sing "Old MacDonald" to the bongos?.....

.....it's pretty awesome.....adds a little hippiness to the traditionalism......

......speaking of hip, we thought Battery Park was very cool.....the neighborhood of the former twin towers has really blossomed and flourished over the years.....it's full of families and businesses, grassy parks, great music, and has the most laid back vibe that I was definitely not expecting..... it's also the home of our good German friends, Heike, Max and Lia.....

.....Heike and I had babies at the same time in November of 2007.......then we had babies four months apart for the second go around.....and now God has blessed her with a third miracle baby coming this December......her grace, energy, thoughtfulness and spirit is what make her such a beautiful friend and mother.....

......and the toddler time at Battery Park was a hit with the littles.....

.....Lia played with miniature animals......

......Callie found a floating baby at the water table and immediately started to give her kisses and some good lovin'......

.......Elsie was immediately infatuated with the array of hats to try on.......she was attached to the policeman hat and gave me a shy smile when I wanted to snap a photo.....

.......and Max was ecstatic to be the host of his neighborhood......he was in his element.....

......Callie was also into grabbing other sippy cups out of strollers and would walk up to me drinking off them- gross, I know.....she handed me a diaper bag of someone else's at one point......and finally, I had to grab the camera and get a photo of her taking off with someone else's scooter.....

....to say she is lightning fast is an understatement and to say that she keeps me on my toes is the truth.....

.....Elsie is at the age where she stays near me, yet explores on her own, wants to have a good chat, wants to help me with anything and everything.......

......she is turning into a little girl before my eyes.....her little own person......I am loving it......

......oh, and she's also making the most spectacular observations......like belting out as loud as her little lungs could muster, Maaaaheeeee, that lady has pink hair!.....

....yes, babe.....people like to show their fabulousness in many ways.....

.....we ended our date with some water fun.....Max taught Elsie how to splash, trickle water, and to do it full of enthusiasm......

.......and then Elsie went over to Lia to show her what Max had taught her.....

.......and before I knew it, Elsie was soaking wet.....

......and she went from being my little lady.....

.....to stripping down and insisting on going swimming in the community fountain......

......and with that undertaking on her part, I made the decision it was time to head home.....I was out of dry clothes and Elsie was in her strong willed mode......so we looked to our dear friends and wished them well on their big trip to Germany this summer.....

......Heike, we will miss you all and appreciate our fun filled morning in your neighborhood......can't wait until the next visit.....Danke......xxoo


......and thank you, Nicole, for making the precious bonnets we have been in living in all summer.....your creativity and workmanship is fantastic and we are stopped all the time with strangers asking where we got our unique sun hats....they can be found here.....


......on a final note, it's impossible to visit the area without feeling sorrow and reverence for the people who lost and gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001......so on our way home, I had to take a picture of the area that is being commemorated for the fallen heros....

......a new memorial is in store for us in 2013......so we never forget.....

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.......and just because I wanted to keep the focus on Daddy on our Father's Day post, here are a few more pictures from our first trip to the Jersey Shore this past weekend with the Waags.....

......our girl can not get enough of the sand.....she loves it!.....

.....she takes after our godchild, Ella.....she loves the sand and the water and couldn't say thank you enough to her Mommy and Daddy for bringing her to the beach.....

......after our Daddy got the girls used to the outdoor shower, all I heard for the next 20 minutes was, Maaaheeee, I need some privacy, please.....

.....ok, wish granted......

....kind of.....

......summer weekends with friends are intoxicating....you can't get enough of the sunblock covered babes.....you wash it off, but you still smell summer when you cuddle them close....the days are long and the laughs are hearty....I am in summer overdose mode, just as I know I was when spring arrived a few months ago and just as I know I will be when the first indian summer arrives this fall.....

.......from my perspective, though, it's hard to not find joy and happiness when the weather is warm, the friends are dear and the bubbles float higher than your eye can see them before they pop......

......and we have many more of these summer days and nights to come....

.....it's still only June....

.....so here's to many more bongo singing, bubble poppin', hot and sticky days.....