It’s quarter to nine on Flag Day, my sister’s big 30th birthday. I’m sitting at the table near the stairs sipping hot chocolate because even though it’s summer, it’s chilly here. The front door is open ajar in front of me and Tim is watching TV on the couch nearby. Outside construction workers are making the sounds I woke to, hammering and sawing at two houses under construction. Upstairs it’s pretty quiet. I can faintly hear my mother’s voice talking to someone on the phone and I know that Kris is still snoring away. Jackie is probably with Kenzie and Dad is on the back patio, enjoying his “breakfast”. Everything is relaxed here. It’s the ideal get away for us, where we are at home and far from it at the same time. We munch guiltlessly and walk to Maggie Moo’s for ice cream almost every night. Yesterday we rode bikes on the boardwalk before settling down on the beach sand. It was Mackenzie’s first visit to the beach and she seemed to enjoy it, even from her sheltered spot in the car seat under the umbrella. We played catch with a little football and took a few swings of wiffle ball. Jackie joked that Mackenzie needed to be about four years old so we could run her around, shagging balls. We took pictures of course, lots of them. Years ago my family made fun of my photographs and some of them really became grouches about having photos taken, but not any more. I’m always being asked if I have my camera with me and no one really pitches a fit about a photo, much thanks to Mackenzie. I’ve noticed that whenever I hold up the lens to Dad, if he’s holding his grandchild, he never objects to a photo and will even smile if I ask him (after making a ridiculous face first, of course). It’s really amazing how much Mackenzie is loved. Mom and dad can’t get enough of her. Mom is always worried that Mackenzie is cold and often comments on her cold hands and feet. Dad will always greet the drooling 4-month-old by calling her Bubbles, an affectionate name we’ve adopted for her because she’s always blowing bubbles, and will often let her suck on his finger until it turns red and soft. She likes sucking on fingers. Our family doesn’t like the idea of a pacifiers, they’re gross, and it’s a lot more entertaining to watch Kenzie sucking on her two fingers, giving us the sign to hang loose. She’s got a great smile, too. I can almost always get a good smile from her when I greet her. When Kris is around Jackie says she’s gets all flirty. She smiles and puts her hands to her face and turns in; it’s really adorable. I also can’t get over what a good baby she is. She rarely ever cries or fusses. We can take her just about any where and she’s a perfect angel. Jackie bought a buggie that attaches to her bike and put Kenzie in there in her car seat for when we rode to the beach. She seemed to like it and even fell asleep for part of the ride. Anyway, tonight we're having a big birthday dinner for Jackie. Tell you about it after the fact. As for now, I'm off to enjoy more of these hourless and lazy times on the island. Carrie