School starts on the 18th (just over two weeks away, can you believe it?) and the weather all season has been so drippy, cold, cloudy and un-summery that it hardly feels as if we’re giving much up by letting August go without a fight.

However, about this time every year we start to evaluate how our summer–was it fun? Quiet? Thrilling? How does it compare to previous years and despite our dismal failure to get any kind of heat the kids have universally agreed that this year’s summer has been one of the best.

I’ve given it some thought and I think it’s because they’ve done so many new things. Grace got her first ride in a small airplane (a Super Cub to be exact) and she had her first real job, working for the city in their youth employment program where the teens form a chain gang, improving parks and trails around town. But . . . some days, instead of working in the mud, they get paid to ride the train, go rafting, go hiking and do rope courses–all in the beauty of Alaska. Yea, I know what you’re thinking. Nice work if you can get it.

So in between building a rain garden at Westchester Lagoon she’s been all over the area having fun and enjoying the outdoors then collecting her check at the end of the week. For the final week they’ve set up a mentor program for each kid so that Grace gets to be mentored at Fire Island Bakery to learn about the trade. I think I’d like to get a job at parks and rec then hang out at a bakery all week.

Besides Grace’s adventures, Spencer had his first small airplane ride as well where he went pike fishing at Alexander lake and then all of the kids began taking archery lessons. Thanks to our wonderful local Northwest Archers club which offered free archery classes, every Saturday these past two months we’ve been down at Kincaid park shooting and playing Robin Hood.

They provide the equipment, range and instruction then it’s open to anyone wanting to shoot and I was surprised how much the kids loved it. I thought they’d go once then get it all out of their system but every Saturday they wake up, wanting to know if we’re going to archery class. At first I was content to let them do all the shooting but after being openly mocked and called chicken by the guys running the show I decided to step up and show them what I’d got. Which, turns out, isn’t much. But that’s not the point. The point is, it was fun to be trying something new.

I’ve played the piano since I was in first grade but about six months ago the people at church got this bright idea. Since our congregation has many people who know how to play the piano but few who know how to play the organ (which is, of course, the accompaniment of choice at church) they arranged for the one person who knows how to play the organ to give the pianists organ lessons.

I’ll tell you right now I wasn’t thrilled with the idea because you know what happens the minute you know how to play the organ? You’re playing the organ. I prefer to just go to church and sing very poorly, thank you very much. But it took all of one lesson for me to get into it–we learned about the stops and manuals, the diapason and presets and everything in between and once I finally gathered my courage and tried playing an actual instrument where you use both hands and both feet at the same time I got a huge kick out of it.

Soon I was going over to the church to practice the mornings and I’d secretly turn up the volume to the maximum then push all the stops and let her rip. And let me tell you–you haven’t heard Rock of Ages until you’ve heard it at 120 decibels.

My point is, as I close up this long and rambling sad excuse for a post: when was the last time you tried something new? I’m a creature of habit and order and regimen but stepping out of the comfort zone and trying something new has made all the difference in how my summer has been. The only question now is what should I try next?

P.S. Don’t let those pictures with their tiny glint of sunlight fool you–it really has been the rainiest, drippiest summer I can remember–I’m sure they’re just anomalies and that was the only ray of light we’ve seen in three months. I’m sure of it.

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Nowadays parents search baby names everywhere. It seems that practically everything can become a baby name. Here you can find the list of city inspired baby names.

• Alexandria
• Aurora
• Austin
• Boston
• Chandler
• Charlotte
• Dallas
• Dayton
• Elizabeth
• Eugene
• Gilbert
• Houston
• Irving
• Jackson
• Lincoln
• Madison
• Norman
• Orlando
• Phoenix
• Savannah
• Warren

Today the internet is full of names that didn’t exist several years ago. Web-sites about bad baby names are extremely popular. But why are people so crazy about  this kind of names? Are we so interested in names? Why actually do we care so much about other peoples’ baby name choices?

Nobody knows where phenomenon of bad baby names comes from.  However there has never been a better time for you if you choose traditional baby names.

Here are some examples of bad baby names:  Pickle Parker, Church  Bell, Ambyre, Jaylinn, Makenzee, Chicken Lamb, Jordynn, Maricatherine, Ima Payn,  Butcher Baker, Gamble Moore, Candy Cane, Dark White, Magenta Rose, Beetle Bates, Space Buck and so on.

The baby’s names above are a bit complicated and required an imagination to be created. But here are some names that are also considered as bad. However they are quite simple.

But if your name is on this list we apologize. We hope that this article will make some future parents to think twice before giving their child an awkward name.

No doubt that all parents want to choose the perfect name for their babies. However for the parents of twins or multiples it can be more difficult to make the right choice for two, three or more children. Naming one baby is hard enough. But in the case of twins, the parents have got twice the work to do.

In order to help the happy parents of twins, we are ready to offer you a few popular strategies for choosing names.

1. First of all it’s a good idea to use anagrams. For example you can take one name that you like. And then rearrange the letters to make another name.  here are the examples of such names: Abel & Elba, Abelie & Bailee, Amy & May , Alan & Lana, Alfred & Fardel,, Antonia & Ionatan, Ira & Ria ,, Ashley & Elysha.

2. Also you can use such strategy as reversing names. Example – Nadia & Aidan

3. Names beginning with the same letter are a perfect choice! Example: Jacob & Joshua.

4. Moreover you can use names that rhyme or sound the same. It’s a good idea. But you should keep in mind that if the names sound similar, it will be difficult for your babies to learn their names by the sound.

5. Names with the same meaning. Examples: Lucy & Helen – meaning “Light”, Bernard & Brian – meaning “Strong”

6. Eventually, you can choosу the names that have no connection at all. Usually the parents try so hard in finding the right names that they forget that they can choose names that have no connection at all. Following this simple strategy, you can give your twins each a unique identity.

Also you can use the list of popular names for twins. Anyway, it’s your choice and surely you’ll the right one.

The list of twin baby names.

While choosing names for your newborn twins you can use the following list of the twin names. In this list you can find the most popular names in the USA in 2008.

Some unisex names have historically been a boy’s names. But nowadays they are used more often as a girl’s name (example: Robin, Whitney) .

Some names are names for either sex, but you can usually tell which based on the spelling, again think Sidney (boy) and Sydney (girl).

Also there are names that you really can’t guess unless you’re changing the child’s diaper or they have a middle name that is extremely male or female (example:Taylor and Jordan).

You can find unisex names in the list of popular unisex names. We hope you’ll find a name that will suit your baby with the help of this list.

The list of unisex baby names.

If you want to choose an unusual name for your baby the unisex name is quite a good choice. We hope that with the help of this list you’ll make the right choice!

This is the list of the most popular unisex names for babies:

Baby Names Ideas

No doubt that every parent wants to give his child the best things he can. And the name isn’t an exception. Nowadays you can choose the traditional name. Or you can name your baby after the celebrity. Or you can create the name yourself. In this article you’ll find a lot of baby name ideas that I hope will help you in making your choice.

You should always keep a list of “Baby Name Ideas” handy in order to new names as they come to you. So divide this list into several sections. For example it can be: popular, traditional, trendy and family ideas. Also it’s a good idea tomake two separate lists with these categories. One list can be for the first baby name ideas. And the second can be for the middle baby name ideas.

Surely you’ll find trendy baby name ideas from the Hollywood celebrities. They are always the first to name their babies the latest and hottest names. Check out the social security list of baby names for the last several years. There you’ll get some baby name ideas for your popular list.

If you prefer something traditional then you should look to old family names for inspiraton. Do some research on the family tree. Call grandparents, great aunts and uncles and even cousins that might have researched the family tree when doing their own search for baby name ideas. Write down all names and any good stories your relatives might have about the relative that possessed that name.

Another way to find the name is to brainstorm with others.  Sometimes a name that sounded adorable for you might bring up negative responses in others. And don’t forget to ask family and friends for names they can think of.

Surely you can find baby name ideas everywhere. Remember – keep your eyes and ears open. Be aware of names you see in the newspaper or a novel or magazine you are reading. Television is a good source of new baby names ideas too.

Also think about names of people you went to school with but aren’t friends with anymore or simply about people from your past who played a great role in your life. This might give you a name for your baby.

It’s really not a bad idea to navigate to popular Web sites like in order to find baby name generators and name guides.

At last your list is ready. So as the time gets closer to the birth of your baby, choose three – five names that really call to you and your partner. It’s really a good idea to practice saying the names in different situations. Imagine that you are calling your child to dinner, introducing the child to his teachers or hearing the child’s name announced for a reward. And finally, choose the baby name idea that best fits your new baby when he or she arrives.