So. Much. Fun. (Photo dump)

I finally figured out how to get pictures off my new phone (which actually seems to take better pics than my camera) so here are the first batch.  We sure have been busy!

 

Watching the Memorial Day Parade

Brad’s birthday cake

 

hanging at Grandpa’s

 

moose we say going over that gap on the way to my work CAPE TRIP! (Best work trip ever—well probably only—amazing, great, and all I am allowed to say is, “it was beautiful weather and we had a lovely time.”  I was drilled on this response.)

Watching GG’s (great-grandmom Selma) plane come in, with grandpa bob when she visited in mid-June

enjoying our visit to Ben and Jerry’s

 

the new bridge in progress!

Tie-dye fun at Megan’s birthday party

picking strawberries in Shoreham

 

can you imagine a more beautiful place to pick?

working at the library (I am savoring these last months before everything goes electronic)

Admiring Debbie and Bill’s amazing garden at a party they had when Jen and Sophia were here visiting

 

Joseph and Sophia admire the gardens

And try to find Waldo

 

a WONDERFUL day at the river at Jenn’s old house with her whole family as well as Alice and her baby bump

 

visiting Dad at work

kid-napping our beloved Isabelle

 

look at that STYLE

 

camping—early morning dip in our pj’s with the lake to ourselves

treasures

hiking

Falls of Lana trail (part of Branbury State Park where we camp)-an enchanted world

eating

and very tired out

Lots more pics to come!  And I tried making them bigger as requested . . .

 

Summer Fun 2011:

I started this list last summer and thought it would be fun to look at again this year.  So, I updated and reflected on all the fun we have already had and the things I would like to do in these (hate to say it) end-of-summer days.

X-camp at Branbury   

__-bake bread

X-July 4th parade and festivities

__-family parties—including Nora’s 85th

  __-try fishing

__-make a book with J

__-see a Circus

__-start losing weight instead of gaining it

XXXX-SWIM SWIM SWIM (lake, river, pool, pond; anywhere and everywhere; as much as possible)

X-swim lessons for J

__-a class for me? sewing?

X-Addison County Field Days

__-make something out of wood 

X-summer soccer for J

__-new, healthy foods

X-pick strawberries, raspberries, and blue berries

X-BEACH!!!!! (I wrote this at the beach actually ;-)

__-put food by—freeze and can fruit and veggies

X-veggie garden

__-ORGANIZE HOUSE!!

X-donate lots ’o stuff

X-hike (here behind our house and other places)

__-read my own books

X-festival-on-the-green

X-boat ride

X-Selma visit

__-Visit museums (Shelburne, Rokeby, Echo)

__-Invite more people over here

__-crafty projects

__-less TV (which means ending my habit of turning the TV on for J while I take my shower . . . yikes)

__-go to a baseball game 

X-hang out with J and friends at his school

__ -visit state parks and historic sites

X-stay home and do “nothing”

X-girls night out

__-Echo lake?

X-craft nights with my crafty ladies

X-catch up with old friends

X-plant some flowers 

__-ride a horse

__- PROJECTS with J: crafts, learning, nature . . .

X-read lots with J, and visit the library every week

When I grow up can I be Santa? And more overheard:

• J: How old do I have to be to drive a monster truck?
• J: I don’t want to die—how do I live forever?  How do I live to infinity?
• (Grandpa) Bob: You know you have to get dressed up for a funeral, right? Joseph: Of course; I am going to wear my pirate outfit.
• J: When is Daddy gonna go to college?
• J: When I grow up can I be Santa?  How does Santa give presents to EVERYONE? How does he know what to give everyone?  When I am Santa, I will make it Christmas now!
• J: I want to grow a baby.  Me: Umm . . . you can’t grow a baby Joseph, only women can.  Joseph: Why not?  Me: Ummmm, only women can grow babies.  Further pestering.  I have debated getting the “birds and the bee’s” books, but he seems a little young . . .     
• J:  I want to be a magician!  I can juggle! (meaning throw one ball in air and sometimes catch it)
• J: What happens to your brain when you die?
• J: Was I at your 13th birthday? Me: No, you weren’t born. Joseph:  Was I a seed?  (We actually talk about age all. the. time.  He is always asking how old everyone is and if they are older or younger than him, or older or younger then us, or how old he was when something happened etc. . . And for the time being he really believes he was a seed in my tummy.)
• J: Did you poop in your diapers when you were a baby? 
• J: I want a baby. . . a baby sister . . . named Isabelle! (by which he means, he wants friend Isabelle as a sister :-)
• We talk about towns and other geography type trivia ALL THE TIME (and I barely encourage it).  These are the kinds of questions I hear constantly: What town are we in?  Where is the green sign?  What is the speed limit?  What town does ___ live in?  We live in New England.  Where is China? Africa? The North Pole? Minnesota? How far away is ___? Can we go to ______?
• J: Pass that car!!  Please, please go faster than that car!  (Then we taught him about the dotted and solid lines).

And so much more.  (Most of the time) I love our discussions and learning what he is thinking!

For Adam

     
                  recently a friend passed away.  here are my thoughts.  

Adam,

You really were a special person, a person whose candle burned brighter than most.  Everyone who knew you; loved you. Since you’ve passed away I’ve remembered most your friendly handshakes and tight hugs.  Your confident stride.  Jokes and big laughs.  Always Cullen in one arm and Finn in hand.  The “Lil’ Kickers Summer Soccer” you planned, organized, and executed with 55 families on your email list.  Lil’ Kickers was completely your element.  Your boys and 30 more, parents and siblings in tow, all being physical and fun on the soccer field.  “Open Gym” that you basically organized, always pulling out all the tumbling equipment and basketballs when you arrived.  How you greeted each child with some funny joke or tickle.  Even my Joseph.  Usually you swopped all solid 50 pounds of Joseph up in your arms and over your head.  I don’t think there was an Open Gym that Joseph and a half dozen other preschoolers didn’t pile on top of you for a ruckus wrestle.  Yet, somehow you miraculously kept it under control and an eye on Cullen.  Sometimes I would be wary as you and Joseph got crazy, but you always told me not to worry.  You could control his wild energy better then most anyone.  And, of course the bear caves you made! How can there be an Open Gym without you?  A playgroup? Soccer?  If there was a problem, you solved it.  Something to be done, you did it.  A new person, you welcomed them.  A shy child, you hugged them.     If some needed a ride, you volunteered right away.  If someone was going though hard times, you asked and listened and then invited the children over.  Your offers were often so generous I didn’t really believe you, but they were sincere.  There was Finn and Cullen’s combined 3 and 1 year old birthday party where you invited absolutely everyone at playgroup, all the neighbor kids, and more.  Your house overflowed and it was a zoo, but so. much. fun.  A big party, for the kids, just your way (including a large spread of many healthy snacks and your favorite carrot cake muffins that you lovingly prepared).  I remember how you walked in the room, all energy and smiles, and all the kids swarmed you.  How you taught your boys to call me “Mrs. Ruth.”  How you cooked muffins or applesauce or something healthy and yummy even at spontaneous play dates, with all the kids helping of course. 

Anyone who didn’t know you will not think this could not all be true, that it must be exaggerated, but all who knew you would say the same thing.  Since your death I have often thought to myself, I should do better, be kinder, more generous, more lighthearted, more understanding and happy, as Adam would have been.  I knew we were lucky to have you at the heart of our small, tight community, but I didn’t say it enough.  I hope you knew even half of how loved and appreciated you were.  I think we are all still in shock that you are gone and mourn above all that your boys and Caitlin must live life now without you.  However, you chose Caitlin because she is your equal in kindness, generosity, and loving.  Watching her with Finn and Cullen these sad days I see that they will be OK.

You still endure for me though, Adam, and for all who knew and loved you, as an example and inspiration of how to really live life.

Ruth

Camping (part 1)

We spent last week camping at Branbury (a state park about 1/2 and hour from our house on Lake Dunmore).  This is one of our very favorite summer traditions and this was probably the best trip so far.  It was by far the best weather we have ever had.  Perhaps a little on the hot side, but that’s what the lake is for!  We swam 4-5 times a day and sometimes stayed in for hours.  We played games and cooked and told stories.  We ate ice cream and went for hikes.  We played in the woods and played ball.  We made s’mores.  And we swam A LOT.  Perfect life for me!

 

Campsite!

 

badminton was a big hit

 

eating ribs

 

early evening at the beach is my favorite time (this is about 500 ft or so from our campsite)

cooking breakfast (or stretching)

heading back to the lake!

every year I bring a big container of trail mix.  This year the squirrels just couldn’t leave it alone.  First it was in a plastic bag and they ate through that.  Then I made some more and put it in tupperwear, in a plastic tote, with a rock on top of it.  And this is how I found it. 

 

In previous years we have rented paddle boats, but this year we stepped it up and rented canoes! It took awhile to get the steering down, but we finally did, and Joseph LOVED it!  A couple years and I can relax while he does all the work ;-)

 

We took our canoes to a small island in Lake Dunmore and explored and swam there.  My little pirate thought this was pretty great, as did we all.

 

So much fun!  (I have more pics on my phone, but haven’t figure out how to get them onto the computer yet.) 

Hope everyone is getting outside and enjoying summer!

Today

I know I am super behind on posting here—we have been having lots of fun, busy with work and play (the week before last I deemed my “busiest week ever,” but it probably wasn’t and whatever the case; we made it through), plus I am definitely out of love with my camera (perhaps a new one soon . . .) and not sure about how much to keep putting into this blog.  ANYWAYS, here are some pics from today representative of our very favorite things about summer:  

 

we spent some time in the garden this morning

and when he was tired of that Joseph spent sometime on his bike

 

then we headed to the beach for the rest of the day—we met some friends and then Joseph found a buddy from school and they were inseparable for the rest of the day

If you know me, you know I love water, and I am so enjoying the fact that Joseph is loving the water as much as me right now.  We spend most of our time (when I am not working) seeking out swimming holes and so far have enjoyed a lake, pond, river, and a few pools ;-)  Every time Joseph swims he seems to learn so much.  Just about a month ago he wouldn’t go under water.  I basically made a game of yanking him under and he realized it wasn’t so bad.  As of today he will show anyone how he can “swim underwater.”  Not really swimming, but so cute.

This was a pretty typical non-work day for us ( I usually work three days a week in the summer).   I am planning on going through more photos and posting about our adventures so far this summer and we have plenty more to come.  Next week is CAMPING!  Happy summer y’all!

Catching up . . .

 

We’ve been busy

camping with lots of friends*visiting the library*projects*work*watching the storms come in*school*gymnastic class*Dad’s 30th bday*family picnics*finding new pets (worms and salamanders)*flying kites*hitting home runs ie. playing baseball every.single.day*finding bird nests, with eggs and now babies*doing tricks on the swings*rhyming everything all the time*playing in mud*painting*screaming our heads off sometimes (ok, Brad and don’t really scream but sometimes we feel like it and J is still perfectly capable of making a huge, long, extremely trying ruckus)*making projects*watching the birds (hummingbirds love my flowers on the porch)*reading adventures—just finished Stuart Little*trying to be more clean, organized, and even fold clothes*birthday parties and more birthday parties*staying home for fun days doing “nothing”*having friends over*playing at the park*collecting flowers*finding treasure*raising a new calf and more chicks (hatched at J’s school)*working on the house*looking at other houses*cooking together (J assembled an entire lasagna completely by himself the other day)*singing silly songs*loving Rocky and Bullwinkle*watching a parade*planting*yard saling*playing on the tractor*playing games, games, and more games*weekly family dates at The Halfway House*cake making*holding hands before each meal (Joseph enforced)*and now mom is headed to the Cape with work and J has adventures with Daddy and two of his Grandpa's planned for the weekend . . .

Baby Booties!

Last month I went through a baby booty knitting obsession.  These are so quick and fun!  They challenge me just enough, but not as much as the sweater I am knitting for myself (that’s another story . . . it’s been in the basket untouched for over a month with only one sleeve left to do . . .).  These girly ones I gave to a friend who helps me an unbelievable amount at playgroup and recently welcomed a little girl named Mitzi!  The pattern is free on Ravelry.com (THE site for the knitting obsessed); just let me know if you want more info.

I have a TON of pictures I am behind on posting . . . soon I hope . . . but we have been so busy having fun!