Nana Visit - Revisited

When Nana visited about a month ago, we did some really fun things. We made apple crisp and visited an awesome orchard. We also took some time to visit Plymouth, MA and see the (really unimpressive) Plymouth Rock while trying to kill some time to allow Nana to visit with Great Aunt Lois.

It ended with a trip to the candy store, so no one in the family was really complaining.

Steve trying to explain the significance of the rock

Candy!

Summer Revisted - Part 1

I must admit that I was neglecting the blog a bit as I tried to soak in the last few weeks of summer before things got crazy with classes, Lucy's soccer, Steve's football, etc.

While I was away we did some fun things including going to an orchard in Massachusetts. There was a train to ride around with the kids, a playground, a small petting zoo, a bouncy house, a snack bar, and a boatload of apples, peaches, and other fruit. The pictures are below. It was a fun trip, and I bet it's a great (and incredibly) busy place to be in the fall.

There was a time ...

There was a time that I used to care about what my children wore. I still draw the line at wearing furry boots in humid 98 degree weather, but I have to pick my battles.

You want to wear leggings when it is 85 degrees? Go for it.

You want to wear stripes and floral patterns? Knock yourself out.

That sassy "I do what I want" face? I'll be honest, I could live without it.

Football

Football season is here. That means that the girls and I will spend our Saturdays traveling around the area to the fields to watch some football, eat some snacks, play with guys, and then look as cute possible so that team parents will give us (Lucy and Caroline) some of the food they bring for the boys.

This past weekend Steve's team had their first scrimmage. The ladies were very happy to begin the morning with a Dunkin Donuts breakfast on the way to the field.

Football equipment is a great jungle gym.

Eating cookies and gatorade meant for the players

Post scrimmage football practice being had in our kitchen.
Totally normal.

Reunion Part 2

Here are a few more pictures of our visit with the Courtneys that were sitting on my phone.

Some playground fun:

Cooling off inside with some Guess Who:

Frozen yogurt to finish the day:

Reunion!

Two years ago, Steve and I moved from boarding school to day school. It was a difficult transition in many respects (new daycare for the girls, new house, new jobs, lots of stress), but overall, Steve and I couldn't be happier with our current situation.

If I had to pick the thing that I miss most about our boarding school days, it would absolutely be the people that we lived and worked with. Keeping in touch from a distance can be difficult. But there are a few families that we have always seen even when miles and professional duties keep us apart.

One example is the Courtney family. They left boarding school a year before we did, but we have always managed to see each other at least once a year. Here are a few pics from previous years:

December '08: waiting to see Santa

St. Paddy's Day '09 

May '11 (?): And then there were 4

July '12: Dazed and Confused 

We headed up to their new place last week and had a great time. It continues to amaze me that even though the kids go a full year without seeing each other that they still manage to play happily.

These two playing "football" was hilarious

So sad. That's what you get for ignoring my
calls and running into a construction site.

Time out to regroup and eat delicious granola bars.

Is there anything more fun than a water fountain?

Strike a pose.

Lucy tried to throw herself a pity party and Fitz and Pierce
wouldn't hear of it. 

Group shot attempt #1

Lucy and Fitz had a race around the track.
It was fairly impressive.

Pierce is skeptical of me and my camera

Group Attempt #2

Group Attempt #3: This is as good as it's going to get, people.

Thanks for an awesome visit, Courtney Family!

Apple Crisp

Nana is here! Woohoo! We have been busy traveling to see relatives the past few days but we are now back home. Nana has been taking the girls while Steve and I work on the roof, paint ceilings and trim, and work in the garden. It has been a very productive two days.

Yesterday Nana took the girls to Target. Lucy had asked a million times to go with Nana. I wonder why ...

Anyway, Nana came back with the girls who had a yummy lunch in their bellies and Barbies in their hands. While Lucy took both Barbies and hid upstairs to play with them by herself, Caroline stayed downstairs and made apple crisp with Nana. I served as the paparazzi: