Camping trip

Notes for us, for future camping trips:
Pearl Hill State Park (Townsend, MA)
Sites 011 and 012 (we only used one site but needed the other in order to have privacy)
More privacy with these sites than most others but further from bathrooms/showers.
Had to drive to beach/lake, but nice hiking trail with stream right nearby site.

FRIDAY EVENING SETUP

Setting up the tarp with Uncle Matt aka the human burrito game

helping set up the sleeping bags aka wrestling pillow fights

bubbles while waiting for dinner

SATURDAY MORNING HIKE

AFTERNOON BEACH

checkers and peaches while waiting for dinner

SUNDAY BREAKFAST #1

BREAKFAST #2

tradition of eating at a diner on the way home (around brunch time) 

Jeremy took this picture (nice shot!)

Just us girls: Tea Time in Waltham, MA

The Tea Leaf in Waltham, MA 

Continuing our high tea tradition.  Can't wait to have an excuse to go again!

Take that Place in Walpole MA who doesn't allow kids!!  

Mia was better behaved than many adults I have seen in restaurants.

Scones first, followed by finger sandwiches and of course treats!

Just us girls :)

The Lipchocks visit!

Sadly, since we moved to Boston, the Lipchock's are quite further than they used to be (6-7 hours) but over the summer, due to James' research, they were in CT, which was only 2 hours away.  Fortunately, we were able to coordinate a visit. We hope that we can, somehow, return a visit that doesn't have to wait until next summer.

  

The get together was very low key, which was nice:  a lot of kitchen chats and on-the-floor play, but we also made it outside for a walk to the park and then cooled off upon returning with some slip and slide. 

Thank you for visiting Sarah!  

picking blackberries

This guy is hard to catch on camera with all that running!

sitting in her "castle"

snack time

fearless climbers

Slip & slide!

smiles :)

4th er 3rd of July

With Bryce visiting, we wanted to do something special but the boat view of fireworks on the Charles were very expensive and the Pop's show I heard is quite overwhelming and an ENTIRE day event so as a compromise, we decided we'd go to a 3rd of July fireworks display in Needham (right by Matt/Harold's place) and then a 4th of July BBQ in Matt's neighborhood.  But. . . . there were awful thunderstorms on both days and things scheduled for the 4th actually took place on the 3rd and some things scheduled/re-scheduled for the 3rd were actually done earlier to avoid the rainstorm ruining things.  Luckily, the weather held out for our Needham fireworks display and there was only a short trip home afterwards (we slept over Matt's).

Gavin in his festive attire 

I wonder how much longer he'll let me (on occasion) choose his clothes

Dancing to the live band

I love this picture!

Thanks for the glow-in-the-dark earrings Uncle Matt!!

studying on a holiday?!

Here is a Google image of fireworks because I am always too enthralled by the display to take pictures of it.  I loved the fake finale they did, it totally convinced me they were done and then thrilled me that they weren't.

Oh just one more thing I want to remember that there was a girl (3-4 yrs?) sitting on the blanket next to us that screamed at the top of her lungs

 "THAT WAS SO COOL MOMMY" to

e-v-e-r-y   s-i-n-g-l-e    f-i-r-e-w-o-r-k

Very cute and only slightly annoying.

Bryce visits!!

OK so 2 years ago when Matt & I took the kids down to FL on a February break Bryce asked his mom for permission to come visit Dave and I.  Touched, I of course said it was more than okay with us!  Finally, this summer this great idea Bryce had became a reality.  He was such a trooper:  he stayed for 1 week at our place despite no A/C (and it was hot!), he has a cat allergy (and we have 2), and we are vegetarian (and he isn't).  Not a single complaint and he tried foods he not only never tried before but some that he thought he didn't like (guacamole) but ended up liking our version (score Dave!).  This trip included the 4th of July, which I post separately just for ease of finding in the future.  I took the whole week off and we all had a blast:  kayaking, 4th of July, paintball, movies (theater and at home), slip and slide, swimming pool, 5 Wits Espionage, beach, restaurant, ice cream. . . 

Bryce's first glimpse of Mia . . . 

we got home after coming home from the airport and found Mia napping in her stuffed animal basket!

MATT/HAROLD's HOUSE

Randall & Bryce

funny montage of Matt & Bryce

Movie

adult time

KAYAKing the Charles River

Bertucci's

THE BEACH

:) so much fun. . . right Bryce?

Sniff. . . there he goes.

Thanks for visiting us Bryce, we had a great time.

Our door is always open to you and your family!