More Beach Pics!

Good Harbor Beach -- a great afternoon!

We went to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester/Rockport, MA this past Saturday afternoon. We arrived at about 4:00, after the big crowds had left. What a beautiful beach!! And great waves!! My two younger kids are part fish, I think, and we had a fantastic time in the surf. It was a little cold for Ben, so he came in for just a little while. Frieda took the pictures, so I am even in a couple of them. Our friend Andey joined us for a while too, and it was her first time swimming in the Atlantic (even though she has lived here for 14 years!) A very fun afternoon!

92 Years Old!

My grandmother turned 92 last weekend. Amazing! She still lives by herself, drives (!), plays cards with her "girlfriends" every week, volunteers at the thrift shop at her church, and likes to help "the old people" there (many of whom are in their 70s!). She has slowed down, and has some Parkinson's, but she is pretty gosh-darn sharp! I hope I have some of her genes for health and longevity.

Here she is with four of her five great-grandchildren --- Ben is the one missing.

Camping Pictures!

The Kids' tent
Toby in a mud puddle
Ben and Julia on the LONG hike...
Tim and the tame ducks
Tim and Julia

Julia and Annie
Julia and Annie....
Toby -- too tired to lift his head....
Making Ice Cream!
Dirty Feet Contest!

We went camping last weekend in New Hampshire at Pillsbury State Park. Wilderness camping of sorts --- no fluch toilets, no showers, "hike in" to our campsite, and 15 minute hike for water. It was pretty funny to see us hiking in to our site with fully inflated air mattresses balanced on our heads (no need to be uncomfortable just because you are in the woods!)

I think the dogs had the best time. Toby discovered he loves napping in mud, which was okay because the dogs slept in the tent with the kids......

Highlights of the trip included Frieda's breakfast burritos every morning, making ice cream with the crazy "ice cream making ball", taking what we thought was a 3-mile hike (turned out to be closer to 6 miles!), catching frogs at the pond, a "dirty feet contest" (Julia won), tame ducks at Lake Sunapee, and meeting some other really nice kids to play with............

We are looking forward to camping again soon. Next trip is in August and we are going to Beartown State Park in Western Massachusetts. Hooray!