Happy Birthday Bupka!

Notice the unusual "melon cake"..........
Julia was helping to blow out the candles --- very thoughtful........
Julia and Bupka don't look anything alike, do they? LOL

We made the trip down to RI to celebrate my mother's (aka "Bupka") birthday on Monday. It was a long trip for a work day, but we had a good time. The cakes were interesting --- regular cake for most of us, and a very creative "melon" cake for my mom and her friend Sarah, who are on a special diet.

Growing Up

Ben Boarding the Plane for Atlanta
Dinner on the Way Home from Atlanta -- sushi-- yum!!!
Ben with his brand new friend at campe
Saying goodbye to mom (at music camp)
With his buddy at music camp on the very first day!

It seems like yesterday that Ben was in preschool and we were worrying about things like temper tantrum and potty training and would-he-ever-talk...... Now he is becoming quite the independent young man! This summer he has gotten his drivers' license, flown to Atlanta BY HIMSELF (!), driven home with Frieda, and gone away for a week to Berk*shire Hills M*usic Academy to study piano and voice. Big steps for a kid who was never supposed to be able to speak!!! I am very proud of all he has accomplished.

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!

Organic Farm Days

We joined Stearns Farm --- an organic community farm in Framingham. As members, we have to work a minimum of 12 hours during the season, and in return we get to pick up whatever is being harvested each week. This was our first pickup day -- last Friday. Pics are of Julia picking (and eating) strawberries, and playing on the swings at the farm........