Fiona is 18. Fiona is 18. Fiona is 18. Doesn't matter how many times I say it, it still seems unreal. No big birthday party. Just her choice of dinner (steak and mashed potatoes) and dessert (ice cream sundaes), then presents. Her BIG day fell on a Tuesday, so she had school. Meh.
Prior to her celebration (and mine and Scott's) we did some exploring this summer. We all took a day together to go to a new beach and then on to Providence, RI. It's only 30 minutes away...and a really beautiful little city. Scott has been super busy with work, so a few adventures just the kids and I went on. The three of us went to Otis, MA on our annual vacation with my parents and sisters family. Mom and Dad managed to find an amazing space for all of us again! Right on a lake, with a large yard for badminton. We took a trip to the Norman Rockwell museum, and a nice hike...plus plenty of time to relax by the water and fish or paddle board...or kayak.
Then it was time to face what we had all been dreading...the first day of school in a new town. It wasn't awesome, but it wasn't a total disaster. Both kids have since recovered and made friends. Progress reports just came out and both got great comments from teachers and have fabulous grades. That's all I can ask.
We have been on college tours and have many yet to go on. Let's see, we've toured : Montserrat, Maine College of Art, Mass Art, UMASS Dartmouth and Rhode Island School of Design. We are scheduled for UMASS Boston and UMASS Amherst. Phew!
There have been some very warm days since school began. This allowed us to go to the beach and break in Scott's new surfboard and to play on the boogie boards (my favorite activity!).
Lil and her girls were here this past week for a few nights. They are moving to New Zealand, so not sure when we will all be together again. Glad we have a nice space for people to stay. Fiona has a friend here, as I write, for the entire holiday weekend.
Hopefully the next time I update the blog Fiona will have completed or at least be near completion on college applications.
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| Providence. Good times. |
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I just loved the door knocker and bright yellow door!
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| Scott with his "mini-me". |
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| The place in Otis was awesome. |
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| View from back deck. |
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| Cousins |
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| Uncle Jason doing what he loves. |
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| Ethan giving it a try. |
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| Norman Rockwell museum |
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| Met him on our hike. |
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| There were so many salamanders! |
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| Probably deadly to eat. |
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| Fiona's new glasses |
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| Always remember to practice "gratitud". It's like gratitude..but better somehow. (This was on the kleenex box) |
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| Mini golf. We tried...again. Still hate it. |
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| Batting cages. |
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| This guy visits often. I've named him "City-Kitty Meow-Meow" He's a talker. |
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| HUMUNGOUS antique place near our house. |
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| A fort on a bike ride from our house. |
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| My boy. |
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| Took a day trip to Boston so Fiona could meet up with a friend. Scott tried forcing Ethan to play in the fountains. |
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| First day at new school. Awesome. |
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| Back yard |
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| My birthday wish made reality. Family fire night. |
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| Jason birthday celebration with Meagan, Ellie, Mom and Dad. |
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| Bike ride with Scott. |
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| Theo likes to play in the bookshelves. |
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| Mediocre coffee with my man. Portland, Maine coffee was next level. We're forever ruined. |
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| On the job with Scott. |
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| Birthday pizza! |
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| Theo's happy place. |
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| I got this for Scott to take to work. |
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| His buddies view all day! |
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| Fiona made Scott a wind turbine cake! |
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| Lil and I before the 3-D movie at the Whaling Museum. |
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| A model of a blue wales heart behind me...TO SCALE!! |
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| Lil helped dissect this whale over a decade ago! |
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| Fiona blowing out candle on her birthday. she would not permit a photo... |
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| My garden keeps giving. |
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| Just down the street. |
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| Another Theo happy place. |
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| At RISD they have a library for the artists. They can check out taxidermied specimens and bones just like books! |
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| Fiona was tutoring me on the perfect selfie. |
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| Out to lunch with my 18 year old. |
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| Clear to the bottom at our beach yesterday. |
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| Beach combing with Ethan. |
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| Our found treasures. |
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| Lil's kids Olive and Nell on our trip to the zoo. |
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| A day with two friends! How awesome is that? |
