Family and Friends...and Let's not Forget that BOUNCE-HOUSE!

While staying in Merrimac, the kids requested we visit their old homeschool stomping grounds in Ipswich, Ma.  Friday we took a hike at the Audubon, and even managed to get some of the wild birds to eat from our hands!  As if that weren't enough, parents were kind enough to host a fabulous dinner last week, and invited Uncle Bill, Aunt Melcie, Cathy, Cate, Meagan, Ellie, Joel and Marie.  We all had such fun relaxing, eating delicious homemade treats, and watching the kids play.  Then it was on to our last stop, Meagan's.  We arrived late Friday night.  The bounce house arrived early Saturday morning!  Thankfully the weather cooperated, and it was hot and sunny.  The kids played, HARD, from 7:30 am until after dinner.  PHEW!  Sunday morning Jason took The Three Stooges fishing, and the kids caught some pretty big bass.  Then it was back in the bounce house.  Later in the afternoon Gammy and Gampy and Sandra arrived.  Again we got to enjoy yummy treats, a few rough rounds of Pole-ish (Jason tries to hurt people when he throws the frisbee...just sayin'), and watching the kids play.

Bounce house WITH a water slide = FUN!

Jasons and Rogers.  Not to be confused with Jason Rogers.

Sandra sandwich.

Mom, Dad, and Sandra.  The originals...

With Joel and Marie.

With Uncle Bill and Melcie.

With Cathy and Cate.

Dirty little piggies!

A very dry river makes for lots of lily pads.

He would have gone higher if I was not there.

A hike with my parents.

Chickadee whisperer.

Pure joy for my little birder.

With Gammy and Gampy.

He wasn't happy about this situation, at all.

Not quite sure what Scott has on his hand.

Fishing with Uncle Jason and Ellie.

Boston with Scott, Dinner with Friends...Easy Merrimac summer days....

Tuesday was the day Scott and I set aside to leave the kids with Gammy and Gampy so that we could spend some time in Boston.  We meandered through the Public Gardens, and eventually met up with Cara and Reid for a marvelous dinner at Chang and Myers (in South Boston, I HIGHLY recommend this place).  After our meal we strolled through the Berkley vegetable gardens.  Some seriously impressive city gardening going on in there!  The following day we relaxed with my parents, and found our way to Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport.  We set up chairs and towels, grabbed some good grub, and listened to the concert in the park.

On a short hike with Gammy.

Cara surrounded by veggies!

The end of a fabulous evening with Cara and Reid.

Hike with Gammy.

Fun in Newburyport.

Bouy family shot.

End of Gammy and Gampys driveway.

Headed back up the hill after playing with the baby bunnies.

Don't know how much longer the one hammock will hold all "the cousins".

Back in Boston!

The Brown's, Dr. Shuman, and then off to Brody's House!

We ended our visit in Nahant with pizza at the Brown's.  The kids fell right back into play, never skipping a beat.  It was hard to leave, but we are keeping fingers crossed that Mary and Jim will find some affordable flights.
     Monday allowed us time to relax after our first night at Gammy and Gampys.  We had a nice visit with family, and then headed back south to meet Cathy and Cate for lunch in Salem, from there a quick stop to catch up with Dr. Shuman and meet his new puppy Kai, and from there head to Brody's for some good outdoor play and a delicious meal.  It was so nice to hear Fiona and Ethan's hard laughter that only Brody can seem to elicit.  The kids put their heads together and created a "zip-line" that even worked!

Yay!  The Brown's!

Jumping the fountains in Salem.

Cute Kai...

Look at that face!

Happy visit with Dr. Shuman.

Look at those BIG kids in the tree.

Brody, the engineer.

Ethan, the thinker.

Homemade zipline...success!

Been hanging out since Fiona and Brody were in diapers....

Another great idea?

Smooth Sailing

We did it!  The kids took their first flight, and it was relatively smooth and delay free (well, except for the hour delay to fix an "aesthetic issue").  Scott picked us up at Logan as planned (he was here ahead of time on business).  The first few nights we spent in Nahant at Esther's house.  She kindly set up her ground floor apartment for us with a filled fridge and delicious snacks, as well as hosted two scrumptious breakfasts for each morning we were there.  Our first full day back in MA was a gorgeous beach day at Tudor beach.  We plopped down in "our" spot with the Goodwins and just let the day unfold...  Keri made her yummy baked mac-n-cheese for dinner that night , and it truly felt like coming home.  On Sunday, having already visited with Jean, Mark and Jane we went shell collecting at "Pottery Beach".

Exploring Tudor Beach.

Jean, Mark, Fancy and Sweetie!

Beach day with friends.

My view.  Sitting right where I belong.

Reunited and it feels so good.....

Our gracious friend and host Esther, with our old house in the background!

Our visit with Jane and Bailey.

Our family photo!

Peek-a boo!

On the rock.