Summertime Rolls...

 We wind down this week after a busy few months!  A week at "Gammy/Gampy Camp"...a week long visit from cousin Cate...a week long visit with Auntie and Ellie...and a week long camping trip to"The Notch".  Now the "fun" begins as we prepare for school.  Fiona begins with three half days of orientation (9/1-9/3) with her first academic day 9/8.  As of now her school year will be entirely virtual. Ethan and I will begin actual learning on the 8th as well.  None of us are overly excited to start school...but I hope we can feel more inspired as the date approaches.

The Game of "Life"

Violet the bunny provides hours of fun.

Roasting marshmallows at "Gammy/Gampy Camp"

The view from the top of Mount Jackson.  Our first 4000 footer!

Bounce house break.

She fearlessly catches these guys!

Ethan and Cate.

Cathy going in ahead of Ethan to take the plunge.

Giving Cate some widdling lessons.

We did these ourselves!

Our reflection in a light bulb at Starbucks.

Playing our version of volleyball while getting cooled off by the giant demigorgon from Cathy.

The cousins!

Our first drive-in movie!

Picnic at audobahn with Meagan and Ellie.

This mama turkey had about 4 babies in tow.

Hike with friends while camping in N.H.

We went right under these railroad trellises.

Cullen was a trooper!

This was our walk up Mt. Jackson.  SOOOOOO steep.

These birds ate from the kids hands at about 2000 feet into our climb.

Fiona boogie boarding with Gampy.

Waiting for the perfect wave.

Ice cream with the grandparents.

All Settled

Wow.  A lot of effort and we are now able to relax.  Over the last two weeks we have been packing and meandering our way over to the new/old house.  This gradual moving technique truly paid off.  Most boxes were unpacked before big pieces arrived, which made the actual move day a lot less overwhelming.  Despite all the chaos involved with a move we have managed to play and enjoy summer.  A trip to my sisters house on the Cape was a much needed break the weekend before we switched houses.  She has the most stunning swimming pond at the end of her street!  Cullen had his first attempt at a swim, his first accent up stairs unassisted and his first playdate with another of his own kind!
Ethan has been able to continue weekly baseball lessons with his coach (Bowdoin College pitching coach).  He looks forward to that one hour every week!  The new yard has also been set up to resemble a baseball training facility...
Kids head off to "Gammy/Gampy" camp next week.  Not sure what I will do with myself...

This was across the street from Ethan's ball practice.

Figured I would take a walk while they played.

With coach.

Not exactly Carnegie Hall...

We tried to make her virtual awards night as special as possible.

Bike ride with my boy.

Ethan took this shot.

Fiona's night time doodle.

Theo, with attitude.

Still working from the box of sparklers I bought last year!

What?  Who are those young folks?
Yup.  That's our senior prom photo.

All cozy at aunties.

Look at this water!  Warm too!

Photo bombed by Uncle Jason.

Accidental photo bomb by Auntie.

This lovely storm just added a few minutes to our ride home.

Cullen all excited to get to the new house.

Hard to believe we were in this space for two years.

Ethan thinks he's going to take over my chore.

I've been wanting a clothes line FOREVER!

First cooked meal in new place!

This is along the front yard fence.

Getting there...

This is our new beach.

Great place for swimming or skipping rocks.

Best smell ever.

A whole wall of high bush blueberries in the back yard!

Pick.  Bake.  Eat.