what I did on my summer vacation

OK.  I think I will just do this kind of randomly because if I take the time to get creative about posting, it'll be December and time to travel back to NY again before you see our summer break photos.

We got there on Saturday June 22nd early enough for some tire swing and scooter play time.

 OK.  Here is blurry scooter photo number one.

 How about trying to capture motion shot number two?  These are B.C.    before cast ... more to follow on that soon.

On Sunday, Carl couldn't wait to get to the zipline.  In NC, one of their classmates broke his wrist on his zipline so we had joked talked about how we did not want to learn how they put casts on in NYS.

 Gretchen had never tried the zipline before.  She always chickened out and even tried to do that today, but we pretty much made her try this morning.  Well, you can see from her face how that went.  Thank goodness she loved it and got to do it several times before she broke her elbow.

 This is the only picture we have of Claire with either one of the kids....

Cousins!!   Carl is as tall as Katy now.  

A quick dip in Uncle Kenny's pool to cool off.

 This is how she is the most happy.  Carl, too.  They love swimming!  maybe when we move the next time, we'll get a pool.

 He thought he was really something because I let him forego his rash guard swim shirt in NY.  Y'allsez sun just is not as intense as ours is.  Here, 5 minutes outside without it and you would see red on him!

 

After they cooled down in the pool, we headed over to Grandma's to visit with her, Aunt Kay & Ryan.  The kids enjoyed some time on the playground behind Grandma's house.

Back to Uncle Kenny's pool..... with Uncle Kenny in it!  2 happy kids - just add water!!!

 Trying to get the three of them to be serious enough for even one photo was impossible.

 I love this shot.  I am telling you, they are part fish.

 Grab towel in the local school colors!

 We bailed on the kids and took advantage of the free Grammie Babysitting after they got out of the pool.  we got to go to the Indian restaurant we like in town.  So good!  Well, the night before had been a Super Moon and I did not take any photos of it.  So, as we drove home from dinner, the moon rose up - all orange and big and calling to me.  So, we got back toMom's, grabbed the camera and tripod and headed back out to chase down the moon where I could see it with no power lines.  I wanted the Albany skyline, but it wasn't silhouetted right where we were.  So, I settled for this shot with trees for scale.  Not very good.

 But - what was cool is that the field I had Lew pull over in was filled with lightning bugs!!!  Tons of them!  Now, I know nothing about shooting fire flies, but I gave it a shot.  I wish I did know a little more about how to go about it so I could have gotten something more than this.  But, still - with a long exposure, look how many blinks you can see!!

That was only 2 days!!  Phew.  Well, you know there are more to come....   and, as always... after you read the post, click on the photos to make them bigger and crisper.  I wish they would post as crisp in the actual blog post as they really are.

it rained today

Wow, did it rain.  The pond came almost up to the deck and the ceiling in the living room leaked again.

I did let the kids go out and play in the big puddle out front for a while.  I don't let them play out back when the pond comes into the yard because that is just gross.  Who knows what bacteria is in there.  I could just remind Carl about the fish poop.  (vacation reference, you have to hear about that later when I do vacation photos and stories)

So, here are a couple shots from today's rainy activities!

She has a long sleeved shirt on, then a bread bag on her arm, then this rain coat.  the cast stayed perfectly dry - although her hand got very sweaty.

 Here is the back yard.  You can't see them - but my azalea bushes are under water back there somewhere!

Once back inside, we made dough to make soft pretzels and then while that was rising, they made some forts in the formal living room.  Gretchen wanted to sleep in hers, but we talked her into rebuilding it in our bedroom and sleeping on the floor at the foot of the bed.

The pretzels came out great!!  It was a pretty good rainy day for us!  Well, aside from the leaking ceiling.

mmm... cake

I guess I'll add pictures to this post.   It is currently 6:04 pm and Lew is not yet home from work.  Guessing he did not leave on time.  So, to hold you over until dinner.....

mmm... cake!!!  You know it is going to be good when I pull out the "Jill's chocolate cake" pan!!!   Oh yeah.   Now, technically, it is my dear friend Earline's recipe, but I claimed it as my own about 20 years ago.  Plus, it is very very very close (might even be identical) to the Grandma McClain's recipe many of you know.

I'll be back later with more on the day's celebration!!!

OK....

the cake - frosted and decorated by the kids

dinner....  some squash and steak on the grill with french fries also.  No, we did not have 5 other people join us for dinner nor did we finish all that ourselves.  Leftovers for lunches.  

 quick picture while cooking - you can see some grill smoke on the left as you look at the picture

It was at this point that Lew declared he had too much cat hair on his shirt and wouldn't try to pose with the kids like I was trying to set up.  I don't think Gretchen left the ground even though it looks like she may have.

 After dinner, cards first...

 then a present....

 light the candles...

 ready to sing...

 make a wish...    (look at Gretchen)

 They were going to eat the cake right out of the pan.

 but decided to use the special birthday plate instead

 plain vanilla ice cream for the boy who doesn't like chocolate

Happy Birthday, Daddy!  We love you!!!

Happy Birthday, Lindy!

Yes - another 7/11 birthday!!!    Hope you see this, Lindy!  Happy Birthday!  We love you!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today is Lew's birthday!!  Carl is super excited because he learned daddy's birthday meal is steak and french fries.  And, Gretchen will help me make a chocolate cake!    She and I made cookies today, but that won't stop us from making a cake and sampling the batter.

Just one picture for now.  You can see Gretchen's cast.  I really need to tell you the story of her broken elbow, but I just don't have time to sit and play around on the computer.  It is summer vacation you know.  And, even though we can't go to the beach or water park with this cast, we are still keeping busy.

Happy Birthday, USA!

 Happy Fourth of July from all of us!

I just wanted a fast picture from today to post.  As you can see, Gretchen is wearing a cast on her broken elbow (post for later) and so we are staying inside a lot so her arm doesn't get hot and sweaty and then itchy.      

Well, this is what I got when I asked for "just one quick shot".....

 then jumping.....

 OK, one calmed down, but the other one still has extra energy.....

OK.  Here you go!  Happy Fourth of July!!!

Wanna see them from our June 29th Memorial Day?  Yes, I know Memorial Day was back on May 27th, but in our hometown, it rained that day.  So, they held some of the activities like the races, but postponed the parade.  Turns out, they rescheduled it for 6/29 and we were visiting NY that week.  We were able to attend with Mom and Lew's mother.

This was the most patriotic candy the parade marchers threw at the kids.  

more vacation photos and stories to come later.... right now, I have a family barbecue to cook and enjoy!  Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Canada Day!