365 ~ 2016: Day 213

State Meet - in the rain!  Shaun was getting ready to race his 25y Fly, he ended up getting a "ticket" for improper technique, and a disqualification, but he'll learn from it and work even harder next time.  It's a difficult one to master and he's only been doing it for a short time.  Evan and Shaun did a relay with two other boys and it was so fun to watch them work as a team.  They made some great friends swimming and had such a fun day - even if it was a little wet!  They are troopers, they all swam amazing, David even earned a ribbon for his 50y free heat! It was a great season and we're looking forward to next year!  Hooray Blue Dolphins!

365 ~ 2016: Day 212

Celebrating 10, 8 and 6!

365 ~ 2016: Day 211

A fun week was had at Lego Camp by these guys!  They even learned some stuff!

365 ~ 2016: Day 210

Yes I wanted the pool...but I didn't realized it would tern me into a pest removal specialist!

365 ~ 2016: Day 209

These flowers give me a headache, but they are so gorgeous!

365 ~ 2016: Day 208

David and Evan's first swim meet!  They all did great and I was so proud of Evan, who swam the 25y free and 25y back without stopping!  He has only done this a handful of times in practice!  David won his heat for the 50y free and came in second in his heat for the 50y back!

365 ~ 2016: Day 207

Showing off their creations from their first day at Lego Camp!

365 ~ 2016: Day 206

Reunited and it DOESN'T feel so good...

Only took about 5 minutes before the bickering commenced...and then they were best buds again...and then they were back to bickering!  Such a fun cycle.

365 ~ 2016: Day 205

We got our David back today!  He had such a great time at Summer Sonatina Piano Camp and has already requested to go back again next year (and even asked if he could stay for TWO weeks!).

365 ~ 2016: Day 204

Backyard Blueberries!

365 ~ 2016: Day 203

Backyard blueberries are ready for harvesting!

365 ~ 2016: Day 202

Look who's home from his long weekend adventure!  He had such a great time visiting his great Aunts on Cape Cod with his Omi and then got a bonus night away with his Aunt Kristin and Uncle Erik!

365 ~ 2016: Day 201

Shaun competed in his first swim meet today!  He did such a great job and I know he's only going to get better!

365 ~ 2016: Day 200

Enjoyed dinner out tonight where there wasn't a chicken finger to be found on the menu.  The house is certainly quiet, but we know the boys are all having a blast on their separate adventures!

365 ~ 2016: Day 199

Ready, excited and a little bit nervous for his first week away from home!  What a beautiful place he gets to spend his week.  It is an old mansion with rooms filled with bunk beds and pianos!  I cannot wait to hear all about it when I pick him up on Saturday.

365 ~ 2016: Day 198

I'm obsessed with trying places that are featured on the Food Network, or ranked "BEST OF..." in local publications like The Hippo and the news networks.  Today while we were out running errands, we had the chance to try another one on my list, Ilsley's Homemade Ice Cream.  It was a little bit out of our way, but so worth it!  The selection is small and unique.  I had Brown Sugar Oatmeal (YUM!) and Blueberry Crumble and it was so creamy and delicious!  I would highly recommend this place and I can see why it was rated as a "best of...".

365 ~ 2016: Day 197

Practice races!

365 ~ 2016: Day 196

Last day of their second baseball camp of the summer.

365 ~ 2016: Day 195

Fiona the French Bulldog and her person get ready for a tea party!  Another one of my favorites from the Farm Workshop - even though I'm not really a dog person!!

365 ~ 2016: Day 194

Big Brothers are at another baseball camp, but Evan was not old enough for it so we are getting some one on one time again.  We spent some time reading his library book before having to return it today!

365 ~ 2016: Day 193

Got a mini lesson on Food photography at the Farm workshop I attended over the weekend.  It was fun to watch how the instructors styled the food because that is really the most important and most difficult part of food photography.  It definitely sparked something in me to work on my food styling so I can photograph some of my favorite recipes and dishes.

365 ~ 2016: Day 192

Thankful for lazy (and rainy) Sundays where you can just curl up with a good book and read all day.  It's been a while since a book had me so hooked that I barely left the couch.  I was so into what I was reading that I almost missed this moment with Evan reading to his Dad.

365 ~ 2016: Day 191

It's not every day you get to shoot a Revolutionary War reenactor shooting off a musket.  One of the coolest Farm shoots yet!  This is a fellow SOPHA member portraying Maj. Loammi Baldwin, best known for commanding the Woburn militia at the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

365 ~ 2016: Day 190

When you have been working hard all week at baseball camp, stay out late the night before and still wake up at the crack of dawn, you crash hard when you get home and Mom insists on mandatory quiet time.

365 ~ 2016: Day 189

Fishercats game compliments of the IHB Baseball camp!  It was interesting game to say the least.  First the game was delayed for rain, then we were delayed entry to the stadium due to it being locked down for a lost child, then it rained some more, and then there was another delay due to a skunk on the field.  But we all had fun even though we could not stay until the end.

365 ~ 2016: Day 188

Evan and Momma Selfie - Beating the heat!

365 ~ 2016: Day 187

First day at IHB Baseball Camp!

365 ~ 2016: Day 186

Happy 4th of July!

365 ~ 2016: Day 185

Our annual 4th with Friends Summer Cookout Spectacular!  Love these kiddos!  First time all smiling, all looking and no heads needed swapping!

Summer Staycation 2016

This year we laid low during our staycation.  It was relaxing.  We swam in the pool, read lots of books and many pancakes!  We did a couple day trips to the science museum and to take the kids on a ropes course.  It was a nice relaxing week and we always love when Dad is home to have fun with us!

Breakfast out at our local favorite!

On Wednesday we headed to the SEE Science Museum and the kids had fun playing around with the various exhibits.  I think the favorite was one where you had to test your reaction time.  No one could beat Dad's time!  After the museum, we took the boys to jump around for an hour at Sky Zone (the local trampoline park) and then since we were in Manchester, we picked up some takeout at an Indian place that I had found on Yelp, with excellent reviews.  It did not disappoint!

Trying out the moon walk simulator!

Evan tried it out too!

I don't think he liked it that much!

Testing out reaction times.  The best I was able to get was 0.36.

Sending the electricity through all the hands!

Leverage!

Pulley's

Evan's face is RED after all that jumping!

On Thursday we were trying to figure out what to do with our day.  The boys had swimming at 4 - so whatever we did could not take all day.  I was tired of always doing the same day trips and was really pushing to try something different.  That included a trip to Polly's Pancake Parlor and then to Alpine Adventures so that the boys could try out a ropes course.

PANCAKES!

Now we can say we have been here!

At Alpine Adventures, we were not sure how Evan would do with it, but he surprised us and did great with the ropes course.  It wasn't until he needed to zip line down that he freaked out a bit, but the staff was really great and super patient.  He eventually went down and had a blast.

Safety gear on, ready to climb!

Ready to get the lesson on how to stay clipped on to the course!

Thumbs up from Evan!

Examining the zip line!

Getting up the courage to jump!

Look Ma!  No hands!

Evan fell off, and learned that even if that happens he is secured onto the course.  He was a champ about it!

Still unsure, but he did it all 3 times!

Dad going for level 3!

Alpine Adventure Video Clips: