busiest weekends are the best weekends

We had some fun adventures over this past weekend.  Papa's Papa (you know, the dad of the one I am married to) flew in from the west coast for a visit; and, he and I went with a group of my photo friends from RISD to New York City.  We Started out at B&H Photo, and then hit the PDN Photoplus Photography Expo.  

There were vendors, seminars and a bunch of awesome.  Also, Papa's Papa got to meet Julianne Kost; which, if you are really into Adobe products, like we are, means something to you. 

From there we went to the 9/11 Memorial and then to the Strand book store.  

It was a day packed with destinations and interesting and reflective things.

On Saturday, the pups had their last day of soccer.  Seal Pup 2.0 “kicked the ball 5 times.”  

It may not seem like the biggest deal; but, for a while there, all he did during scrimmages was turn his back to the ball.  He often mentioned that he “love baseball,” which is great…since he was playing soccer.  

To be fair, he might actually love baseball.  I guess we will find out in the spring when he actually plays baseball (and not soccer).  Seal Pup 1.0 got to try his hand at goalie (ha, you see what I did there, oh, nevermind).  I think he is a fan.

While the boys were finishing up soccer, I went to the Salem Public Library’s fall book sale and bought 73 books for $21.  It was kind of awesome.  The pups certainly aren't complaining (guess who got all the books). 

On Sunday, we took a trip to Clyde’s Cider Mill.  

We got to see a old fashioned cider press, ate cider donuts and drank hot apple cider.  It was a New England kind of day!

rhinebeck or bust (the 2013 edition)

As if we didn't do enough last weekend, we also did a bit of traveling.  We headed north to upstate New York to attend the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York.  You know, as we do.  It was pretty fantastic (it usually is).

We saw all sorts of fiber-y goodness.

We saw lots of sheep, probably not a surprise at all.

We ate lots of really healthy food.

Although there were no rides this year, there were lots of kids activities like a mad scientist show.

There was also a gem "panning" station.

Papa calls the trip a success because we went to a festival and the only thing we bought was the food we ate (because honestly, I don't really need anything of the wool variety right now).  It was a good trip!  We can't wait to go back next year!

coming home, 2013

 It's that time of year again, homecoming or reunion weekend at our alma mater.

We started the day with a Papa and Pup 1.0 running in the annual fun run.  Apparently, I didn't run it fast enough last year (odd considering the finish time this year was pretty much the same as last year...picture above is all the runners participating in the fun run...picture below is final dash towards finish line).

Papa celebrated a big anniversary, and got to see some classmates that he hasn't seen in quite some time.

It was a good day of catching up with old friends, and watching the Bears smash Maine Maritime Academy.

Go Bears!

it's fall, y'all

Admittedly, it's been fall for a while now.  For us, autumn experience in New England has more to do when the leaves change and when we start picking apples and pumpkins at local orchards than anything the calendar may tell us.

Last weekend we took a trip to Holmbergs Orchard in Gales Ferry, Connecticut.  It's one of our favorite orchards.

We picked tons of apples.

We tried a new apple variety (for us, not new to the world, just new to us).

We selected a few (overpriced--but who is going to mess with tradition?) pumpkins for carving.

We "harvested" a ton of stuff.

And we had a lot of fun.

out with the old...

Since the year is coming to an end and everything...I figured now was as good a time as any to talk about the stuff we did at the end of this year.

October

 The Pups started tennis lessons. The Elder loved it. The younger, not so much.

 We did our annual trip to Holmberg's Orchards to pick apples.

We also went to Rhinebeck, New York for the Sheep and Wool Festival.  Good times.

They both started piano lessons with a musician who plays violin and viola for the local orchestra.  They like it lots.

The kids were ghosts for Halloween.  Pup 1.0 didn't want to dress up at all until he realized that no costumery meant no trick-or-treating.  Then he co-opted 2.0's great plan.  A ghost. 

Yeah, I don't know either.  Turns out, it didn't matter because hurrican Sandy canceled Halloween in our town and we had no power for a few days. 

We lost two trees, but ultimately, we didn't have much to complain about.

Soccer.

 

November

 I had a rare books conference to attend in Philadelphia so the whole family went down for a few days. Fun times.

 Thanksgiving was quiet. Just us at home.

 

December

 Seal Pup the younger had a birthday.

We got a Christmas tree.

The kids had deep discussion with Santa Claus about Star Wars Lego toys and airplanes.

And we celebrated Christmas with gifts and such; but there was also church and the singing.

Oh, and there was a snow storm two days ago.  There's still a bunch of snow on the ground.

 

There.  All caught up.  See you next year!

we're going back, back, back to school

Guess who's in first grade now!

Yep, that guy!

The first week of school is done.  "First grade is going to be great!" Pup, the Elder has decided that he "would like to work on improving reading and writing skills this year, you know, since the maths and science skills are all good right now."  Yeah.  Pup, the Younger, he's still in Pre-K, he did start a new class though, and he's pretty excited about it.  They have been doing a camping unit.  He is all about campfires, tents and smores right now.  Pretty funny, considering he has never actually been camping.

gobble (x2)

Did you have a good Thanksgiving? We did (until we didn't). Papa's sister and her family came for a quick visit (and a Thanksgiving feast of epic proportions). There was much screaming from ecstatic children and much eating of food (there was not so much picture taking, but there you are).

Instead of shopping deals and steals over the weekend, I decided it would be a good idea to twist my ankle and spend a few hours in the local ER (which, well, awesome). After I finished with the crutches, I wrenched my back and now I am in physical therapy, just in time to allow birthday fun for Seal Pup 2.0 to ensue. My timing, it is legendary.