a hiking endeavor

We went for our first family hike over the weekend. We stayed close to home while testing the waters of family physical fitness. Also, the weather didn't offer much promise, what with all the rain and June-gloominess New England has been experiencing of late. In any case, we went for a little hike at Bluff Point in Groton, Connecticut.

We opted to do the shorter route which worked out to be a little over two miles, five seemed a bit much for Seal Pup 1.0. And while SP1.0 was very excited about "hiking in the jungle!" we wish he was as excited to actually walk, or rather, hike the hike.

There was a goodly amount of shoulder riding; but, that's okay, he is only three, after all. And since Seal Pup 2.0 didn't have to do any walking whatsoever, well, I guess I can see where he was coming from.

There are a few more pics of our hiking adventure in flickr. And, as promised, there are also a few 3 year and 6 month update, portraity shots in flickr as well (scroll to the bottom of the first page and click to the top of the second). I am playing around with lenses to figure out which I like best for portraiture, so you will likely see more portraits of the pups coming your way.

things to do in baltimore when it rains

Since it's June, it seemed only natural that I tell you about some wandering we did in May.

We headed south to attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival so I could (start the celebration of my birthday and) meet up with some blog-knitting friends (or rather, some of SP 1.0's adoring fans) and buy some fiber--for those interested in more fiber talk, go here.

I am sure a time will come when fiber festivals won't be fun family trips anymore and I will be doing them solo; but, till that time, it's a fun family affair. Because really, how can you not love sheep?

And since we were down there, we also headed to the Baltimore to visit the National Aquarium as well (on the advice of some good friends).

We had a lot of fun at both the festival and the aquarium. It rained off and on at the sheep and wool festival, which, wet wool, yay! But the aquarium was the ideal indoor activity for the following Sunday because the rain was torrential. We had a great time.

We were able to get a hotel pretty close to the aquarium which was good for kiddos who needed naps...or tummy time.

More pics in flickr, of course. Coming up: Pup 2.0's 6 month update, and 1.0's "Hey, I'm 3!" Catch-up. At the end of the week. I promise.

of kites and flying them

With the coming of spring means the flying of kites. Pup, the elder had a weird fear of flying kites last year, he might have been afraid of the kite flying away, I am not sure; but, to get him ready for his school's Kite Day, we decided to take him to our favorite park, Harkness Memorial, to fly a kite. While a kite was flown, the day could not be labeled a success by any means.

Since Papa and I wanted to see the kiddo have fun with with flying kites, we both went to Kite Day.

And even though it started out a little rocky, he soon found the fun.

Kite flying is a blast, who knew?

If you want to see more kite flying fun, you know where to look!

oh, look. cuteness.

I was going through some recent pictures and found a couple to be particularly cute. I figured some of you (particularly the grandparents) would find these particularly enjoyable. This one might be my favorite picture of SP2.0 to date:


But SP1.0, of course, is not to be outdone.


I may be biased, but I think these kids are pretty cute.

easter a-go-go

Because we were driving back to Connecticut on Easter Day (actually, our trek started on Good Friday) after my father's funeral service and other arrangements, there was little to no planning concerning Easter festivities for the wee ones. Luckily some very good friends prepared Easter baskets for the boys which provided a goodly amount of bunny-rific joy.

SP1 did ask where the eggs were however. So upon our return to Connecticut, Papa had to go and find some. Shockingly, he found a grocery store open and bought some eggs for dyeing.

As we ate some of our newly dyed eggs, SP1 wished me a Happy Easter, it was pretty cute. But not as cute as this:

Thanks for the bunny ears Dru, Marley and Lennon!

in memoriam

My father passed away on April 3rd, 2009. He had just finished his breakfast and was ready to start his work day when his heart failed him. My aunt, who found him, says he had a peaceful expression on his face and he looked as though he was sleeping. I choose to take comfort in the peaceful state he was found in.

Upon hearing about his passing, we packed the mini-van for a return trip to Pensacola, Florida and drove for 25 hours. As sad as the occasion was, I have to say, it was an opportunity to get together with family. I was able to see family members that I haven't seen in years.
I was able to take my kids to some of the great places my dad took me to growing up.

But most importantly, and probably what would please my father the most, I was able to grow a little closer to my two half-sisters (let's just call them sisters, shall we?) who live in Miami.

the expression on SP2's face is priceless

When I was growing up, I was pretty close to my cousins, so it was pretty great that SP1 got a chance to spend time with cousins he had never met before.
He spent a ton of time with the girls (which isn't so shocking, really, he does like girls, afterall).
My dad's funeral was lovely. He always said he wanted something simple (yes, he did talk about his wishes, before hand...morbid, but true) and he wanted a veteran's burial as was his due. I think his girls were able to achieve that for him.
I will miss my dad a great deal. It will be strange to not have my dad to report good news to, I always puffed up a little when he told me he was proud of me. The things I will miss most however are his jokes; the sounds of his laughter (he really did live up to his name, Isaac--he laughs in Hebrew); and his birthday phone calls which usually came two months after my actual birthday (he didn't always remember that I was born two months prematurely).
As sad as I am, I have some really great memories of my dad to cherish; and, those memories will always make me smile.

a birthday, belated

Some of you may have been wondering how SP1's birthday celebration went last month. Let me assure you, the ascendancy to the age of three was celebrated with due diligence. There was, of course, a birthday week, which began on St. Patrick's Day this year...because it seemed right.

He got a Frisbee on the first day, which in hindsight, was probably not the most brilliant gift to bestow upon someone newly three (feel free to learn from our mistakes).

As our family tradition dictates, the birthday prince/king (there are no princesses as we have no girls save me, and no one bakes cakes for me, really) gets to choose his cake. SP1 said he wanted a "strawberry cake." Which really, could be anything. I took it literally and made him, well, a strawberry cake.

It was Ina Garten's Country Strawberry cake, which really, is a glorified strawberry shortcake; but, there you are.

We had two parties on his actual birthday. First there was the celebration at school.

Eighteen goodie bags--it isn't for the faint of heart--that's the parents' perspective, of course. But it was pretty fun. The kid liked it, so really, that is what matters most.

We also had a few friends over to celebrate at home. It was pretty low key, as low key as we get, I guess.

The Pup's favorite present was the yoga mat he asked us for a month before his birthday. No, seriously.

He said he wanted a yoga mat for his birthday. A blue one.

And then we wrapped up the celebration the day after by writing thank you notes.

The whole celebration was a nice way to welcome in the big three, I think.