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.

time flies

While this blog might lead you to believe that nothing has happened with us this year, nothing could be farther from the truth.  We have been busy; but, well, now we can't go back and revisit things that we did this year.  But since today is a truly auspicious day, there's seems to be no better time to start things off....

 First day of school!!

Everything went really well, Seal Pup 2.0 "learned math," and while Seal Pup 1.0 had fun, "there could have been more learning."  Everyone is pretty pleased with this whole back to school thing, really.

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!

labors of a weekend

How did you celebrate the unofficial end of summer?  Our Labor Day Weekend, this year, was spent building a playyard/playscape.  My mom got this thing for the kids and it sat in the garage for a while after we realized that there were 999 bajillion pieces.  Papa made it a goal to finish this thing by the end of the weekend.  And he did!

Obviously, the kids are big fans.  As our some of the other kids int he neighborhood.  It was a slowgoing process, should you want a glimpse of it, Papa put together this video for your viewing entertainment.  To see it bigger, go to flickr.

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.