Girl Time

What a different 2nd day of school with these 2 - they helped set up my body pump, went to Michaels (there was some arguing about which craft to purchase) went flower picking, hair braiding and taco bell eating.

LOVED it

Can anyone tell what is going on in this photo??  O.k., I can't either, but I do see a chicken and I think we are supposed to be taking down the deck.  Hmmmmm.

First day of school

Love that THIS is what back to school shopping is like in our house.  The kids are SUPER excited.

Here is the first round - Shane and Nick now grab the 7:20 CIS bus - love that Shane is pared up with his BIGGER brother.

Leaves time for my little guy to have a slower morning

Look at this adorable crew - it was quite a feat to get us all out the door.

even split - 4 and 4 and only on this day shall the 2 meet.  Most days they spend it on opposite sides of the street.  One day boys - one day.

So Drew and I thought we had ALL this time and started to play countdown inside.  Until Dylan (first time kindergartener) knocked on our door saying the bus already went around - WHAT - its that time already?  Drew escaped leaping off our steps, falling but NOT scratching his knees and MAKING it to the bus on time - the next day - bus diver was 10 minutes late - figures right??

Look at those shoes!!

Nick - on blue team with Tate and Mason as his only buddies (Mrs. Roy, Mrs Demillo who we had in 4th grade when she had her baby, and Mrs. Babcock)

Shane with Mrs. McKay - who is already loves and Mrs. Gibbons as a helper

Drew has Mrs. Atwood and she looks PERFECT for him.

Sisters and Summer

Who else things a table full of tomatoes would be a fun Sunday night canning project?  Only my sister.  And we stayed up until 1 doing it.  Believe it or not - we loved it too.

That night - All the middle children (Goomba, Oma Sue, Maddy and Shane) all slept at the middle kid house - and it was bliss - so say them all

How many wheeled vehicles does it take of outfit this crew - peach pie on the back of chris's truck

Thankful to have some sister time with this busy lady - 

Now for some kid pool time - ALL TOGETHER.  Yup, sister left and 3 kids remained.

We got some well deserved solo time with Oma Sue - as the 3rd, you don't often get that time.  So I know he loved it

meanwhile I got the girls for hair braiding and crafts!

Golfers - Simsbury Farms Parent child

3 boy golfers so who will the 3 parents be??

Chris and Nick 

Shane and Goomba

for the FIRST year - the new team of Drew and Oma Sue rocked the course.  I am proud of my mom for taking lessons and doing her best on the course.  drew is happy to help too.

Beautiful Sunday evening at Simsbury Farm.

Not a bad swinger here - gotta say I love the outfit

So beautiful catching the whole family together like this.

Ended with some delicious pizza and Aunt Stosh, Riley, Maddy and Jackson on their way!

Kenny Chesney

Happy Birthday Chris!  

Lets go be country for a night - Logistically it was a big mess, but somehow we managed to get 4 couples with very different time tables down and back to North Attleboro to see one awesome concert!

Ready to roll and being patient - because here comes the birthday girl Rebecca!

My sister and Jason took this from our seats as some of the warm up bands were prepping.  We staying outside tailgating where the beers were cheaper - plus as luck would have it, Mary and Tom pulled in 45 minutes later but into the SAME lot parking 4 cars down.  Couldn't have PLANNED it better.

Rebecca and Asa don't know a lot of county and came to see what it was all about - while she wishes it was Axel Rose, she was a great sport

Kenney was on the big screen too.  We got to see Derk Bently first an he was great.  Such a happy feeling line up of songs.

Great music, great singing - not by me of course.

Thank you all for making it work and being those fun folks that make life worth living together! Stacie and Jason loved being able to link up with you.  Mary and Tom, thankful we could catch up on the rather long ride back.

A beach day for us

One day, no timeline, no agenda beautiful sun and together an Hammonassett in CT  Rebecca, Frankie and Ashley met us there and it was PERFECT

We kept Drew like this all day - hehehe

Nick spent some time doing this...

we met new friends and buried them too

Even fell in love with a crab named Toughie - of course he named him toughie! - takes one to know one.

Trying to capture Nick playing frisbee with chatty junior in high school.  I hope one day Nick is that chatty and confident and wiling to play with the younger kids.

Tons of crabs were under observation in their mini aquarium.

Things I just love

The afternoon ended with a delicious friend meal at the Crab's Crown. - even took 1/2 of it home to dad.  Today - these boys were a BLAST to be with.

Thanks Rebecca, Frankie and Ashley for joining us and not minding when we didn't leave at the same time.  LOVED not having a schedule

Someone escapes the Lobster Loop??

He got asked to have a few nights away at the cape with one of his best buddies - the other 'Tate"  so off he went - one lucky dude!

Beach Bocce

He came back JUST in time for the Lobster Loop - can you guess who of this group finished 3RD in the age group??

A hint - 8 and under!

Shinny Boo Boo Bear!  We ran together and he did a great job of running, than walking, than running and really kept up with it!  

Nice work buddy - he just wished we were there when they announced his name - if only we had known - we would have been there.

Just a day in the life of the leadbetter crew

Presto Chango Lion King!

Just can’t tear us away from a friend fill day at mills pond.  So at the last minute I rounded them up and we headed home for the ultimate change up!  Thankfully my mom headed our way.  She hopped in and drew headed out golfing with goomba.  We were going to see the Lion King!

First a delicious meal at Peppercorns.  A restaraunt one of my swimmers dad owns and is the chef.  He moved here from Rome and brought his talents with him

You gotta check out Shane's double outfit - we told him to wear a white shirt under it - somehow he ended up wearing a white collard shirt under it - double trouble

Not sure if this is considered a date night, but I was thrilled he wanted to go!

Toasty warm up here - the first song - circle of life - had me in tears - amazingly done  - the costumes, the singing - it was chilling.  The 2nd half had several songs we didn't really recognize them....still pretty darn amazing and glad we could all go together.  Loved the binos' from Goomba!

We made it to Maine

Pretty sure this is the TIGHTEST we have packed - 4 boys - 5 really, and 2 girls - NO BEER.....  yet.  See Shanes face?  The horror right?  We were excited to bring Ryan and Nora, but realized we have never packed a dog before (Pauli always went with Barbara and Wyland) and never have we had an extra kid.  Can you feel us all holding our breathe?  ..... For the next 9 hours?

Not much room down there, but she is happy to be along for the ride - for the time being.

Just 3 hours and we made it to Maine - Yup, quick pit stop here - onto Greenville - we actually had a late lunch early dinner (thank you snacks)

Made it into camp by 5 This is where we turn!

And this is where you fish

Liz, Robert, Seb and Winslow were exploring the coast of Maine and testing their ability to come into camp in the dark.

meanwhile I was enjoying one of the many Maine sunsets

And photos of Marions Island with some motivated Kayakers headed over.

This is our first time to camp without Barbara and Wyland - we missed them and took the best care of the cabin we could - 

Tracey had even cleaned the floors before we got there.

Gabby placed some beautiful flowers in a small vase beside the bed. 

 The item that got the most use - these pink crocs - I missed seeing them on Wyland's feet and Chris admitted they are pretty darn comfortable.

Another beautiful sunset from the point

No idea Nora was such a water dog - she spent a HUGE majority of the time, IN the water - chasing after tennis balls, rocks, pine cones and following me if I was swimming.  I say I had a buddy during camp was an understatement - I will admit to really enjoying it - never had someone want to be with me so much.  She followed me to the outhouse making use of her own spots at the same time.

Cutest thing ever - the 2 girls orchestrating this scavenger hunt - 10 points throughout the camp - everywhere from the outhouse, to the parking lot, kids cabin and Marions Island.  3 teams of willing boy participants

Shortly after the hunt we took advantage of the calm day and blow up the inflatables

All of them! each kid got one - 

Right after the presentation - who do you think scored the floater??

The beach front looks a little different right now - 

The teenager lounging on the popsicle

Winslow trying to get comfortable on the unicorn

Chris and I got a little time on the pink floats

beach front circa 2018

This happened too - Nora on the boat.  I can't say that she liked it too much, but she put up with it to be with us.  She would not be left alone.

Pretty fabulous teenager here!  Loved getting to hang out with here and hear about teen stuff.  I recognize this smile all too well as she is just a few months away from getting her braces off.  I know its tough now, but it will be worth it!

The boys of the boat

Who is steering this thing anyway??

He saw the hello kitty jacket and had to make a change.

Tibs rock after some blueberry picking and now onto diving rock - a place I have never been to and excited for all of us to check it out.

But first, lets get through this little rain storm.  I LOVE this photo of Tracey and Brie - the rain is actually captured and her ability to take a bit of shelter.

Brie is ready for the next adventure.

Right as we were headed through the gut we looked back to catch a beautiful rainbow from the last rain shower - see it behind the boys??

There it is by itself - So simple and pretty

can you see them standing on diving rock waiting for us.  I will sure it, it was higher than I anticipated.

check out this video - lots of slow motion clips.  Yes, Shane went twice at a minimum, I was terrified and let Chris go first.  Drew did it - but we didn't capture him on film!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fteWuiGHkew

Some of the things I love about camp

The sun and clouds are magical

I couldn't decide which one I like better

From this angle there hole (or trench) is pretty darn impressive!

Catching Steve in the act of tree removal - anyone's guess on where it landed??  Thankfully NOT on the dining cabin!

Proof that while Chris took the boys out COUNTLESS times on fishing expeditions he actually found a little time to relax and give the hammock a purpose

Constant companion

Who is making dinner tonight?!?! - making a note that next year these guys are in charge of lunches!

Gotta love the final day group timer group photo - 

Glad we could capture everyone - except Brie who must have a squirrel treed some where.

Loved this crew as it felt like everyone had someone to talk to, play spoons or exploding kittens with, cook or clean up with.  Great group!

With Tracy and her family leaving, there was a seat for me on the fishing boat - so I got to capture what life was like on the water.  Ryan snagged a great fish

Drew held up Dad's famous one

And I was hoping to capture how patient Nora was with Drew and how she will chase the ball, listen to his calls and try tirelessly to understand him (as we all do!)  Everyone needs a dog in their lives.

Here is our final morning on Saturday - 1 more week please - it was glorious not hearing the phone ding, not seeing my kids eyes on screens, playing simple games with them and seeing them just be part of nature and this beautiful place on this beautiful day.  

We were on the road by 11;30 and just in time to see this beautiful mother son crossing the road.

Saw a moose!  The trip is complete.  Now for some seafood at Harrisee in Freeport, drop Ryan off and home by 10pm - while Chris said he enjoys the adventure and the push of it all, I still wish we were 4 hours closer so this was more apart of our more frequent escapes.