The surprise

So I left off saying we packed Stacie's gifts in her car so she could open them the next day - OR that night with a SURPRISE party orchestrated by Jason!!!

Chris and CO drove up on Saturday arriving an hour before us.  Mom and I tried to convince Stacie to shop a bit at Home Goods or something while we made a BEE-LINE to her house.  Needless to say, her ETA became sooner than ours.  Jason had to divert to her pick up Michelle.  (likely story right?)  Thankfully she followed those orders and we made it 15 minutes before her.

Without moving the cars her surprise seemed to come as she pulled into the driveway.  Adorable as she was calling friends on her way home from the spa hoping someone would come over for a drink - imagine.  They all had other plans!!

Thank you to Michelle for snagging these photos and a little video of Stacie opening our favorite gift.

https://www.facebook.com/stacie.charron/videos/10219184510949315/

Loved a night of festivities with her friends and family - celebrating a very special girl all together.

Enjoyed a night of card playing with the crew!  Thanks for another wonderful night of family fun!

Spa Weekend for Stacie and Sue - heck, me too

What do you want to do for your birthday?  That question can be rather daunting - With Stacie turning 40 and my mom turning 70 - this was the perfect idea since none of us had been there before.  The Norwich Day Spa - ahhhhhh - you can just feel the relaxation right?

We were able to escape on Friday night to enjoy a dinner and evening there.  Dinner was so fun, the people (US) of course - but I loved how we each choose a meal and than shared it!!

It was POURING rain and we covered up to walk to our little villa.  We lit a beautiful simple fire - thanks to Stacie and some odd fire lighter.  Painted nails and snuggled into a good night sleep.  My mom was so amused by our magazine selections she had to snap this photo

Saturday the clouds had parted and we were refreshed and off to our mindful meditation class together.

WE managed to do that, some ball stretching, Yoga and enjoy a yummy breakfast and lunch before enjoy our personally selected treatment.  It was quite a splurge.  WE enjoyed the spa and thankful for each other as the folks there weren't necessity our crowd.  

Personally my one other spa experience was in Germany - biggest difference, folks here were wearing clothes!

With all the crazy that life brings, the schedules, the kids, the time.  THIS is the biggest gift.  The TIME together.  

As we left on Saturday - we made sure to have all Stacie's gifts prepped and in her car so she could open them tomorrow when she turns the BIG  4-0!  Remember when that was considered 'over the hill?'  I can hardly imagine that to be the case anymore.  

Music and Nora

There was an afternoon in our home where both boys were practicing their instruments - I have to admit, it was beautiful.  Shane has come SO far with his trumpet!!  He LOVES playing for anyone that will listen!

Its a rare occasion to get Nick on the base clarinet - we love it when he does - the sound of the instrument is rather soothing.

What does Drew do when they are playing instruments?  Hangs out with Nora!!  Recorder next year buddy!!

Quotes

Because sometimes a quote is exactly where I am right now

Easter Weekend and Maddie's Birthday!

Its Easter weekend and the end of Spring break for my sister.  The family arrived Thursday which gave us the extra day to celebrate this adorable lady's 8th Birthday (please remember to add a photo here!!)

Friday was off for everyone but Chris and I  - Stacie and Jason took a car-ful of kids to Mills Pond for some baseball practice - the boys LOVE this time with Uncle Jay! - Lunch was lots of burgers at the GrindStone in Collinsville.  I am so very thankful they all had fun together!!  

When I got home we all rocked a good family 4 mile run - This view never gets old to me.

By the time we got back, this was happening in our back yard.  Makes for some good entertainment.

Jeff McClellan took down the dead tree in our back yard and all the neighborhood was watching.  We received texts from everyone - even Melanie's dad who was visiting for Easter was capturing it from his wheel chair

Nora got some extra cuddles from her cuddlebug.

THIS is exactly why we wanted to remove the Deck railing.  All together just chilling.

Saturday morning called for rain so the Easter egg hunt bounced times and finally around 1 we were able to pull it off.  Can you believe this is only a few families??  Doesn't take much and it was perfect for the crew of kids

The post hunt loot collection

I received an awesome game from Barbara for my birthday and these 2 could NOT stop playing it.  Adorable!!  Great mind.  I know what's on Raela and Stacie's birthday list!

Love having a full beautifully set table for our family.  We are blessed this Easter to have my Uncle Russ and Raela out to visit us and spend the holiday.  My folks truly love having them (and they travel quite well together!)

Here we go filling up the table!

Not sure which shot is better so including them both.

After dinner we had a fierce carpet ball tournament that all enjoyed!  even the first timers.

Sunday was a family church day with an impromptu lunch at my folks.  Lesson learned - its wonderful that many stores are closed.  just requires a little planning ahead.  If only I still had that photo of the shopping cart that Jason took while shopping with my Dad and Uncle Russ for lunch.  Needless to say, we didn't go hungry!

My mom sweetly prepped some Easter bags for the kiddos and we managed to capture them all together.

The beautiful tree in front of their house made for the perfect photo back drop.  So we all took advantage of it.

Love love love the time all together and Love that we can remember through beautiful photos like these!

My poor chicken

Yes, even with Nora in the yard, the chickens STILL love to jump the fence.  This time Shirley got quite the chase.  Thankfully Chris realized what was happening when Nora had her cornered by the coup removing feather after feather.  He got Nora away yet was concerned Shirely wouldn't make it (not that he used her name)  I had literally just pulled in from work when Chris came to get me saying she was barely alive and we may have to do something.  Her little face was stuffed by the black bag,  If a Chicken could look terrfiied, she sure did.  She is our best layer - producing a big white egg just about every day.  She is also the smallest lady too.

We put her in the cage in the garage for a few days and am honestly amazed and thankful for how quickly she recovered.  It took me a while to write this blog and while it happened April 13 and its now June - she hasn't jumped the fence again.  Maybe chickens are smarter than we thought.

Cape cod escape spring break

With my life back to work, spring break takes on a whole new meaning in our house.  

Monday Goomba rocked the day with his birthday and a movie.  

Tuesday was parks and rec day while I flew with Nick.

Wednesday and Thursday were about the same.

Friday I took the day off and headed to the Cape with a wonderful invite from the Bemis's.  We headed out late on Thursday to be able to wake up at the beach the next morning.  Completely worth it!

It was a chilly few days, but the beach is always beautiful.

Below is a photo of the beach area we are headed to for my Mom's 70th weekend!  Also in East Dennis by the Bemis's.  Thrilled to have a home on the water for a weekend to celebrate mom.  With some photo cred here.  More reason to look forward to it.

We found some amazing sea glass, played boccie and baseball on the beach.  I loved every minute of putting together a 500 piece puzzle with Beth and Steve.  Something so completely mental and yet not at all.  Rather therapeutic.  Quite the opposite of the Wii tournament the kids had.

Needless to say, it was so much about being and less about the photos.  We did love the time!

Can you tell we are missing one?  Shane got a last minute sleep over invite to Max Wire's - we were happy to 'thin the herd' a bit.  

Thanks to friends that see sharing their home is part of vacation.

A day away for Nick - my travel partner

My monthly travels to DC just to happened to coincide with the kiddos spring break.  When Farrah caught word of this and looking at her schedule realize her kiddos had a 1/2 day it all of a sudden equated to Nick using some airline miles and joining me.  She made the rest of it happen feelingly seamless.  How ironic this came across my feed shortly before we headed that way.

I loved having my little travel partner for the day.  Possibly giving him a bit of insighton what my life is like - needless to say, he opted OUT of coming with me to my project site at Maplewood Courts.  Good decision buddy

Looking good with that hair!

Farrah and Tate picked Nick up at the airport while I headed to the job site.  While I was at work, they did kid things like this - Nick was thrilled to play a little baseball with Macy as well.

All these smiles together make a heart happy.

The McCulloughs are my home away from home and loved having Nick experience that a bit too.  Relishing each visit.

Goomba's Birthday

What does Goomba want to do on his birthday?  Cook his own steak - just the way he likes it, order his own ice cream cake - from his favorite store.  Have his family over.  That's it.  Gotta love a guy who knows what he wants and gets after it!

We celebrated Sunday night as his birthday is Monday and for his birthday the boys are taking HIM to the movies - they get to see Dumbo in full recliners and while the boys had pop corn and their packed snacks, Goomba enjoyed a glass of wine!

As they left the theater he asked them who wanted to stop off at 4 Bidwell.  The car was silent.....

Look at this happy table.

Not a bad day to be surrounded by this crew.  Hope you felt the love all day long - as you deserve it.

That is one beautiful photo - love how far we have all come - one day at a time!  Happy Birthday Goomba!

swim team wrap up

He did it!  Starting in November Nick swam 4 days a week.  The season ended at the last week in March.  5 meets and he qualified for New England's in the 50m Breast stroke.  The qualifying time 40.7.  Nick's time 40.64  Yup, he did it!  

We opted to attend All stars instead where he could compete in 3 events swimming the 100 free - where he placed 4th and in watching the video didn't realize how close he was to standing on the podium!  He swam the 200IM which is SUCH a challenging event but he makes it look beautiful.  Fly and all.

With the help of Chris and my folks, he made it to most all of the practices and it was A LOT.  I think the season was truly the most challenging for him.  He had to give the most, practiced A LOT and make the time for it.  Even I was hesitant at first but was thrilled with the team and the coaching.  Thankful Nick was part of the Lasers

The banquet was held in April and completely caught us off guard by being a rather nice affair and we felt wildly under dressed.  Of course Nick owned it and did just fine, while my mind inventoried all the nice outfits that were hanging in his closet that should be on his body.  At least he was wearing Lasers Red!

When he received the MVP award for his age group I had tears in my eyes as I do love how other gravitate to his personality and smile too.  Love how coaches can see his sweet heart beating as he tries so hard and dreams big.

He didn't know a single kid on the team before starting.  Most of their practices are underwater.  And yet he buddies up with them all - from a different school that I wonder if someday he will be able to swim for.  I will admit - Fortnight did a lot of connecting for these boys.  There is good in it at times.

This one is a keeper for sure - Just keep swimming Nick!  I know you are ready for a break so as we welcome baseball I want to record the beauty in your strength this season.

Shane's Ellis Island

Canton Intermediate school does a beautiful segment on immigration.  During this time Shane was assigned to be a wealthy business man who was headed to the USA looking for opportunity.  I love the big yet basic props the school uses again and again.  Chris and I were not able to volunteer this year - however I felt blessed by all the folks who sent photos along of the wealthy business man.  Guess he has quite the paparazzi!

Here he is on the ship with his wife clearly posing a bit =)

Love catching this group of boys together and wonder what they are chatting about.  Clearly their business plans once they land in NYC

HEre they are getting their legal inspection.  I do have to make a quick note - while Shane isn't wild about wearing nice clothes, he did tell me that his pants were wildly comfortable!!  No kidding buddy!!  

Success

Looks like they made it!  Citizenship here you too come.  Lila is a pretty great girl too.  Good choice Shane

One more shot of the very impressed passengers

They tested him on some aspects of the USA along the way.  Thanks Amy Yankee for being a part too!

quick capture of Austin as he is getting medically screened.

Let that smile rip Shane!  Its too good to hold back

Just a quick note - this is how he looked when he left the house.  Resisting the photo but finally letting me capture the moment.  Notice that he has a tie on.  Pretty sure I didn't see a tie in any of the other photos.  At least the jacket stayed on.

I hope this German born baby got a school sized appreciation of the different people this country is truly made up of.  Thanks to all my photographer elves in Canton!