Oma Sue goes under the knife

Something my mom has debated for YEARS.  She remembers the FIRST time she injured her knee when she was a kid falling out of a tree.  Countless other injuries after that to include a slippery day on the Okemo slopes.  It was time to thank that knee for all its effort and get a new one.  NOTHING is easy about that decision.  My sister came up the night before to help out.  Love the knee markings.

Time to wheel her in.  It amazes me what these doctors can do.  Take care of this sweet lady!

Meanwhile, we needed to take care of the other guy.  A little taboo for the evening.  I even got to take Maddie and Shane to see Barbie - we sat front row (which as you can appreciate is not ideal)

She came home the next day, my sister had everything set up so there was plenty of mobility around the first floor.  My mom had researched and picked up all kinds of helpful things like elevatored toilet seat, 2 different ice coolers, a couple walkers etc.  She wanted to be as independant as possible!  Being out of surgery was a HUGE relief.  Now each day to get a little more mobile.  The PT was helpful in 'pushing' her body to use that knee right!

 

Fisherman Drew and James

Over the summer Drew and James explored the neighborhood ponds.  The asked the caretaker of the Bahre's if they could fish there.  Thrilled with a yes response as long as they don't catch the Koy.  They are typically a catch and release operation so that wasn't a big issues. 

Love seeing them popping around in James's side by side with fishing poles out the back looking for the next victim.

Pretty adorable little brotherhood friendship.

 

Christmas in July

Love these ideas that Patty comes up with.  This one was pretty epic - Christmas in July complete with a Yankee swap and tree burning ceremony.  The boys grabbed our tree from the back 40 and we toted it with the wagon.

We rolled up ready to party!

Love seeing the sweater get some love - even if it is in the summer

Quite the festive spread!

I cannot decide the better group photo so had to post them both

Entertaining Yankee swap that entailed a cozy blanket, some great cereals, pepto Bismil candy and more.

 

Nick at camp, Ashley at camp

Nick got to select his camp this summer and opted for overnight wrestling camp at Roger Williams in Rhode Island.  My mom drove him down there (Nick ran the logistics with the navigation and checking himself in - boy do I love his independence!)  These are the snaps I saved - more photos than we got from Shane on the disposable camera for a week!

From the sounds of it, the workouts and wrestling was significant, they did manage to find some time to play cards at the end of the night.

Nick discovered that not all dorms have AC!  Love seeing him navigate the campus life.

We picked him up JUST US!  We walked the streets of Newport, heard all about the camp and had a delicious dinner the 3 of us.  Such a treat!

Meanwhile Ashley did a volleyball camp on the West Point campus!  That had Chris digging into his photos reminiscing.  We asked Ashley to recreate this one.  Crazy to think they were similar ages in these photos.

 

Shane at Silver Lake

Sure do love the drive up to silver lake - its a simple hour to a small town and then turning into this cabin camping area that just feels like summer camp should feel.  Another week for Shane at FUN IN THE SON

It was a RAINY day when we dropped him off (thus no photos) but a beautiful day when we picked him up 6 days later.  Loved seeing my counselor Brian welcoming everyone during drop off and got to walk with him at pick up too.

Picking up Shane was the BEST.  He had 2 chatty girls hanging on him ready to tell us EVERYTHING that happened over the week.  They had a THING for SCHMOOPY (and they didn't even know that was his nick name!!)

Shane's name forever at Silverlake - 2 times now!

Cabin circle where they stayed.

We even took the walk down to the water.  So beautiful!

Love that he logged a great week out there.  Even told us he is headed back next year.  yes please!!

 

Jason Al Dean

Dr. Tom's practice has VIP tickets to the Jason Al Dean concert, and they needed folks to use those tickets!!  

Yes please!

  Never been VIP a a week bit nervous it will be too good to go back!!  ha!  We got to get in the 'short' line for entrance, then a little VIP tent. 

Next up, check the proximity to the stage.  IMPRESSIVE.  We sat in a little 4-person area that had a phone attached to it.  Just place a call and bring in the cocktail of choice.  Now THAT is handy.  It was a REALLY warm night.  Mitchel Tenpenny was one of the opening acts and we LOVED him.  

Totally reminded us of Mike Bernabucci!

Love how these days you really always have a lighter in your pocket.  Nice little ambiance

Jason Al Dean came out and it was huge - such great classic country.  You know so many more songs than you think (or at least for me) This was a good one here.

https://youtu.be/BWGUv_Psq0o

Crazy thing was, next song, he actually left the stage before the song was over.  So weird. we totally saw him just take off.  Thought he was going for another guitar, some kind of accessory, who knew.  So Mary and I went to the bathroom (VIP has a shorter line, but only one toilet, so it's kind of a toss-up there....)  but rumor has it, he isn't coming back on stage....

Later new state is was heat stroke.  He actually played golf earlier that day and just wasn't ready for the heat on the stage.  He rescheduled for another date which is super kind of him.  Bummer that his rescheduled date is when we are in Maine.  The good news is, Mary's sister Christine and her daughter used the tickets!  So awesome for them.

 

Anniversary Post - 20 years - just like that!

We took a rather epic trip to Korea and opted for a chill Anniversary weekend.  Never would I have predicted all the different turned we have taken through the years, We are thankful for each one because they brought us right where we need to be.  Forever thankful to have this loving husband as the helm of our family.  He is such a role model for the boys and the perfect ying to my yang.   

Loved putting on the wedding dress and getting some photos before packing up for our dinner out with a side bar at the Farmington Carnival!

Fork and fire for the anniversary dinner

Now at the farmington carnival - we all met up except Drew who is off with his buddy.  They are good friends from the bus, but now being in a different environment are super quiet almost a bit awkard but rather typical I would imagine.  Love that she invited him to come!

Here we all are.  Boys are headed back to my folks house while we head out.

After our wedding we stayed at a little bed and breakfast by Abigal's.  Its sold and under renovation.  So we opted for the 1820 hours.  Very similar vibe.  Love our room!

Saturday morning on the bike trail together.  me trying to keep up with him.

Thanks to my folks to helping out and cheers to drinks on the deck!

 

Pre - 4th of July at the Cape

We had a few days at home to reacclimate and unpack our souvenirs.  It was fun talking through all the adventures with my folks and Barbara.  Sounded like they had a great time hitting the concerts and some great lunch spots while we were gone too. 

If you can believe it, in 2 days we packed back up for a weekend at Canny's camp at the cape.  It's been in their family for years and a place Patty grew up going too.  She shares it with the family, and they divide up the weekends over the summer.  Patty was thrilled to get this weekend and really wanted to share it with us.  Love how they made it possible!!  We went down late on Friday taking Jules with us while Nick stayed home to work and joined us with the Murphys (and LOTS OF TRAFFIC) on Saturday morning.

This is clearly her happy place.  See the kinds out on the floating dock?

It has the perfect beach front and great size pond.  Kids could hit the floating golf clubs and while another crew was kayaking around grabbing them back up.  We spent the morning chilling awaiting the 2nd crew.

Goofy Shane

Patty pulled out all the fun summer snack making fun mom drinks for the kids compete with gummy sharks.

Loved capturing the kiddos just chilling

Burger night anyone?

Perfect time to experiment with these tattoos I have been eyeing.  I brought some extra for the girls (an guys) to try too.

We spent the first afternoon meeting the neighbors Janice and trying to explore the local swap shack, can you believe we got turned away for not having the right sticker.  High end swap shack out here.  Sure, makes for a great story!

Saturday night was some delicious food to include the largest pan I have ever seen cooked on the fire.

Bill was the master of ceremonies putting on an impressive fireworks display.

Sparklers galore.  Always a fan favorite.

Loved getting both of these 2 together.  With Mike's schedule often working at night, this is a rare opportunity.

Loved the kids getting up slowly and heading out to fish in the monring.

Not a bad catch Shane!

Later that morning we loaded up to hike the dunes and LOVED it, great hike, perfect weather and pedicure was the added bonus from all the sand exfoliations. 

Great hike with biddies!

love shots like these

Chris has grand plans for next year bringing a sea side grill and drinks.

Sibling humor!

Loving the time with this one.  next year he will be lugging the grill

Trying to get that summer jumping photo - so close....

The kid's athleticism is often very impressive.  Flips, dives and just general running

Patty was super motivated to capture a potential Leadbetter Christmas card.

Not bad!

More shenanigans back at the house after grabbing a friend clans and such lunch from one of their favorite spots.  Next up birthday ice cream!

So lucky to have each other as neighbors and friends.

Loved touring all their haunts and appreciating why they love it so much.  Great little out buildings to sleep in and have lots of folks.  Great place to be together and yet away from it all.

WE headed out on Sunday and let Drew stay for a few extra days as a Canny kid.  He got to see the 4th of July parade which I hear is pretty epic!  Next year -)!  Thanks for welcoming us Canny's  Great time!