The last days at Camp Carlson

Our time is coming to an end at Camp Carlson and we had a blast.  It was packed full of swimming, fish feeding, biking, and all around partying. 

Shane loved his time with Goomba, who is always a hoot.  We discovered that they both have a double cowlick.  One of many things I believe they have in common =)

Goomba is teaching Shane the arts of good beer

Nick is sticking to pineapple juice

Ah, the corvette again.....

Thumbs up as we RACED up and down the driveway.  Nick squealed every time Peter hit the accelerator.

Lightning McQueen even got to join us.  Thanks Peter for sprucing it up for us! 

As if we needed more excitement,  Goomba schedule a backhoe on Wednesday morning to dig a hole in the back yard.  This wasn't 'fruitless' digging as the backhoe was charged with creating a hole for the new propane tank.  As with any construction project, this one was filled with a few challenges that increased the excitement.  The back hoe dug two holes (wonder why that happened....) and a dump truck even headed out to the sand pit for some 'cushion'.  A true construction project.    It was complete just in time for our departure.

During the time in CT Nick made major strides in the swimming department.  He will jump in with his noodle.  He loves riding the jet =) and he even spent some time underwater (mostly involuntary)

Shane drew a line in the sand and began crawling!  He's able to get to what he wants to play with.  No more, plop and play for us.  Looks like we will have baby gates in our future.

Here's a quick video of life on the Trans Atlantic flight.  About an hour after the video shane racked out in the bassenet (that wouldn't fit him a month later) and Nick stretched out on the floor at our feet.  I am convinced Nick logged the most hours in the sleep department.  We BARELY managed to make our transfer in London.  I am convinced that airport is a MALL.  as you have to weed through the Gucci, Tiffanys, and other stores just to find your gate!! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcYWeWD4zM8

Its nice to be home.

Who needs JCPenny when you have Oma Sue's yard =)

One of the things on my list of 'while in the states' was hit JCPenney for some photos of the boys.  Well, we found plenty of other things to do, and never quite had time.  So the morning before we left, we dressed them up and found a beautiful spot in my folks's yard (not hard to do as its beautiful!)

Here's the kind of smooch that really knocks you over =)

This one is my favorite

Nick making sure all is well in the pond

We had about 2 seconds to take this photo as we didn't want Shane is fall into the pond.

So what would have been a 2 hour process took 20 minutes in the back yard.  In a matter of seconds they were back in their swimming suits and in the POOL!

4th of July

Party time with our 2nd family.  The Brinkerhoffs.  Back in 1989 we met them as Jill responsed to our Yankee Flyer ad in search of mini lop bunnies.  Through the years, our families have grown closer together sharring in holidays, weddings, travels etc.  Spending time with them is like being with family. 

This was a great celebration and also a 'send off' Party for Pete and Sally. They are packing their bags, leaving Portsmoth NH and headed to Lake Tahoe. They both have loved that place since the day they left. We all knew they would go back, it was only a matter of when.

Rad bikes! 

Guess there isn't a weight limit

Nick was pretty pumped to see his mom on the bike (since he couldn't yet...)

Shane got to spend time with lots of pretty ladies =) Hey Jodie!

Pete and Mark did a great job of wearing Nick out playing 'keep away' with his hat.  Nick barely took a break all night.  At one point, he finally went potty, but was yelling from the potty, I want to go back out with the big kids!!

Any more space on that grill?

We were all watching a soccer game, put on by Nick and Ivan

Croquet anyone?

Nick was delivering his first wedgy!

Smiley bunch =)  We could never catch Meredith....  Guess those modeling days are to come...

Onto the back yard fireworks.  Pete is normally in charge of those.  However after a few years of 'close calls' and stern suggestions from his family, he threw in the towel.  Thankfully their neighbor brought a few =) 

Looks like the Party is winding down, Swimming anyone?

Seriously, who wakes a sleeping baby??

Thanks for a great evening - love you all!

She's crafty!

We are so lucky to have Amanda and Meredith join us for our holiday weekend.  They had a bit of a rocky start as their connection in DC was interrupted by airport logistics.  Thankfully they were able to hop the next flight and join us!  Facebook still amazes me - Amanda posted that she was stuck in DC - within minutes a sorority sister offered to pick her up, rally the other sisters in the area and throw a party!  Now that is technology.  However, we are thrilled that her original plan commenced and they landed in CT.

How about a Saturday morning craft project??  She shipped all her supplies ahead of time so we could be apart of Meredith's room decor.  We each painted a little canvas for display.

After that we did a little naked art

Goomba decided to test his boy scout skills with a tent circa 1979.  This is a shelter half on steroids.  I won't recommend putting this up as you arrive to the camp site late at night. 

If you build it, they will come.......

Wish I could say this was the tent for my sister and Riley.  We are crushed they cannot join us this weekend.  They seem to be on quarantine in North Attleboro.  Riley caught foot and mouth but seems recovered as she is bouncing around her pool.  However, my sister managed to get it as well.  She is keeping herself busy by doing things like dissecting her dyer (she really is sick) while  Jason is traveling in Scotland.  We miss you Stacie and Riley! 

Also, I just heard from Chris.  He is enjoying the English gardens in Munich with Bury and Lamarca.  Germany just beat Argentina to advance to the semi finals!  They are in the right place for this celebration!  Who knows, maybe they will see fireworks today too =)

Simsbury does Fireworks!

Friday night the Hartford symphony did a 4th of July concert.  It was filled with patriotic tunes and John Phillip Susa songs (What goomba listens to as he marches with the lawn mower)  They started the concert with a Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.  Nick stood the entire time with his hand on his heart.  Love my little patriotic man.

Here is the concert venue

They finished the night with fireworks.  I love fireworks and was thrilled to see that my kids do too!  Nick sad lots of OOHs and AAAHs

Judging by Shane's eyeballs, we must be coming up on the grand finale!

Meredith got all her boogginging out earlier and wasn't terribly interested in the fireworks.

This was the carnage - three sleeping munchkins.  Nothing like an evening out that results in snoring on the way home!

Hello mother, hello father, greetings here from - camp carlson

Here's a photo of the kids with their 'counselors'  The water is perfect (if you like 76 degrees, give or take a few) and crystal clear. 

This scooter is something I rode as a kid.  My folks managed to dig in out in time for Nick.  He has no idea its almost 30 years old!

Sitting in the lap of luxury

Logging on the lawn chairs.

Nick loves his race track.  I am going to guess this one is almost as old as the scooter.  It was loaned to us from Peter Brinkerhoff.  How many miles has Nick logged on this race track?

Reading the morning skinny with Goomba

The cousins were together for a very short 24 hours.  Riley is at such a super cute exploratory age.  She enjoyed a little dude time as well.

Wonder how that pool got so clear - here's our future pool boy!

When you gotta go, you gotta go!

Swim lesson time for the littlest Leadbetter

matching smiles

Goomba ordered up the perfect ice cream sandwiches and Nick gets one almost every night!

Its tough around here when it comes to dilly beans.  You gotta guard your food =)

Friday morning is the ultimate in excitement.  A garbage truck in action.  Nothing better!

Nick is the turtle whisperer...  he is able to feed the turtle cheerios by hand!

Can he crawl??

Shane drew a line in the sand and said "Today is the day I am going to crawl!  Forward that is"  He has spent days in the 'down dog' position, scooting backwards etc...  But today he wanted to make some - forward progress.  He has a great teacher too.

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