Fall in New England

It seems that when ever we travel, it takes me at least a month to get the pictures posted. I wouldn't want to break with tradition....(I'm actually writing this on Nov. 16)

The first week of October we took a spontaneous trip to Massachusetts to visit Kermit's mom. This rural New England town is one of the best places to be for a week in autumn. It is just so gorgeous and peaceful! Kermit and I have wondered if we lived there would we feel the same way about it. Is it the contrast from the city that we love? Is it the fact that whenever we are there we are on vacation and so we only associate good feelings and good times? Does it matter? The fact remains -We love it! We had a great time and had PERFECT weather! Ahh. It makes me happy thinking back on the fun we had.

I think His Tractor's.....So Cute

Here are some darn cute pictures of my girls with Kermit on the old tractor this summer. I even gave it a go this year. I found it to be much more difficult than I thought. I felt exactly like I did the first time I ever drove a car. The shifting thing is very different, so is stopping and going. Practice is needed for sure. Maybe next summer I'll be able to spend a couple hours in a field practicing. I NEVER thought in a million years, I would ever want to learn to drive a tractor. IT'S FUN, the kids loved it too. Kermit loves it for sure! Okay, I'll just say it....I think his tractor's sexy....(blush, blush).

Golly Ball...

Have you ever heard of Golly Ball? We're not sure why but that is what Annaliese calls bowling. =) Here are our pictures from a fun filled family day in Massachusetts. It was the Fourth of July and all of Kermit's family went with us. Our family Independence Day picnic and program were rained out....so a candlestick bowling we went. FUN! It was my first time...the gutter bumpers came in handy. =)

That night we did not go see fireworks...but we did end up seeing them a few nights later at a beach in York, Maine.....the girls LOVED that too!

Old house tour....

Reunion in Massachusetts!

What a great time we had on vacation again this year! More pictures and stories to come but here are some family & group pictures that I wanted to share with everyone before anymore time passes.

What a great reunion. It was great to have all four brothers and ALL of their families in one place at the same time! Unfortunately we didn't get a family shot with EVERYBODY together but here are some that I did take. I know I saw Chau taking some pictures. I'm hoping to get a peek at those and maybe add them to this slide show if possible.

We also had fun with Uncle James, Elizabeth & Robert who came out for part of the time. (I especially loved Elizabeth's soap making demonstation!)

Miss you all! It was so fun to see you! WE LOVE YOU!
(If you want to leave a comment, please do! We love comments! I think you just need to set up a google account. I think that is pretty easy. ENJOY!)

Canoeing the Concord River

We haven't been back from Massachusetts but a week or two, but it seems like an eternity has already passed! We had a wonderful time. One of our many adventures was canoeing the Concord River. The entire family participated & we had some fun times! I couldn't believe that NOBODY tipped over! Kermit & I had our three little ones all together in one canoe. I was in front, Kermit in back and three little girls in the middle. The girls loved dragging their hands in the water as we went along. They wished they had a paddle too. We'll have to remember that for next time. We canoed maybe 5 miles down to the Old North Bridge. At Old North Bridge the Ranger/Tour Guide gave us the history of the first battle of the American Revolution. Very appropriate for our Fourth of July weekend. =)
Paddling back was challenging. We were against the river current and against the wind. One crying 2 year old motivated us to keep on stroking like we've never stroked before. Whew! My muscles were sore! Boy we had fun though!
After everyone was back at the cars safe n sound we went out to lunch at a little restaurant in the Concord Town Center. YUM!
Great time! We can't wait to do it again!

Who's that? What's he doing?

Yep, that's Kerm! Working like a mad man! Loving every minute of it! We spent 10 days in Princeton, MA at his mother's farm house over the fourth of July holiday. Every morning Kermit was up before sunrise clearing fields of overgrown bushes, brambles, weeds, etc. - quitting after sunset. He cleared an entire field and took down dozens of scrubby trees in hopes that the surrounding ones will have less competition and really take off and get huge. He LOVED loved LOVED it! We're hoping to go back for a quick weekend of more chainsaw fun before summer closes.

Massachusetts vacation....

Farm House in Princeton, MA

This year we headed back east for a week. It's become somewhat of a tradition to spend a week around the fourth of July. What a great time we had. The girls loved being at grandmas house, new house to explore! Kermit was in heaven...every day 4:30am he was out working in the fields clearing brush and scrub, taking out small trees so that the more mature ones could grow faster. Wow what a process!

A few more highlights
- Kermit and I visited Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see Edward Hopper exhibit - fun time (and without the kids!!!)
- took the little one's to the Public Garden to see Mr. and Mrs. Mallard from "Make way for Ducklings" Annaliese's favorite bedtime story.
- Chased Sniffs the dog all over the house. (Annaliese is in love with that animal!)
-Played and played with cousins Erin and Adam.
- Picked bowls and bowls of wild blackberries.
- Swam in Uncle Tancred's pool with the cousins AND Grandma King! (Time to get my girls in swimming lessons- Aunt Chau had to jump in the jacuzzi in her clothes to save Annaliese who thought she knew how to swim! Thanks Chau for your good eyes and quick reaction!)
- Avrie spotted a snake in the grass along the house - yikes! Not scared at all, wanted to touch it!

Here are some pics from the Public Garden in Boston. Annaliese had the time of her life climbing up on Mrs. Mallard and naming all of the ducklings...Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack & Quack! Did I get them all right? She would know.

Here we are in front of the pond with the swan boats. We didn't get to ride in them because they were closed...but we did get to see the "real" Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and some real little ducklings too.

Later the girls had the best time ever chasing squirrels. Yes, we tormented them all. They were glad when we finally left.

MORE PICS FROM VACATION

Saying goodbye to grandma.

Aunt Chau and Cousins Erin, Adam and Emma with Annaliese.

Swimming in Uncle Tanc's pool.