A Summer Week: Olivia, Visit to my alma mater, Ethan & Brandon, and Buttonwood Farm

What a relaxingly busy week this was!  After Monday's playdate with Samm, Tuesday's schedule included a piano lesson, Mad Science class at the library (where Bea made molecules out of toothpicks and mini marshmallows) a trip to Funky Monkey's, Bea's favorite local thrift shop (where I scored $5 brand new soccer cleats) and lots of hanging out at home, plus a visit to Alexander's Lake for a swim. John and J.J. came for dinner and it was fun to see them and talk more about the beautiful wedding.  

On Wednesday, Louise took Bea and met up with my nephew Shawn and his daughter Olivia and the girls went to a craft class at Michael's and then a playdate at Owen Bell.  Beatrice doesn't get to see her often, but sure loves her time with my 4-year old grandniece!

After dinner we had a spontaneous trip back to the lake to cool off, and the Durands popped by unexpectedly so they joined us!

 The following two photos are "Bea's picks" as she watched me choosing recent photos for this post.   She likes this shot and wanted me to show her how to change the color.  She really likes the word "sepia,"

and, a budding photographer, she insisted we take a picture of yesterday's breakfast, eggs, rice, and Chinese sausage:

On Thursday, we headed to UConn to their new bookstore.  We stopped first at Dog Lane Cafe and had some breakfast:

Then off to the bookstore!  I offered to take Beatrice to a park, a museum, the Ecotarium, a Science center....all she wanted was a bookstore, so that was where we went:

In her glory...

Outside the dorm I lived in 1987-1989, Lester E. Shippee Hall:

Then we roamed across the street to Mirror Lake:

She had fun photographing, and then being  chased by, the ducks:

After a ride around campus and a visit to the horse barn, we stopped at the dairy bar to get a taste of some Husky Tracks ice cream. On the way out we gave a high five to Jonathan! Great day.

It had been far too long since we'd seen the Schultzes, so we had a blast at Quaddick lake with them Friday and are looking forward to meeting them again today for Ethan's 5-year old birthday party!

3-year old Brandon had trouble keeping up with the big kids, so he hung out with his mom:

Last night, we had our 4th annual trip to Buttonwood farm for ice cream and sunflower viewing.  It is always such a gorgeous spot in the evening, a photographer's dream.

          No one said modeling was easy.  I love this "would you just take the picture already????" face!

Samm

Beatrice's best buddy from school this year was Samm. She's the number one person she wanted at her birthday party, the person she has spoken about seeing all summer, the friend she wanted to send a postcard to from Maryland.  Yesterday we had a playdate at the Splashpad with Samm and the friends were so happy to be together:

Samm's the kind of friend who holds you close to help you be brave and try something you've been too scared to do...stand under THE BUCKET!

They ran and squealed and played and giggled and interrupted each other constantly and it was perfect 6-year old girl fun!

Flower Girl, take 2

Two years to the day from being a flower girl at David & Meaghan's wedding in Tuscany, Beatrice had the honor of being flower girl for his sister Mary Elizabeth and her wedding to Sam.  It was a local wedding, so unfortunately we didn't get to fly anywhere exotic or stay in a romantic historical villa, but the place they chose 5 miles from our house felt like a French mansion. After starting the day by throwing up her breakfast all over me (old orange juice, I think), we laid very low until heading out the door in the afternoon, hair done but not dressed:

Here's the outside of the incredible mansion:

I put her dress on and she walked away, and I quickly snapped a photo, somehow seeing many years flash ahead of me in a moment:

A couple hours ago, she and Venus, the "head flower girl" and best childhood friend of ME scattered petals down the aisle:

Bea took her job very seriously (and I think her belly was grumbling):

One of the beautiful brides making the debut with my dear friends John and Mary Jane.  I have been part of this girl's life since she was just about walking and it was quite awesome seeing her walk down the aisle, so happy and so in love:

The readings and vows were very personal, very intense, and perfectly chosen:

Here are my three "babies" once again who I babysat for so often so long ago, all grown up and leading beautiful lives as adults.  So proud and so happy for each of them:

My sweet , somewhat weak-feeling girl did her job so very well:

3 out of 4 of the old Woodstock Elementary School gang!

Meanwhile, she conked out in the car at 10:30 p.m. and went to sleep in her braids and her sunflower dress.  I snapped this of her moments after she awoke at 7:30 the next morning.  Couldn't resist!

Maryland/DC vacation

We returned yesterday from 12 days away from home.  We started in Dover, DE and spent one night at the glorious Red Roof Inn (at which Sula was welcome) then headed to Ocean City.  The first day we spent time with the Enrile family before they headed back home.  That night Miles and family arrived, followed by the Albanos on the 4th of July.  They spent the weekend and then the Durands from CT arrived for a few days.  After a week at the beach, we headed to Lolo and Lola's house and make a couple trips into DC and spent loads of time with the Dirksen cousins. She had kids around, from ages 6 mos.-17 yrs. every single day, and ate it right up.  I love that we're able to give her the experience of not being an only child  from time to time. Here are photos, out of order, of the summer fun:

at National Zoo, analyzing elephant dung:

we got to see baby panda Bao Bao, which was such a treat, and her mom pretty close up:

Beatrice adored the large birds!

Here's Bea and Linden (after haircut) in matching dresses for church bought by Lola:

The Dirksen's new dog Mato was a big hit!

Walking the zoo in the heat wore us out after a few short hours!

5 1/2 year old Miles, Tita Liza, Bea, and Tita Evelyn:

The Albano/Jackson/Foronda crew on the 4th:

Bea and Linden (pre-haircut)

Cousin Marco is one of  Bea's favorite people on the planet! Here we are out for ice cream at Dumser's Dairyland:

Told you the zoo wore us out:

We headed to Rehoboth for Funland and Bea of course wanted the carousel as always:

Lucy Durand and Bea at the OC Boardwalk:

Hanging out at the house:

and plotting where there swimming hole was to be dug:

Harry Durand, almost 14-years old, and the greatest hole digger ever!

Marco and Bea at the fireworks:

When we arrived at Lolo and Lola's house, Dan & Kathleen and the boys met us for an overnight on their way back home from North Carolina.  We headed into DC in the pouring rain and had dinner at the Kennedy Center:

Luckily the drops stopped long enough for these three to race around the terrace for a while:

and the highlight of the trip was getting an email from cousin Annabelle from France, whom we visited four summers ago, saying that she and her husband were traveling a bit earlier than expected to pick up their new son, Bastien Hoang Minh, from  the Thu Duc orphanage in Saigon, Vietnam.  14-months old and more-than-ready for a family, "a little cousin for Beatrice" as Annabelle referred to him,  he is so beautiful and I can't tell you the memories/emotions their photos brought back:

A near photo-less but awesome week

Our nephew Jaden graduated from 8th grade this month, so as a present we flew him up here for 6 days.  We all had a blast, visiting the Boston Science Museum, hiking Purgatory Chasm, heading to the KNIGHTS exhibit at the Worcester Art Museum, going to the dam, putting together loads of Legos here at the house,  and celebrating at my brother's 50th birthday party.  Hours after he left, Bea and I headed to the annual Asian Festival which ended with an incredible Lion Dance Competition! But nearly all of these awesome events were done without a camera.  I am in such a photography slump!  The weather was spectacular and I coulda-shoulda-woulda gotten awesome shots, but instead you'll have to settle for this one during tonight's bath time. She's taken to bathing with goggles:

and this one of Bea making of coat of arms at the Worcester museum,

and modeling it for one decent photo of her with her cousin!

and just one blurry one of her eating Vietnamese shave ice next to the big drums used for the lion dance:

Meanwhile, there are some big changes around here since I'm on vacation.  Since Anthony moved his studio to the attic, the former studio is now a playroom/guest bedroom, meaning 99% of the toys that used to be in our TV room are now gone, and the changing/storage table is finally gone from our bathroom.  Bea is finally, finally (fingers crossed) done with nighttime pull-ups and we're adultifying the house a bit all around. Maybe I'll get out of my slump and take some pictures before we head to Maryland in two days....