Summer is Here!

Another school year has come and gone!  We celebrated graduation last Saturday and faculty meetings are over.  It's hard to believe, but we just finished our seventh year at PA!  Scott had to say goodbye to five of his seven advisees at graduation.  Some of these boys have been mentored by Scott for all four years of their high school career, so it was bittersweet to see them move on to college.

Here is Scott with his graduating boys at an end-of-year cookout...

Our boys had fun exploring the beautiful backyard!

 Maggie, one of my former students and soccer players who is now in college, had fun holding Sadie.  Her brother Patrick was one of Scott's four-year advisees and she and her family joined the cookout...

We became very close to Patrick and Maggie's family over the years.  Sad to see him go... (and he's standing on a little hill...he's not that much taller than Scott!)

It didn't take us long to pull out our tiny kiddie pool out and get started on some summer fun!

 Silly Daddy and Sadie...

 These two love each other (most of the time!)...

 Smiley girl...

 I can never get a good picture with her!

 We had our first outing of the summer to Elkins beach!  We'll be spending lots of time there this summer!  Can't wait!  (Although I'm a little unsure about how I'm going to do it alone with three kids...could be interesting!)

 Sadie's first trip to the beach!

 We dipped her toes in!

Of course we just had to get ice cream on the way home!

 We are looking forward to many more sunny days and summer adventures!  Next up: visiting Brian and Sarah in Portland for a day trip!  Can't wait to see that cute little niece of ours!

Sisters and Brothers

We had such a great time last week when Brian and Sarah visited on Thursday and then Caren, Dave and Clara arrived for Thursday night - Sunday!  We had so much fun swimming in all the beautiful lakes around us, eating good food, and just being together as a family.


On Thursday we brought Brian and Sarah to Elbow Pond...one of my favorite places on earth.  The boys LOVE their Uncle Brian and Aunt Sarah and we feel so blessed to live just a couple of hours away and to be able to see them as often as we do! 

 Happy boy with his Daddy...

 Micah swimming with Aunt Sarah...

 When did he become such a big boy??

This is the same little boy who is terrified to participate in the swim lesson we signed him up for.  Apparently, he has no fear when he's jumping to his Daddy! 

Sisters.

Ice cream at the new/only ice cream place in town.  We now have a pizza shop and an ice cream store...we're turning into a metropolis! 

 That evening we headed down to my parents to say hi to them and to Caren and Dave who had just arrived and then Brian and Sarah headed back to Maine.  Here's Camden showing off his two-wheeler skills to his aunts and uncles.

 My Mom and Dad bought a balance bike as a (really) early birthday present for Micah!  He's pretty cute on it!

 Clara was happy to see her cousins!

 After we said goodbye to Brian and Sarah the rest of the group headed up the street past our house to Bradley for an evening swim.  We are so spoiled. 

 On Friday we went up to Elkins for a swim with the kids.  We brought my Dad and wheeled him out on the grass so he could watch his grandchildren play.  It was so great to have him there with all of us!

Daddy and his girls...

Camden and Clara were in their own little world all weekend.  They had a game going where they were looking on maps to find a secret key and running all over the place giggling and whispering to each other.  I don't think they had a moment of frustration with each other (which is a first)!  So cute! (thanks for the pic, Mom!)

 Caren took some pretty cute pictures using Instagram on her fancy iPhone.  I'm jealous of her awesome technology, but some of her pictures are too cute not to share!
Micah waiting for a little snack of blueberries after riding his bike!

  My cousin, Carmen, who just gave birth to that little baby in her belly (!!) used to babysit Clara so they have a special bond!  It was so great that she was able to stop by while we were all together.  And now Camden and Micah have a new little "cousin" as Connor is now a big brother to Lucey!  :)  Congratulations, Carmen and Jeremy!!!

 My Mom with her grandsons at Elbow...

 Caren, my Mom and I enjoyed a girls' night out and had a delicious dinner at PC's together (our favorite restaurant of all time).  We were laughing SOOO hard I was crying.  :)

 And then they were gone.  :(  The Swanson clan headed back to Durham, NC, but they'll be back for a week in August!  Can't wait!  We'll see Brian and Sarah later this week when we (or at least Scott) heads up to Portland to help them move into their beautiful new home they just bought!  So exciting!  I'm pretty lucky to have such a wonderful family!

Summer? Still?

I'm having a hard time figuring out what season it is here in NH.  Generally by late September it is full-fledged fall.  And there are moments when it seems like fall has finally arrived.  Many leaves have fallen off the trees already.  Colors are starting to pop.  But it has been unusually warm.  The last couple days here have been nearly 80˚!  The mosquitoes are horrible and Scott and I are both anxious for the first frost!  I know a few months from now I'll be wishing for summer weather again, but right now I want to wear sweaters and sweatshirts and cozy up by the woodstove.  I'm ready for fall, but I have to say, it's been nice having a slow transition and enjoying these last few days of summer.

This weekend, Camden and Micah had a blast playing in a huge leaf pile at Nan and Pop's house!  These pictures are deceptive though, because it was hot out!  Even the (Great) Grandpa Allenby got in on the fun!

 

Yesterday, my friend Molly and I brought our kids to the beach for one last hurrah!  We were the only people there and it was absolutely gorgeous!

 "How big is Micah?...Soooooo big!"

 Linden and Camden...

 Brothers...

 The water is still really refreshing!

Rain and colder weather is heading our way.  Goodbye summer!  I'll miss you!