A Little Getaway

We had a wonderful little getaway Friday through Wednesday and got to spend great time with both of our extended families.  We first traveled to my aunt and uncles beautiful house in the Berkshires to celebrate my Uncle David's 50th birthday with the extended family.  We swam in their pool, jumped on their big trampoline, ate yummy food and enjoyed going to Circus Smirkus as a big group on Saturday!  Here are some pictures of our brief time with the Pott side of the family...


Ami and Camden in the pool...

Grandma Sylvia and Clara...

My cousin, Noah, and Camden - they became good buddies!

Camden enjoying his first ever trampoline experience!

Camden and Clara with my cousins, Talia and Noah - hard to believe they're two different generations!

Circus Smirkus...

Enjoying the show...

We left David and Alix's after the circus to drive to Lake George.  We were bummed to leave so early, as we missed the big birthday celebration that evening, but were glad that we got to see family as much as we did.
We arrived at Lake George in time to see this incredible sunset!

Camden was excited to see his Nan and Pop...

Playing on the dock the next day...

Mama relaxing in the water (it was amazing!)...

Snuggling with Mama for some afternoon quiet time (Camden only took one nap a day instead of two for most of this trip since we were so busy.  He adjusted pretty well, but is back on schedule with two naps now that we're home).

Dinner on the porch...

Brian and Sarah enjoying an evening cruise on the motorboat...

Cute...

 Me and the hubby!

Me and Sarah...the almost-official final female addition to the Allenby clan!  (And, no, she's not over 6 feet tall, she's just standing on a step!)

Scott and Camden on their way out to the island!  We weren't sure how he would do in the kayak, but he loved it!  He's turning into such a big boy!

Checking out Pop's sailboat...

This place has held sooo many incredible memories for this family...

Hanging out by the fire pit with Nan and Pop...

Enjoying a delicious ice cream sundae!

Goodbye Lake George...we love you!

And we're off!

We're off in the morning for a family adventure!  We'll be gone until next Wednesday, so there won't be any blog posts until we return.  We're heading to Great Barrington, MA tomorrow to spend Friday and Saturday with my mom's family.  It's my Uncle David's 50th Birthday and the whole family is getting together to celebrate!  We're excited to spend time with everyone and are bringing Camden to his first circus on Saturday!  Saturday evening we're headed out to Lake George where we will stay through Wednesday with Mom and Dad A and Brian and Sarah.  The Allenby's bought a camp on the lake when Scott was a little boy and just sold it last year.  It is one of my favorite places in the entire world and we're so lucky that they sold it to friends who allow us a week each summer to enjoy our old stomping grounds.  Last year Camden was just a little guy, so it will be fun to have more adventures with him this summer (although I'm slightly nervous as the porch and dock and most of the place in general are not very kid-friendly...we'll have to keep a close eye on him!).

Here are a couple pictures from last year - a sneak peek at what we'll be up to again this coming week!  Can't wait!

Have a great week and look for a picture-heavy update upon our return!  :)

4th of July

The 4th of July is one of my favorite days of the year.  Not because I would consider myself a super-patriotic person or because I'm some sort of pyromaniac, but because our quiet little New England town does it up big on the 4th and it's so much fun!  The usually quiet, empty streets are swarming with thousands of people who turn up to celebrate in Andover.  A flea market covers the town green, the volunteer fire department cooks up huge italian sausages, a parade winds it's way through campus and of course the Andover One Wheelers perform!  It's a fun day when you run into random people like your 2nd grade teacher and have a chat, buy a book you've been dying to read for .25¢ and collect yummy candy that is thrown at you during the parade.  This year lived up to all my expectations.  It was HOT, but we had fun anyways.  Unfortunately, Camden is at a tricky age.  He was scared to death of the parade (of course there are firetrucks from the surrounding 8 towns blasting their sirens and people lighting a cannon right in front of us as they walked by - too loud for Camden...he was miserable) and was in bed before the fireworks started.  Hopefully next year he'll enjoy the festivities more. 

Here are some pictures of our fun day...
Daddy and Camden watching the Andover One Wheelers...

Yes, I used to be one of these kids!  haha!

Family...

Camden mooching pie from Mom and Lizzy.  This was my cousin Lizzy's first taste of any pie other than pumpkin...she has been missing out!

Posing with Ami and Lizzy...

Cousin Clara looking very patriotic (and adorable!)...

The start of the parade...

Camden freaking out during the parade.  Poor little thing...

This is how he spent the rest of the parade...

Cousins eating cherries during a family cookout at Ami and Bepa's...

They love eachother...

Yummy watermelon...

Lizzy is staying with my parents for a couple of weeks while she participates in KAT Company (a local youth acting camp).  Her 14th birthday is tomorrow!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZZY!

What better way to celebrate than cake?!?

Although I opted for the AMAZING strawberry shortcake with biscuits just out of the oven...YUMMY!

Caren and Lizzy...

Scott and my cousin Jon catching up...

Mere and Nan and Pop...

It was such a wonderful day spending time with family and sharing the excitement with Camden!  Our good friend Chuck who runs a blog on our school's webpage documented the day as well.  Check this link out if you're interested!  Happy 4th!

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

We feel so blessed to live near family.  We live in the town I grew up in and my parents live in the same house I moved into when I was three years old.  They live right down the hill from us and as Scott and I found out the other day, it's quicker to bike there than it is to drive!  We love having the freedom to walk over and see them and I've loved having the option of spending time with them when Scott is busy coaching a game or something like that. 

My sister and her family also live in Andover, about 15 minutes away at the end of a beautiful dirt road and we love living near them as well! 

It's so fun that Camden and Clara are growing up together, and it's so special to see their bond (and my sister and I get to do fun things together like the shopping/lunch date we had the other day!).
Scott's parents have lived in Vermont for over thirty years and the drive to go see them was about an hour and fourty-five minutes.  We have been so lucky to be able to see them very often (especially since Camden was born) and it was not uncommon for them to drive over for the day and hang out with us before heading back that evening.  Camden is SO lucky to have both sets of grandparents so involved in his life and we really are so thankful for all the help and support they provide!
The exciting news of the summer is that Steve and Nancy/Mom and Dad bought a house in New London just 12 minutes away from us!  They are excited to get involved in the New London community, live closer to us and Brian and Sarah, and start a new chapter of their lives.  It's been fun looking at properties with them and helping them in the house-hunting process and we are so thrilled to have them move to our area (more free babysitters, and just good company of course!).  Scott's been working hard helping them get settled and paint walls and do yardwork, and my Mom and Dad have had a great time lending a hand as well!  Here are some pictures of their new home...

Helping Pop transplant his blueberry bushes...

Helping out in the backyard...

My Mom helping Nancy set up her new kitchen...

Playing with the box of matchbox cars that Scott and his brothers played with as children in Nan and Pop's new backyard.  Camden's current obsession...

Breaking in the back patio...

An impromptu beach outing (Nan and Pop live right near the lake...)

Scott is excited about his dad's new tractor!

Welcome to New Hampshire, Nan and Pop!  We're so excited to have you here! Now we really are one big happy family!