Ian wants to tell you something...

This was originally on Joe's parents' blog, hence the shout-out at the end. =) But you can always pretend he's blowing kisses at you.

On Notice

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.

I just love Stephen Colbert references.

Anyway.

Because the internet continues to get kookier and kookier and kookier (and because kooky tends to scare the pants off me), this blog will be going private within the next few days.

PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL so I can send you an invite. Don't be shy. If we know you (and you don't scare me), you're in. I promise. Further, if you only sort of know us, but know our [mom, sister, brother in-law, missionary companion, grandparents, college roommate, etc] better, then go ahead and drop a line anyway. Call it a glorified De-Lurk Day. Further still, if you're here because we once shared an awkward moment in college or knew each other a long time ago and you just want to see what we're up to to satisfy curiosity, well....you're invited, too.

We simply need:
1. to know who you are, and
2. for you to not be scary.

Can you handle that? See?? I thought so. You never let me down.

Side note: If you already have an invite to Ian's blog, then don't worry about sending me an email. I'll just roll you on over when this one goes private.

Bonus Motivation: Exciting things coming down the pike that you don't want to miss. I promise.

Camping

Joe and Ian took off with the scouts last Friday night for a camping trip in New Hampshire. Judging by how excited Ian was before the camp out, and then how excited he was after he got home...well, I'd say that a good time was had by all. Those two tend to have a fun time together, regardless, so I'm not in any way surprised.

Kimball's

We took my grandparents to Kimball's tonight. It was their first time. And if you're remotely familiar with Kimball's (and their obscenely huge portion sizes), you know that a first-time visit is always memorable.

This time was no different.

My grandparents do not disappoint. Ever.

EXHIBIT A:

This is Papa's banana split. We can't decide if there are 6 or 8 very large scoops of ice cream on there...but whatever it was, it required two bowls for stability and that piece of paper to keep the dripping to a minimum. (Oh, and that heaping thing behind Papa's banana split? My grandmother's SIZE SMALL dish of ice cream).


EXHIBIT B:

Yeah, so this is after he'd been working on it for a bit. Seriously. That thing could have fed all five of us with leftovers for tomorrow.

EXHIBIT C:

Then, after a good 20 minutes of sitting and shivering and eating and chatting (it was in the high-50's tonight), we decided to head back to their hotel where it's warm. That container you see there? It's a 1-QUART container. And the LEFTOVERS nearly came to the top.


EXHIBIT D:

I like to call this one "Ding! Round Two!" Papa got Ian a spoon so they could share the remaining ice cream....but the way we presented it to Ian was thusly: "Ian, do you want to help Papa finish his ice cream?" So he did. But not how we thought he would.

Museum Day

Ian and I went into the city today and visited the Boston Museum of Science. It was fantastic...

{The only hiccup occurred when Ian came face-to-foot with a life-sized replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. He gave me the "you-have-some-explaining-to-do" look when he realized that his 3" miniatures we have at home are not of the correct dimensions.}

More pictures coming on Ian's blog.

A half-peck

We tend to get our apples from a farm near my parents' house--they have bushels of "drops" that we cook with all winter long. But we always try to get Ian out to pick a half-peck of apples every year. Kids should know where their food comes from...

It was a gorgeous day and we had a FANTASTIC time. Bonus points to the farm for having emus, elpacas, sheep, chickens AND John Deere tractors.

Walden Pond

In an attempt to squeeze as much outdoor time as possible from the ensuing autumn season, a friend and I took our kids to Walden Pond (yes, that Walden Pond) to play at the beach and wade in the water. It was a beautiful day--Ian did not want to leave. =)

9th Annual Family Fun Day

Well, it's that time of year again!

We all gathered in Maine for my family's ninth annual Family Fun Day. We'd seriously better do something big in 2010. And it had better involve keeping score and prizes. Just sayin'.

Here are some highlights--a good time was surely had by all. Three of my mom's four siblings were able to make it--along with most of their kids that weren't either: thousands of miles away, serving a mission, playing in a football game, or going to college. But you know, all the more root beer for me. =)

We started out by spending the day at Sebago Lake--a multi-generational family favorite beach destination. (And yours truly was the genius who forgot to reapply the sunscreen on my face, so now you can see the exact size and shape of my sunglasses.....when I'm not wearing them.)

Ian decided to check out the beach before venturing in the water

So did Joe.

Who doesn't love time with cousin Noelle?

My rugged husband transported the canoe....

So Ian and Joe took a ride....

...And floated around for a while....

And played in the sand.....

And it didn't take long for Papa to get comfy and take a nap in the shade.

My parents have chickens...and these chickens have given new meaning to the term "free range." (They spend most of the day un-fenced, and are free to wander about my parents land at-will....) BUT. I'd never seen them approach the house before....

And we made a fun trip to Fort Williams for a picnic lunch with our favorite DiPietro's sandwiches...

Annnnnnnnnd.....we played Bocce. Lots and lots of Bocce.

It got so exciting that my very own mother and my cousin, Megan (in her rockin' Ricks College sweatshirt), found themselves in the middle of a celebratory CHEST BUMP.

My. Mother. Is. Awesome.

I think that's a nice place to end, don't you?

Cousin Reunification

My cousins are back in town (where "town" = "my parents' house in Maine) from Phoenix this week, so we met up with them yesterday in Portsmouth, NH (or as Ian calls it, "Port Smith"). For an added bonus, my mom also came along--which was quite fortuitous (as always), because Ian likes to keep tabs of when his next "Grammy Day" will be.

[Side note: Boo and Rachel have a new baby, Sydney, who came along as well. When introducing her to Ian, the following conversation ensued:

Me: Ian, that's baby Sydney. She's Boo and Rachel's new baby!
Ian: Where's the old baby?

I thought it was a reasonable question, quite frankly. Smart kid, I tell ya.]

Portsmouth is one of our favorite towns to visit, so we're always up for a day there. (And with their parking garages all priced at $0.75/hour, it's really worth spending the whole day).

We ate at our favorite restaurant there, where Ian and cousin Noelle couldn't keep their eyes off the pastry counter....and really, neither could the rest of us....MMMMM.

After lunch was finished, we indulged in the aforementioned pastry counter....Ian and I chose the chocolate mousse cup (complete with a chocolate cup....)....and I tell you what. I'm pretty sure I got about two square bites before Ian commandeered the whole operation.

Then it was off to some uber-cute shops--one of which was a yarn store. (=HeavenOnEarth for my mama). And would you like to know how awesome the fine retailers of Portsmouth, New Hampshire are? Well, I'll tell you. We made stops in both the quilting store and the yarn store, and both had baskets of children's books and toys for their young patrons. It was amazing. Ian and Noelle both especially liked the sheep in the front garden.