A Mid Summer's Night...

A good "cooking fire"

 As much as I aspire to weekend fires like this, sadly I think we managed 2 this entire summer.  But they were fun and cozy and relaxing...We roasted marshmallows and spent a lot of the time trying to keep the dogs from catching on fire...But it was a good time.

This year, we bought the whole family camp chairs.  They sure came in handy!!!

Henri relaxing at the fire.   Life is good!

Strawberry Festival 2011

Trying to convince Carlie to get into the bounce house without me.

 As usual, we attended the St. Barnabus Strawberry Festival this summer.  I've been going to this since I was a kid and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to be able to continue the tradition with my own daughter.   It's small and busy and hot...But it's a tradition and it's beautiful and has a small town feel....I love that.   The last few years, my Father in Law has joined us.  I like to think that maybe someday Carlie will be going with her kids....

Strawberry face paining...a MUST at every Strawberry Festival!

I try and get a picture like this every year....I'm doubtful I'll be able to pick her up next year!...Oh and the blue stuff is cotton candy. (at 10am)!!!

Carlie in bounce house action!!!  Pony tails flying!!!

Looking towards the Village Green and Main Street , Falmouth.

Easter 2011

Easter this year was a success! My Father in Law came up to spend Easter weekend with us.  With much careful planning and consulting with "The Easter Bunny", we made these beautiful Easter eggs.

 We had lots of fun trying to make designs and get the best colors

Carlie seemed to be more comfortable using her hands to dip the eggs rather than that little wire egg dipper you get with the egg coloring kit....

We had a lot of fun...And then it was time to take a rest with Grandpa.

Happy Easter!!

Patriots Day 2011

Carlie and I had Patriots Day off together this year.  Henri had to work (ha ha),so I decided we needed a girls day.  Carlie and I hit the road around 10am, headed for Rt. 6A. The plan was to to wind our way up to Dennis and explore Mayflower Beach. I was told that it is a beautiful beach and you can find Sand dollars there this time of the year.  It was a beautiful day for a drive!!  

When we got to the beach, this is what we saw first. (see above photo)

Carlie had her bucket and we were hunting for those Sand dollars.  We found a lot of other things like....a horseshoe crab...

 

And a few of these disgusting things that were spewed out of that sewage treatment plant in New Hampshire, that dumped millions of these little gross poop filters into the ocean...eew.

But mostly we had a good time finding cool things on this beach.  Then I heard those dreaded words..."Mommy, I have to pee".   Too many people around to do a quick duck and cover pee out in nature manuver, so we had to pack it up and leave.  It was a little cold and a lot windy and a long walk back to the truck. So long in fact, she had to sit and rest on the way.

   We ended up at UNO'S in Hyannis and had a great time at lunch together.  Then we decided to go spend a gift card at Bath and Body Works in the Hyannis Mall. (Carlie calls it the "Girl Store"...She couldn't be MORE right about that)!  After we shopped till we dropped, we hit the Carousel at the food court for a one time around.

 We saw some pretty cool things that day...

Beach house at Chapin Beach with Horse Shoe crab shells mounted on the front. Thought this was a cool idea and might try it at home.

Chapin Beach (photo by Carlie)

Chapin Beach Dennis MA.

And I think all in all it was a lot of fun!!!