A Week Without Fuss

Last week our little fussa bud spent most of the week with his grandparents in Vermont. It was strange for us since we had only spent 1 full day away from him ever prior to this, and that was only once. So to not have anyone to bathe, tuck in to bed, make meals for, play with, sing songs to, read bedtime stories, etc. etc. etc. was a little odd. We wouldn't have known what to do with ourselves if we didn't have to go to work every day like normal.

I can safely say that we missed Aiden a lot more than he missed us. I was all prepared to slip away when I left him up in Vermont, so that he wouldn't have a crying fit over my leaving. But as I went to sneak out he turned around and shouted "Bye Ma-moo!" and waved with a big smile. So much for that! He had a great week with his Ba-Pa and Ma-Pa. He got thoroughly spoiled with a new toy tractor or wagon every day and ate many delicious ice cream cones. What's not to love?

He also got to visit his cousin William a bit, since Carrie, James, and William were up at the camp for the week. When we came up on Friday to pick up Aiden, we spent the rest of the weekend with them. Carrie and James brought a huge blow-up pool that the boys really enjoyed (in their matching wetsuits!) The dock is still underwater so the lake was a little challenging for them.

We also went to the Shelburne Farmer's Market, blueberry picking at Charlotte Berry Farm, and to Shelburne Farms. It was lots of fun to hit some of our old haunts with Carrie, James and William. As usual, Aiden was obsessed with the tractors at Shelburne Farms, while William preferred the animals. Aiden did get to feed a baby goat for a bit, which held his attention almost as long as a tractor. Ok not that long....

Shelburne Farmer's Market

A Mixed Bag on Grafton Pond

Last weekend we took Aiden on his first canoe trip ever. We've been putting this off since he is a pretty fidgety little creature and we weren't sure whether he'd sit still and allow us to paddle or throw a fit and capsize us. Our first intstict was to strap or seatbelt him to the canoe so he couldn't run around or go over the edge, but of course that is very dangerous, since if you do capsize, he could get stuck under the boat.

We decided to go to Grafton Pond, which is a beautiful undeveloped lake close to us, where most of the land is protected by the Forest Society (the organization I work for). We arrived early, before 8AM, and slipped into the water without incident. We decided that Andy would paddle solo from the rear and I would hold/contain Aiden up front. This worked pretty well and we got about half way across the lake before Aiden decided that his life jacket was cramping his style. He was half way to a fit when we pulled up to a little forested island to let him off and out of his jacket. So far, so good.

Aiden went for a swim (waded in with lots of splashing) until his lips turned blue, "helped" Dadoo go fishing, and had a snack on his beach towel. But then for no apparent reason he completely flipped out, as toddlers will occasionally do, and started wailing. AND WAILING. Keep in mind, its about 8AM on a saturday, on a calm peaceful lake. Loons are drifting by and calling softly, and there are about a dozen kayers and canoers spread around the lake in peaceful contemplation. Man, did Aiden ruin the morning for them!!! He wailed and wailed and there was nothing we could do to stop him, and it felt like you could probably hear him back in New London never mind the other side of the lake. After about 15 minutes we packed him into his lifejacket again, piled the stuff in the canoe, and took off for the boat ramp.

Of course, as soon as we started paddling again he stopped. He dangled himself over the edge of the canoe and trailed his hands through the water for the entire rest of our trip back (which we extended around some additional islands since he was happy again). So that was our first canoe trip - some good, some bad, but I'm sure we'll try it again soon.

It's August and the SUN has finally come out!

It feels like it's been raining for a month now. When the weather people were predicting more of the same for this weekend, we came up with lots of grand plans for indoor activities. But no! They were totally off, and we had two really nice days of mostly sun! 'Bout time. On saturday we went to the Wilmot Farmer's Market and Musterfield Farm in Sutton in search of fresh veggies. And also cows and chickens, of course.






We got back from our produce adventure and Aiden was so pooped he only made out the car door before deciding the driveway was a good enough place for a nap.



In the afternoon we made an excursion to Philbrick-Cricenti Bog, which is about 2 miles down the road. Aiden showed off his big-boy balance as he navigated the plank bridging all the way out to the bog itself. He only fell in a few times, but no harm done, it's only muck. There were lots of tiny sundews and bog cranberries among the sphagnum moss if you looked up close, and a few pitcher plants also.

Sundew, a carnivorous plant

Orange slices are Aiden's current favorite fruit. We'd prefer he had an obsession with orange slices in winter, when that's about the only fresh fruit that tastes any good, but what can you do? He is also enjoying the summer fresh blackberries and blueberries, though not nearly as enthusiastically.

On Sunday Andy played in a lacrosse tournament in New London. Aiden and I walked to the park to watch Dadoo play. Andy had been playing softball once a week nearby but there was never much of a showing so he switched to lacrosse on Wednesday nights. Seems to be a lot more people into lacrosse than softball around here... better excercise too!

Boston with Brothers

Historic Fenway Park... so great even Yankee fans love it!

This weekend Andy and I (and the little boompa) went down to Boston to meet up with our brothers. My brother Micah (& Becky) live in Gloucester, but Andy's brother Dan (& Paulette) drove up from Long Island for the weekend. Micah, Andy, Aiden and I met Dan and Paulette and their friends Crista and Andy (is this getting confusing yet?) and their 3-year old daughter Sofia at the New England Aquarium on Saturday morning. I'm so glad we went really early! When we got there at 9:30 it was easy for Aiden to hop up to all the tanks to see the fishes, but by 11 am it was mobbed! The line for admission stretched several blocks from the building....time to make a get-away!

Jellies were the special exhibit for the summer

After the aquarium we strolled though Fanueil Hall and Haymarket to the North End to eat lunch at an italian restaurant. It was delicious, and we decided to top it off with some italian pasties from one of the many pastry shops... Both Aiden and Sofia wanted good old (though hardly italian) m&m cookies, about the sizes of their heads. After a brief moment of silent awe, Aiden made short work of his cookie. Actually, when Andy handed him his cookie, we recieved the first-ever unsolicited "thank-you!" from our little man.

Fanueil Hall

This part of Boston looks so much nicer now that all the construction is done!


Sofia dancing

Outdoor market

That evening Dan (yes, Dan) took Andy to a Sox game at Fenway Park. The weather was threatening thunderstorms but it held off until the Sox beat the A's 12-2. They got to watch the new guy, Jason Bay, hit a 3-run homer... who needs Manny anyway? Andy said Dan behaved himself the whole game (they were sitting next to some 80 year old men and a guy with his six year old son), didn't wear anything that might have gotten them both killed, and even raised his hands a little when the wave went by (purely research, of course).





The next morning we decided to go to Plum Island (Parker River NWR) for a little birding and beaching. We left Micah and Becky's after breakfast and wished them luck on their tuna fishing excursion that afternoon. Aiden had lots of fun running in the surf and a bit less fun identifying the thousands of shorebirds out on the mudflats. That's ok, we were grumpy with the birding too b/c we forgot the scope! Next time...

Micah and Aiden trying out a present from Uncle Dan & Aunt Paulette. Even the softest setting is earsplitting! THanks guys!!

Cedar Waxwing on Plum Island

This gull was coveting Aiden's orange slices

Purple Martins

Parker River NWR (Plum Island)