More pics...

Here are some more pics from the weekend, taken by Grandma Chris! Enjoy!

Aiden waiting for the big one

Dan and Munson

Hanging out on the porch

Allison showing Uncle Charlie photos from her summer in Australia (I still need to see those Allison; bring them to xmas!)

Charlie and Mary

Deegan - Kulis family photo

Aiden is trying to figure out why there is a fire on his cupcake.

Dean - Rising family pic

Paulette fishing at sunset

Aiden's Birthday at the Lake

Aiden and Grandma apple picking

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Since everyone had such a great time last year at Aiden's b-day weekend, we decided to have his birthday party at the Lake again this year. The big "02"!! It was a busy weekend, and we had about 28 people at the camp for Aiden's actual party on Sunday. And of course, he made out like a bandit! He got a complete new wardrobe from Uncle Dan and Auntie Paulette, a hand-knit wool sweater from Aunt Chris, and tons of cool toys.

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On Saturday we went apple picking at Shelburne Farms- they were picking Paula Reds and very early, very tart Macs. Not that we could figure out which trees were which, as usual. But we filled out bags anyway and ate lots of apples and Christopher and Alex ran away from my camera lens like rabbits from a fox.

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Hannah and Aiden

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This is one of my gramma's idea of matching pajamas! Now who is colorblind?

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Not for you, Munson!

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Sunday was Aiden's birthday party and it was a beautiful sunny day. We woke up early (but when don't you wake up early with a toddler) and smoked 4 racks of ribs with cola dipping sauce for "appetizers." Aiden opened his presents with more gusto this year than last, and everyone cheered him on. His favorite (of course, this is typical) was a talking greeting card from Micah and Becky that featured Stewie from Family Guy saying something like "Mother, I brought you a present...I'll give you a hint, it's in my diaper, and it's not a toaster." After the eleven billionth time, even Micah was wanting to rip the thing up!

Alex digs into the ribs...

I got my own fishing pole!

The cool crew in all black. Micah is so addicted that he will fish even on a lawn with a Spongebob Squarepants rod!

Dadoo! A BIG TRUCK!!!

Playing poker in the screened porch (Chris is still hiding from me)

The dock was still underwater, but that didn't deter the swimmers.

Aunt Chris and Sarah, watching the swimmers.

Look, Aiden caught an Unclemicahfish!

Munson won the prize for most well behaved dog in attendance (sorry Timber & Sable)

And we had a pinata, stuffed with all sorts of candy treats that Aiden had never tasted before. He was completely confused as to why on earth we were trying to convince him to beat this poor horsey-in-the-sky with a stick (probably a good thing, when you think about it). So the older kids made short work of it and everyone got their lollipops. Maybe next year...

Aiden took a three hour nap outside in a tent while we all had a big feast of burgers and salads and fresh sweet corn. When he woke up we had our final course, cupcakes made by Grandma. Each one had an "A" and a little cape gooseberry on top. Very fancy!

Yum!

Happy Birthday to me! Thank you to everyone for coming!!!!!

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.