All Things Connecticut!

Saturday - The Drive
We left around 9 a.m.  Not great, but not bad.  We decided to go the Kingston way - it is about a half an hour longer, but so pretty, and possibly shorter factoring in the border wait times in Niagara.

We didn't get too far - Belleville and the girls were ready for a break.  We found the park that wasn't open last summer, and it was open and awesome.  A little chilly, but we had fun running around.

The drive was good.  The girls were pretty great, Ken and I got to start reading Unsouled by Neal Shusterman, and we got to Suzanne and Matthew's around 8.  (Funny side note... no one was home!)  Matthew had gone to pick someone up, Suzanne was at a sort of baby shower, and well, we made better time than they anticipated! It was all good, and all hugs as Matthew and the kids arrived about 5 minutes after we did, and Suzanne another 15 or 20 after that.

Sunday - My birthday!
This day was deserving of its own post, and so it got one!

Monday - Barf and Lemonade!
Anna barfed.  I'm not sure exactly what time it was, but barf-o.  Anna slept a little more, Suzanne decided to work from home, and I felt calm.  I'm not sure why, perhaps because there has been so much barf in our house this past winter, what's a little more?  As the day progressed, Anna seemed to be fine, and she was fine, really.  Suzanne even went in to work for a bit.  The girls played. 

At some point Joey, Thomas and Nate (the neighbour two doors down) wanted to make a Lemonade Stand.  I wasn't sure what Suzanne would say, and generally, I thought it was a bad idea - their neighbourhood is so quiet, and they needed set up stuff.  We went through everything they needed, and they got it all - table, plastic cups, cardboard to make a sign, lemonade, money to make change.  They even had a plan, sell on the corner.  They came in a few times for more water, and snacks and they were so excited - they were making money!

I went outside to check out the operation and I was quite impressed with their entrepreneurial spirit.  They had attracted some more friends to help by the time I went out.  Watching them in action was awesome.  Every time a car drove past they screamed their heads off and shook the sign.  Every time a person walked anywhere near them they would run up to them with the sign.  All totaled they made about $40, that combined with some money they already had was enough to go to Flight - a trampoline place, which was their goal in the first place.

Tuesday - Movie Day
The plan - Suzanne works a half day, and then we would go to the movies.  The kids played in the morning, we had lunch, and then we waited.  Suzanne was a little later than she wanted to be, so after dropping off Isaac at a friend's I drove all the kids to the theatre to meet Suzanne.   We got there only to find out the show was sold out.  So quick change of plans - first play at the mall, then shop, then take the kids home, eat subway sandwich for dinner, go to the movies.  And that is what we did.

The kids had fun playing.  Well Thomas and Joey sort of had fun, they're a bit big for the play area.

Next a quick shopping trip to H & M, Kate now has some summer dresses, and a few new t-shirts, and I couldn't resist getting cute yellow dresses in triplicate!  Kate picked out a headband - oh my.  Alice too, but no "oh my" factor.

And I should mention, that Joey and Thomas, were originally going to come, but then I think they had cubs, so they couldn't.  And Fiona and Ken were going to trade places with them, but then Fiona went to sleep.  So it was a girl trip to the movies.  We saw Home, a movie about an alien named Oh and a little girl named Tip.  It was such a sweet film - I think we'll buy it when it comes out.  I was sad Ken missed it.

Wednesday - Home day
Suzanne worked all day, so we played all day.  The boys were here and there.  The girls were here and there too.  We had lunch, tried to start working on the princess/superhero book, and then when Fiona finally went down for a nap, we went to the park.

Oh and I forgot, Fiona woke up drenched in sweat.  She didn't have a fever but she was a little fussy, otherwise she didn't have any issues.  I hate it when my kids are sick - who doesn't, but I always go to the worst case scenario in my head.  Oh and she was freezing cold unless I was carrying her and holding her, it was like she couldn't regulate her own body temperature.

Thursday - Aquarium Day!
Two vans, then one van, then two vans!  The boys weren't sure they were going to come, but then they did.  Ken came too.  We had fun.  It's a fun aquarium.  It was a beautiful day, and the kiddies all had fun - the boys were a little bit over it, but I think they had fun.

Fiona was a little better - she wasn't as hot and cold as yesterday, and still no fever... so bizarre!  But she seems to have a bit of a rash?  Hopefully it's nothing?

Friday - Book Day
I can't remember which day it was this week that Kate and Anna sat down together and made the princess rules - or the royal rules.  And I can't remember at what point it was that that became the idea for the book, but there it is.  The rules Kate and Anna made were so cute.  I couldn't not use the capes that I sewed for all the girls, so The Princess Rules vs. The Superhero Code was born.

Kate's Version

Anna's Version

I love making books with the kids.  Today's photo shoot was interesting, as it usually always is with young children.  Begging and cajoling, and then sometimes settling for the picture I can get, instead of the picture I want.  I think/hope it turned it well.  I'll include a few of my favourite pictures from today.

 

After the book was done, Ken took Joey, Thomas and Nate to FLIGHT!  The boys had a great time!  I'm still so absolutely impressed that they made enough money to go. Ken tried his best to take a few pics with his phone.  These two were the only ones that sort of turned out.

And now that Fiona is back to her self, Suzanne is sick.  She came home feeling terribly.  Plans for shopping and or dinner out, were gone, and poor Suzanne was "sick" for the first time since being pregnant - bummer.

Saturday - Baseball, Yogurt and Parks
Isaac had a game, then Joey and Thomas had practice, in between and during we played at the park, then later, when Suzanne felt she could, we went into Hartford for frozen yogurt and another park.

I didn't sit and watch the whole game, I didn't even watch a whole inning, but I did get to see Isaac at bat, get on base, and pitch!

I saw a few parents really upset about how the game was going.  Nothing news worthy, but since I have such limited experience, it was still kind of weird.  Isaac's team was winning, and did win, and some parents seemed devastated - there was some "interesting" language and physical outbursts.  I can't relate to that at all. 

I took a little video of Thomas on the ramp with his scooter, and a few pics.  And after watching Isaac leave the mound to applause, I went over to find Ken and the girls at the park. 

Then it was home for lunch and naps. 

Suzanne was feeling better - slightly, and so we decided to venture out for Frozen Yogurt and fun in a park.  Before we left I had to capture some cuteness on the front lawn.

On the way I snapped a pic of this sign that we'd passed a few times.  Kate lamented "I wish Grandpa could come to Connecticut".  Upon further investigation, I determined that Kate had seen this sign, and wanted her Grandpa to get his shot, so sweet of her to put that together.  (According to Mom, Dad was doing much better!  Poor Dad getting shingles!)

Sweet Frog.  It's a cute place, and now that I've done it once and figured it out, I think a second visit would be MUCH more successful... I hurried through the self-serve line because of all the people and instead of looking to see if they had any ice cream, I assumed they didn't, and got regular vanilla frozen yogurt in all of it's tart glory for Kate and Alice.  Sadly, not even Alice would eat hers... Ken and I went through and got more for Kate and Alice and one to share, it all worked out in the end.  There's some sort of bigger life lesson here - taking time, looking at all the choices, not rushing a decision... anyway. I love the expressions on Kate and Alice's faces.  So not good advertising for frozen yogurt!

Then we were off to Elizabeth Park which is mainly in West Hartford, and about 1/5 in Hartford.  We drove around a little, looking for both a playground and a field.  We didn't find the playground, but instead settled on an unused baseball diamond where the boys batted the ball around and the girls mostly fought over who was going to play what, and with which equipment.  It was still fun, if filled with a little drama.  The part we stopped in was on a bit of a hill, so that you could kind of overlook downtown Hartford. 

Sunday- Goodbye
Sunday morning selfies.  I think the good camera was already all packed away, so I used my cell phone and took pics with Isaac, Joey, Thomas, and Anna. 

And then, we were off.  The ride home was good.  We went the Kingston way again, because it's just so beautiful.  The girls were pretty good.  Alice enjoyed her new markers I bought her... perhaps a little too much!

What a beautiful, fun, full week of family it was.  I am so grateful to have so much family, and to have a husband who was willing to work in less than ideal circumstances so that I could have time with my sister and her amazing kids! Sister, I love you so much, and am so grateful for you and our relationship!  See you soon!  August can't come soon enough!

42: The answer to life, the universe and everything

Best way to start the day - wake up in Connecticut at my sister's house!  We went to church and I got to participate in a musical number in Sacrament meeting - the primary pianist wasn't there on time, and I accompanied the senior kids singing He Sent His Son.  I also got to help out in primary playing the piano during music time.

After church we came home, had lunch, hung around a bit, and then went on a hike!

Suzanne had heard of a great, "easy" hike up to Heublein Tower.

Gilbert F. Heublein was a celebrated German-born hotelier and restaurateur in Hartford, Connecticut as well as an innovator in the American gourmet food and liquor industry. Heublein built the Tower in 1914 as a summer retreat for his family and for the entertainment of weekend guests.

Builder T. P. Fox and Son was contracted by Heublein to carry out Hartford architects Hilliard Smith and Roy D. Bassette’s Tower plans, the specifications of which called for a tower that would never blow over, having been designed to resist wind pressures of 100 mph. It is a six-storied structure, with a 165- foot solid square shaft of steel beam and concrete construction that rises from a massive, asymmetrical fieldstone base. The property on which it rests totals approximately 350 contiguous acres along the mountain ridge, with the Tower being at the midpoint of the plot.

Easy it was not... well, not exactly.  We brought the stroller for Fiona.  She rode most of the way up - thank you Matthew. Alice needed help up for the last stretch to the tower - thank you Matthew.  There was a fair amount of whining from Kate and Anna, but they made it all the way to the tower on their own.  The boys did great, and we adults did great.  After enjoying the tower Kate needed a ride in the stroller after a fall - thank you Matthew.  Then Alice needed a ride.  And of course while the stroller was occupied I carried Fiona - Isaac did a little stint.  But really, it was GREAT!

 

After the hike we went back to the Bates residence.  Suzanne made yummy dinner - ciabata with pesto, fresh mozarella and balsamic peppers, so yummy.  Then it was birthday cake, and singing, and Joey and Thomas continuing the "are you one, are you two" that Suzanne started.  It was awesome.

42: The answer to life, the universe and everything.  Yup.  It is.  A beautiful family, a nature walk, cake, that is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.  I'm blessed, so very blessed!

Fiona is 22 Months

Miss Fiona.  Language continues to bug.  She has words.  She does use some of them some of the time.  The last few days she's been more willing to try new words and sounds.  She's actually starting to say a few sentences too.  "I want up", but it sounds like wah-up, but one syllable.  Clarity will come right?  She really is a bright little thing and can communicate so well without words.  We love you, our little charade master!

Grandma is Sixty-Nine

Sixties.  When I think of the 1960's I still think, oh that's thirty years ago.  Oops, more like 50.  When I think of someone in their sixties, I don't really think of them as being old.  Seventies... borderline.  So Mom, you are still a spring chicken!! 

The plan was dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's.  Pizza, gluten free cupcakes, and family fun!  Dad broke out in a rash last week, and after being diagnosed with shingles, things were up in the air.  Reading about the spread of shingles online made me a little calmer, but I still felt a little nervous.

Ken ended up having to go to London (Ontario) for work, and Rayna was not feeling well - boo.  They were both missed.  It isn't a party without them - at least Andrew and I were not quite all there or something?!

We made lots of cards for Grandma, and she had three lovely bouquets of flowers.  Dinner was fine, the cupcakes were good.  I hope Mom/Grandma felt special.  I think she did!  I hope she did.

 ALICE!! Got into Grandma's lipstick... again.

 ALICE!!!  She says it was Fiona... sorry Suzanne. 

Happy Birthday young lady!  We love you!