Once Upon A Time - on the Cape.....from Judy.

Lynn and her kids, Linda, Matt, Laura and Cody and I did one of annual 'family days' during the summer. Always an exciting event - we choose a day during my vacation week and are determined to spend it together no matter what we do.

So this particular year - we opt for the go karts, paddle boats etc on Rte 28 in Wareham, to be followed by an afternoon at Scusset Beach. We arrive and start making the rounds of the various activities. Judy and Matt drag racing in Go-Karts, Maddie and Cody trying to reach the pedals with Maddie's car going about twice the speed of Cody's (much to his chagrin, but to Maddie's delight!). All the while I am frantically snapping photos, trying to capture every precious second for posterity and our ever growing family photo collection.

Next we move to the paddle boats - which, unlike any others I have been on - have squirt guns attached to the steering wheels, so not only do you try to crash into each other - but you spray the opponent in the face with a squirt gun as you approach. Is there ANYTHING more fun that??? So....at one point, Lynn is standing on the dock and the rest of us (Me, Cody, Matt, Kath, Bryan and I think Joe) are paddling and squirting away - and I notice Lynn madly clicking away on her camera, much like I had been, to capture the wet hair, screaming faces, and hysterical laughter of all of us. After a few moments, I notice she is sort of motioning me over to one particular side of the pond. Thinking she is trying to help mw with some sneak attack on my prey (MATT!), I pedal my way over...she keeps motioning "a little more, a little more" and finally she stops, grins and begins snapping the camera again in rapid fire. Wow - can't wait to see those shots, I'm thinkin.

Once we get off the paddle boats, I ask to see the pictures and she bursts into laughter - to show me that she was NOT as eager to snap MY photo, as I had thought, but the really HUNKY deck hand who was in control of the ride!!! We now have numerous shots of me, barely in the picture and numerous shots of the tanned, VERY YOUNG, extremely well built, oblivious summer help!

Some things NEVER change! One of the best days EVER I might add! Next installment - the quandary of how to keep Judy in the shade at Scusset!

Easter fun...

Kathryn rose this morning before the Easter Bunny had made it back to...(wait, where the heck does the Easter Bunny live?)...due to her rising excitement over giving the other kids their gift baskets. A few weeks ago, she began asking for chores she could do that would be in addition to the normal stuff in hopes of earning some money. She made the most adorable little baskets for everyone in the house...a little nurturer-at-heart, who shows her affection not by giving gifts, but by thinking of you, planning, and getting excited to catch you off guard, and make you feel loved. She shops on her own, and has the most creative little ideas and an eye for it. I'm not sure I can compare it to Jesus turning water into wine, but she does make a little Dove chocolate egg into an overwhelming expression of love...

As I type this, Joe sneezes and only half gets his elbow over his mouth/nose....she's too close to him, playing XBox360 together...and she's yelling at him to "Cover!!! What was THAT?? You didn't even TRY to cover?!!!" and he's explaining it was a sneak-attack sneeze..."I was trying to, KATH!". I guess the miracle of no fighting hasn't fallen over our house yet! And what is this mid-40's and windy garbage???

Baseball Season......yet again!!

Bryan is on the Cardinals (LL Majors) and Joe on the Defenders (LL AA)...we're just breaking the ice with practices - each of the boys has had 4 or so, but they are getting back in the "swing" (har har har).

Glad to be getting back outdoors! Finally! They are warming up nicely. Can't wait to get some pics!

~L

Once Upon A Time - at Papa John's in Oak Bluffs

Once Upon A Time... I (Lynn) performed a full wardrobe change (pants and all) in the booth at Papa John's in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard...Papa's was PACKED. Dad (Jim) was just rolling his eyes and wondering where this kid came from?! I had totally forgotten this experience until Laura mentioned it the other day. (Needless to say there is no photo to go with this post...)

Once Upon A Time........

The "Once Upon A Time" stories are kicking off on this blog...Here's the deal. Any story, the crazier the better, should be posted here with the cut-to-the-chase punchline. Give enough of a summary so it works, and LAUNCH. Feel free to send them to me if you like, to get them posted. I will credit them or not as you wish...Gimme your favorites, Baby! Muckerheide, Palmatier and Spencer ones are most sought after....bring it.