Tadpoles

Our tadpoles are getting bigger (check out the previous post to see the difference)....they now have small legs.

More of Cal's Pics

Cal is spending some of his summer break taking photographs. Here is a sampling of his flower pictures.

Camping Trip

This was our first camping trip of the year during Father's day weekend. The kids had a great time even though our weekend was cut short. The kids helped put up the tent. Soon Mom and Dad won't have to do anything. Even Lily helped with the dishes!!

School's over

We've finished another school year. We learned quite a bit this year and a ready for a little break. James learned how to read this year and is reading many things! He can count all the way to 100 too! Cal did a lot of work this year too! He made a volcano, built a tree swallow box, created his own "restaurant" complete with a menu, took the California Achievement Test (and scored 97%), made a book about Pilgrims, wrote many stories, started reading chapter books, began learning his multiplication tables, did interviews, and starred in a maple sugaring video (thank you Netnie!), just to name a few.
Cal will be starting third grade in September, James will be starting first grade, and Leah will be starting kindergarten. Lily, of course, will just continue being cute and dumping out the crayons.

Enjoying the stream

It's summertime and the kids are enjoying more time in the stream. Cal, James, and Leah love being in it. It's a little too cold for Lily yet.

Cal and Lil!

Family night minature golfing

For family night last week we went to The Range miniature golfing in North Adams.

The Hoosac Tunnel

Mount Greylock War Memorial Tower

And the last hole has 2 holes. You choose Fenway or Yankee Stadium!

Family night at the Glen

Leah with a fish...

JB with a fish...

and Cal with a fish!

Leah likes to play with the worms.

"Lil being Lil"

Is JB showing up Jidoo?

Cal's pics

Cal spends a part of almost every day taking pictures with his camera. These are just a few of the great shots he gets.
Photo#1 - an oven bird we saw on our Mother's day hike together
Photo#2- our backyard, early morning - Look closely at the drop of water on the blade of grass!
Photo#3 - another early morning photo of the sun shining through the trees in our backyard
Photo #4 - Leah swinging

What a catch!

James and Leah went fishing with Daddy one morning this past week. They came home with all these fish that they caught themselves!!! They were yummy!!

Cal got to go fishing later that afternoon and added to the catch.

Babies!

Frog eggs we collected for the swampy area across the street from our house.
Lots of baby tadpoles!!!

Dining Room Floor

Before
After
We finally refinished the dining room floor. Not perfect, but much better!

Trip to Albany

On Monday we had to go pick up Charlie's parents from the Albany Airport so we left earlier in the day and the kids and I stopped at the New York State Museum. We all had a great time! It's an excellent museum with plenty to see. There's a children's discovery room that all four children enjoyed. We even went up to the fourth floor to ride the carousel. Lily laughed hysterically on the carousel. Cal's favorite part was the stuffed birds grouped according to habitat. James' favorite part was carousel (even though I had to drag him on it because he was scared). Leah's favorite part was seeing all the Adirondack wildlife. I would have to guess that Lily's favorite part was the variety of things to do in the discovery room. I would definitely recommend this museum to anyone who's never been there. There's lots to see and it's free!

Fishing Day

On a bright, sunny day we took a break from our schooling and went across the field to the river to go fishing, exploring, and have a picnic lunch outside. Leah helped Lily walking on the uneven ground - she's a great big sister! Cal put on his brand new lure only to get it stuck on a rock in the river. Mommy went in the frigid water to retrieve it for him since she was already wet from walking through the swampy area without her waterproof boots. The things a mother will do!! It was a beautiful day (even if we didn't catch any fish)!