Happy Birthday Twins!

Happy Birthday James and Leah!!! James is now 6 years old and Leah is now 5 years old! James loves reading, hockey, Patriots football, tractors, trains, and being outdoors. Leah loves drawing, hockey, Patriots football (especially the QB!), princesses, dressing up, dolls, and dancing to Mommy's piano music. They are both wonderfully loving children that we are blessed to have and raise. We love you Leah and JB!!

Video

The other day we sat down and watched the DVD's my sister has filmed & produced for us. She does a great job and watching them brings back a flood of feelings and sentiments about our awesome family! So over the next few weeks I'll try to post short clips of them here on our blog. Right now I have 5 DVD's. This clip is from the first one, made shortly after James was born. Cal was a little over 2 years old. Enjoy.

ps - the original DVD video quality is much higher than this one which has been converted to a Windows Media File.

Making Cider

Some of the apples...

Pressing the pomace...

Collecting the cider...

and tasting... Do you think he likes it?

BIG Announcement

Cal can FINALLY ride a bike without training wheels!!!! I know, I know, he's 8 yrs. old, but we live on a 40-mile/hour road. He learned to ride in the driveway and on the grass in the backyard. He's been riding everyday and does great. He can even make tight turns! He's so proud of himself!!!
And.....do you think it's time to potty train the 2 year old when she sits on the potty seat, with clothes and diaper on, to go to the bathroom? Or maybe it's just time to teach her to take off her own diaper.

Plymouth Vacation - part 5 - Sturbridge

On Sunday we headed to Sturbridge for the Massachusetts Outdoor Exposition. The kids were able to try fly-fishing, shoot guns, use bows and arrows, go kayaking, learn about making bows, feel various animal pelts, and make crafts. The big bonus of the day - James had the winning raffle ticket for a $100 gift certificate to LLBean.

James and Cal in a kayak.
Where's Waldo?? Can you find Charlie and Leah's kayak? And Cal and James?
James shooting a rifle.
Pocahantes' turn.

Cal shooting an air pistol.
The new Pocahantes.
Cal shooting a shotgun.
James trying out a compound bow.
Pocahantes with her bow.

Plymouth Vacation - Part 4

We spent most of Saturday on the beach. It was very windy in the morning and chilly. The kids didn't care!! They play in the sand and yes, even went in the water!! We had a relaxing day at the beach.

Lily, the bathing beauty.
The kids semi-buried in the sand....look at Lily's hair to see how windy it was.
This is how they first went in, with their sweatshirts over the bathing suits.
Playing in the water and sand.

Plymouth Vacation - Part 3

The next morning we went for a walk on the stone breakers walkway. It was VERY windy and a rather narrow walkway - I think it seems narrower if you've got little ones.

This is the walkway....isn't it narrow? It wasn't a vertical drop on the sides, but it was all rocks and a rather steep incline.
Here you can see the rope to hold onto on the left side.
Cal's picture of the bay in the morning.
Proof that Mommy was on vacation....the only picture of me from the weekend.

Plymouth Vacation - Part 2

On the gangplank to the Mayflower II

The "crew" on board the ship.
Lily was so tired....she completely missed the boat! Get it?!

After visiting the Plimoth Plantation we went into Plymouth to go aboard the MayflowerII - a recreation of the original Mayflower ship. James and I didn't care for being below deck, we felt a little uneasy. Did you know that the Mayflower left England in April 1620 and arrived in America in June of 1620??

Plymouth Vacation - Part 1

This weekend we went to Plymouth and had a great time! The first day we went to Plimoth Plantation for a Home School Day. They had extra activities for homeschoolers such as making cheese and writing with a quill and ink. We visited the 17th century village and experienced what life was like then. The characters were very good, never breaking out of their role. Cal helped repair a fence, Leah and James learned to play a 17th century game, and we all listened to Governor Bradford read the Bible. We also visited the Wampanoag village. We felt many hides, talked with a woman in her longhouse, and learned about dug-out canoes. Here are some pictures from the first day.


Writing 17th century letters with quills and ink.
One of the several village cannons. Lily loved these and wanted her picture taken with all of them.
Cal was put to work helping to fix this man's fence.
Inside the Wampanoag longhouse. It wasn't raining, not sure what the spots are - time to clean the camera?

Big boy

Cal lost one of his top teeth finally...it's been hanging loosely for awhile.

Old Sturbridge Village

Yesterday we went to the Homeschool Day at Old Sturbridge Village. It was a great day! We learned a lot about what life was like in the early 1800s. We also experienced the different jobs and buildings around the village. Cal especially liked the blacksmith shop while James was fascinated with the broom maker. Leah liked dressing up and "cooking" over a fire. Lily was so good...she walked on her own for the first half of the day and slept in the backpack carrier for a good part of the afternoon. It was a rainy day, but we had so much fun!
Lily getting ready to milk the cow.

Leah being shown how to participate in the hoop races.
Leah dressed up and ready to cook.
The whole crew with a plastic sheep...before this picture Lily was standing by herself next to this sheep patting it on the side and talking to it. It was very cute, but of course she stopped when I took out the camera.

Fun with Gracie

We all had a fun day visiting and playing with Gracie and Jake and Lauren! She is such a cutie!
The boys showing Gracie what it's like to have a big brother...

Isn't she cute?? We love you Gracie and had a fun day with you (and your mom and dad too!)

First Day of School

Last week we officially started school again. The kids were excitedly looking through their new books. James and Leah were eager to start school. Cal, while not being as eager as the others, at least was willing. Even Lily was in on it and tried to help James with his math.
My first grader getting "help" from his 2 year old sister.
My big boy, now a third grader...
First time schooling....Leah is now a kindergartener.
***NOTE... the boys matching shirts made by their very talented grandmother. Thank you Noni!!