Topsfield Fair

Look! I'm back so soon!

Alex and Cecily and I went to the Topsfield Fair a few days ago. I was expecting something a little larger (think Illinois State Fair) and in that respect, was a little disappointed. But we did get to see some animals, watch part of a draft horse pulling competition, had some fair food, and wandered through some display barns. It was fun, but next year I am setting my sights higher (Big E, anyone? I'll drive.)

A few pictures from the event:

Actually, this wasn't from the event. This was the ward's annual clambake at Crane Beach. I couldn't go this year (boo!) but Alex and his hair and Cecily had a great time. 

Over the last week, I noticed that Cecily had a scab on her forehead and nose, a scratch on her cheek, a bruise on her eyebrow, and a red bump on her head. I only know how she got one of those. The perils of toddlerhood.

My hat has served me so well. I have stuffed it in the diaper bag so many times that it resembles a limp pickle (is there such a thing?) but I really don't care.

Sand sculpture: Topsfield Fair:: butter sculpture: Illinois State Fair.

What happens if it rains?

Ok, this is why we went. Cecily needs to see these animals so when we get our own someday she will already be up and running. She did love petting the sheep and at times, pushed other kids that came up to pet "her" sheep. I wasn't happy that she was pushing other kids, but I was happy that she cared so much!

Baa ram ewe

Why does this calf have an earring mom?

Maybe after the goats and sheep and ducks and chickens are settled, we can get a couple beehives too. 

The pumpkin that could feed me for a year. How about that for food storage? 

Don't be fooled. She loved it. 

Recap

Hi friends! I haven't posted for a while but we had a great summer. We are all sad that is over especially since Alex's schedule is about to get crazy again. Our garden did fairly well. We got a lot of blackberries and tomatoes mostly and a few crops of beans. We were able to put in some flower beds and plants some perennials and an herb garden. 

My parents were here for a week and we loved having them. Papa and Alex put in a new swing on the maple stump for Cecily, which she loves. I will have to get a picture of that later.

 Cecily enjoyed digging in the sand at Crane Beach.  Sand flew all about with her little digging fingers and dad helped her get it out of her mouth more than once.

She was also way more adventurous than I was getting into the frigid water. 

We explored the grounds of the mansion on the hill overlooking the beach. 

 My dad was in his element at the battleship museum. We toured a cruiser, destroyer, submarine, and probably something else. Not Cecily's favorite.

Cecily did, however, enjoy exploring John Adam's farm in Quincy with her dad while the rest of us saw the inside of the house. So when I buy my five acre hobby farm someday, she will be in heaven. So will I.

 Until then, we will just enjoy open space when we have it.

Summer

Last weekend we had one of those very rare Saturdays where neither of us had to work. We visited a new state for me (Maine!) and there we saw a picturesque New England lighthouse, strolled along the beach, went to a farmer's market, went to an antique shop located in a rustic renovated barn, and picnicked right next to a little inlet with a bunch of anchored boats nearby. It was the perfect way to spend a morning with my family. Of course, with all our baby gear we managed to forget to bring our camera. For nap time, we drove back south to Lowell to attend the Folk Music Festival (for the second year - do I smell a tradition?) where Cecily had about had it and didn't want to ride in the stroller, be held, or, heaven forbid, be leashed. Finally we found a fountain she could play in and then she was happy until we dragged her away, kicking and screaming, 30 minutes later.

It has been very hot the past few days and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Now that I have a toddler, I feel the need to get out of the house on a daily basis for her and my sanity. At the same time, trips to the store are becoming more difficult because she is not fond of staying in the carriage (look at my Boston lingo) for any length of time. She does enjoy riding in the grocery part of the carriage but in general that is frowned upon, especially when she throws out everything I put in there in a matter of seconds.

She has figured out mega blocks in the past few days and enjoys playing with them. She has new sounds and words every day. Most recently that has been "hat on" and "ssssss" as in the sound a snake makes. It is fun watching her try to figure out how to carry water in a cup when we are playing outside and also starting to mimic certain things I do, like water the flowers. She gobbles up every blackberry that is close to being ripe. I should also mention that she polished off the entire current bush crop this spring all by herself. It is such a fun age and also becoming a logistical challenge in terms of managing her in certain locations. I find that she tries my patience more easily than I am generally accustomed to her doing. Hopefully my patience will grow with lots of well worn practice.

I was also able to visit Rhode Island to meet up with some friends from Urbana traveling through as well as some other friends that have relocated there. It is so nice to chat with old friends as though no time has passed.

Some family reunion pictures:

 Pretty sure this is the only smile we got out of her.

Stop trying to get me to smile!!

Redneck. Who knew?

Family Vacation

Hi friends.

It has been a while. Partly that is due to the fact that my ancient computer is soooooo slow lately and it is such a headache to get anything done. And we were gone on vacation for a couple weeks! We had a family reunion in Idaho and got to spend a couple days in Philadelphia as well. Pictures to follow.

In other news, Alex is a Junior Resident instead of a lowly intern now. As far as whether this will be better or worse than last year, the jury is still out. Probably better and worse from what I can tell.

We have been in our home now for a year. We did a lot of work last week to put some flower beds in. It finally looks like someone cares about the place. Now we just need to plant something in them.

Okay picture time. We will go backwards.

 We were able to visit Washington's Crossing at the tail end of our trip. This is where, you guessed it, Washington crossed the Delaware River that fateful Christmas day in 1776. As the tour guide said, the victory there didn't win the war but kept us from losing it. This boat house has replicas of the boats that he would have used.

Ah, camping with a 15 month old. It was fun.

 And exhausting. Try chasing her around all day long...

 Napping was a challenge because of the heat.

 She was teething for much of the trip.

 Can't believe how much this little lady has grown since we saw her last.

Oh my goodness, this one too! What a cutie!

 Isn't he such a handsome little guy? I wish I had more pictures of family but I was too busy keeping my child out of the fire pit to think of pulling the camera out.

 Quality time with grandpa. She was very mommy clingy, BUT if you just get her away from me, she does fine!

 I so miss the wide open spaces. Seeing the stars. No traffic. I am so not a city girl.

 We managed to make it to Jackson and had to visit our favorite chocolate shop there!

 Cecily couldn't get enough of the movies in the floor at the visitor's center.

 These mountains, this view. It feeds my soul.

 We also took a day trip with some of the family to Craters of the Moon. Have you been there?

 It is a unique place.

 The wind had to be blowing 60 mph on the top of this hill. It was crazy.

 My dad saved the day by chasing down my mom's hat which blew off her head and we all assumed was a goner.

That was our trip, or at least what we have pictures of. It was hard to come home, partially because it still doesn't really feel like home (see above about the not being a city girl...) but good to see our dogs and be in a routine again.