Summer Indulgence

Secretly I've always wanted a Coleman stove.  It just looks like fun - I instantly think of family time.  Looking forward to using it many times throughout the summer!

Happy 75th Grandpa!

Grandpa Haddad turned 75 a couple weeks ago but because the kids were still in school we weren't able to celebrate with him in Salmon Arm.

He and grandma arrived at our place today and so we celebrated by going out for dinner, having cake and ice cream at our place and giving him his cards and gift.

Adrianna was kind enough to make us all party hats!!

Grandpa's cake made with LOVE.

The kids made the cake themselves but when they went to tip the cake out of the pan it didn't quite all come out.......

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY GRANDPA

We sure do LOVE you!!!!

His Theory

This afternoon I was again explaining to Eli why he's not able to attend a family wedding that's coming up and this was his response, "We've seen kissing on the TV before so why can't we watch it in real person?!"

Finally A Hot Summer Day!

With the kids in a year round school the summer weather hasn't affected us all that much because we're in school.  However, as the weekends come and go those do affect us and they often seem to be just like the weather during the week cool, rainy, overcast, etc., etc., etc. 

Finally today the clouds lifted, the blue skies were endless, the sun shone and the cool water was refreshing!

Aloutte Lake in Golden Ears Park

The kids enjoying the water

We don't normally go to Aloutte Lake so it was nice to check out a new area.  I quickly learned we're all creatures of habit as the kids and I quickly came to the conclusion that we like our 'regular' spot better.  We still had lots of fun playing in the beautiful sunshine!

Oboe for the First Time

I was practicing the oboe (more on this soon) for the first time when Eli walked into the house and looked at me saying, "oh, I thought there was a siren going off in the house!". What a confidence booster!!

Change.....

While I was in Boston Les continued with the renos. He's such a talented guy!!!

Roycroft Copper Red walls, Espresso Maple laminate flooring, white 5 1/4" baseboards & 3 1/4" window/door trim

Butternut Squash walls, white 5 1/4" baseboards & 3 1/4" door/window trim

Still working on the fireplace for the living room and the picture frames. Will take more pictures soon.

I'm IN LOVE!!!

Jazz Band Camp

Led by director Ed, Dumas, Haney Summer Music Camp participants rehearsed July 7th at the ACT's Studio Theatre (photograph by: Troy Landreville, TIMES).

Heading Home

Farewell to Boston and area.  It was fun!  I'll miss the Keyes family but I'm really looking forward to seeing my family!

Interesting:
1)  A cemetery that we drove by a few times in Newport, RI was on Farewell Street!
2)  Some funny town names or so I thought:  Braintree, MA - Mashpee, MA - Peabody, MA (pronounced pe-bo-de and Barnstable which isn't a funny name and Les actually has quite a few ancestors from that area but it's how it's pronounced ban-sta-ble.

These are some pictures of homes that we'd see daily along our driving route:

AND last but not least we stopped at the Boston Temple before going to the airport.

Cape Cod At a Glance

Chatham, MA

Our ride to the beach
(Abby, Aiden & John)

Celebrating the 4th of July!

After a day of touring Trish and I finally met up with the Keyes family along the Charles River and watched the fireworks - spectacular!

Looking across the river at Cambridge, MA

 

Harvard

While in downtown Boston Trish and I jumped onto the subway and headed over to Cambridge, MA  where we took a student tour of Harvard Yard at the Harvard University.  Lots of history and stories to this very old and established university.

Our tour guide

 

I can see Trish can you?

The 2nd largest library in the USA. 
The Library of Congress being the 1st.

Historic Boston

A picture is worth a thousand words.......