First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for the little ones. Jack was very excited about starting kindergarten. Although his school didnt start until 1240, he was ready to go with backpack and all at 9am! It was darling. I forget what its like to be so excited for school.

Well. In order to fully enjoy the summer till the very end, we went to the "lake" yesterday with the cousins. We actually go to the Housatonic River. I thought this was so weird when I first moved here. But its a large river, and definitely wide and deep enough to enjoy some tubing, knee-boarding, and wakeboarding. There is even a little island where you can beach at and enjoy a swim. The kids all had a blast. Here are a few pictures.

Melia with Cousins Addie and Evie enjoy the fast ride in the front

Jack watching Taylor in the back

Taylor knee boarding

Baseball with the Nephews

I took Taye and Jack to the Rock Cats game in New Britain. We had a good ole time. No FenwayPark, but it was a nice stadium. It was also the boys' first professional game.

In honor of their first game, we had to enjoy all things baseball. Well, for a 5 y/o and 8 y/o, that is pretty much about food - or rather sugar.

1st Inning - Jack had a Hot dog, and Taye wanted Peanuts

Bottom of the 1st Inning - Jack said "That hot dog was really, really good. Can I have another one?!" - Jack had another hot dog, and Taye had two

Top of the 4th - Cotton Candy all around

Bottom of the 7th - Fried Dough.

And a long drive home to wear off all the sugar.

And tomorrow we will finish our sugar feast with free Italian Slushy's that we got a coupon for as the Rock Cats made atleast 5 home runs. Go Cats!

Its Offical!

Im a Connecticut Resident.

License and Plates were changed over today.

Still trying to decide how I feel about it all. . . . Not enjoying being $250 poorer because of it.

Life Lesson #6,975

So. During the summer when Im not traveling, I can be found doing really exciting things. I mean, if I were to post them earlier, then I know we would have been flooded with volunteers much earlier! . . . .

Since moving in with my brother, he has gotten to the finishing work on the house he is building. Therefore, I have been painting, and laying floors for the last months. It might seem like a really long time, but its just a really, really large house. I have come to realize that my calling in life is not to be a General Contractor. But I have enjoyed the progress.

This week I have had the pleasure of leaving the house before 830am (mind you, previously to this week I wouldnt be up until 10am) and working with my Dad. Its been an interesting experience working with a 75 y/o man. I am the one complaining of my back hurting, or my knees! He just plugs along. (Granted, he was hicuping on the first as I was working on the second floor, and I came running as my first instint was that he was calling for help as he was caught under piles of wood. Dramatic, I know! But sometimes he just doesnt know when to stop.)

This week specifically we have finished laying the floors on the the first floor. And a thought came to me amidst the nail gun banging and the saw. We are laying Texas Hickory wood floors. They are beautiful (unless you are talking to my dad!). But there are lots of knots, and whatnot in the wood. My dad likes to cut that out the knots and just have a "pretty" piece. But he just doesnt see the vision of the floors finisked and that we will take all the knots and blemishes, and work with them through Epoxy, and make it all beautiful and solid. . . . . Yesterday, it made me realize such a basic principle. We need to work on each inidividual task and talent at hand. And through each individual lesson, we will make a beautiful big picture. And those that really work through the difficult patches, will end up all the more beautiful in the long run. Life isnt about cutting it out and just moving on. Its about working with it and through it, and really making the best of what was given. Im hope that made alittle bit of sense.

Maybe its time for lessons to stick with me! I sometimes feel like Im always relearning.

Another trip to the City

Went to NYC again for 3 days this week. Sadly, my camera battery was dead for the first day, and therefore no pictures of biking in Central Park (again), meandering through SoHo, West Village, or just simply enjoying my family. It was fun to be able to spend time with two brothers, a sister-in-law, two cousins, and two cousins-once-removed in the city. It was great. HOT, but great.

Asha in the Japanese Garden at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Boating in Central Park for Sams Bday! Good times.

Cafe Cluny - Sams bday dinner! More Good times

Tears Amid the Noise

Today was a special and interesting day. I was with 4 of my 7 siblings, helping one of those siblings with his house. Its a normal thing for me since my move to the Nutmeg State. We hadnt spent time together, the five of us, in years. It was nice to all be together. Working together.

In the midst of my day laying wood floors, I got a very touching email from a dear, old roommate. It even made me tear up. It reminded me of how amazing our Heavenly Father is to put such amazing people in our path. When I reflect on the last 10 years of life, Im amazed at what my life has become simply because of the people I have been able to learn and grow from. Thank you! I wouldnt have had it any other way.

Taylors Baptism

I cant believe that little Taylor is 8 y/o! Its amazing how time flies. Well. Today, he was baptized, and lucky enough to be able to do it at his materinal grandparents home, and in their pool! How many people can claim that one?! Congrats little guy on making such an important decision. We love you!